Strengthening Green Dot

Published May 5, 2017
By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby
120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office

GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- Members of the 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, Great Falls, Joint Force Headquarters, Helena, attended Green Dot training during the April regularly scheduled drill, as part of the required annual sexual assault response and suicide prevention programs here.

Jeff Bucholtz, director of We End Violence, briefs members of the 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, and Joint Force Headquarters, Helena, April 1, 2017 on sexual assault awareness and suicide prevention during Green Dot training. Green Dot training focuses on being proactive in creating a safe environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby)

The Montana Air National Guard hosted a speaker, director, We End Violence, Jeff Bulcholtz, to enrich the Green Dot training.

“It is critical to create an environment where you feel safe, respected and (know) your contributions are really important to us because that allows you to focus on your job,” said Col. Lee Smith, 120th Airlift Wing commander.

Airmen First Class Damian Williams, 120th Airlift Wing crew chief, discusses scenarios during a Green Dot training April 1, 2017 on sexual assault awareness and suicide prevention. Montana Air National Guard hosted Green Dot training for members from the 120th Airlift Wing, Great Falls, and Joint Force Headquarters, Helena. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby)

Multiple sessions were offered at MTANG and on Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, for members to attend the in person training.

Bucholtz emphasized building and maintaining relationships.

“It’s an active process, not a passive process, Bucholtz said. “To build those relationships, to provide the opportunity because when you put that out into the environment it will change the way people feel and interact with you. The process is totally doable but it requires everyone.”

Bulcholtz challenged members to redefine strength because to him “recognizing your limitations and asking for help when you need it is an act of courage.”

Green Dot training is an expanding violence prevention program that was implemented by the U. S. Air Force in 2016.