What is a bystander?
Bystanders are individuals who witness potentially high-risk situations and by their presence, may have the opportunity to help stop a negative behavior.
Empowered or pro-social bystanders are individuals who make a choice to intervene to prevent or interrupt these potentially dangerous situations, and confront inappropriate behaviors.
What is the connection between Wingmen and bystanders?
Most problematic behaviors involve bystanders. Airmen are encountering situations where intervening to protect their Wingmen would be appropriate including, among other things, alcohol abuse, hazing or bullying, suicide ideation, safety mishaps, sexual assault, and equal opportunity treatment incidents. In most instances a problem could have been avoided with intervention. The Air Force has been providing Airmen the skills to identify early warning signs of problematic behaviors and intervene in a way that is realistic for them. The bottom line is, “True Wingmen look out for the welfare of their peers and community.”
What training is available to teach Wingmen positive bystander intervention skills?
We know most Airmen want to voluntarily do the right thing. The most important thing is to make sure they have tools that are actionable within the reality of their daily lives.
Foundational Bystander Intervention training is provided to all new incoming Airmen at their accession source or first duty assignment. On-going training is provided for the Total Force on an annual basis.
The intent of the training is to create an environment of dignity, respect, and connectedness throughout the Air Force and equip bystanders with connection, knowledge and skills to increase protective and reactive bystander behaviors. Proactive behaviors set cultural norms that negative behaviors will not be tolerated.
The goals of Bystander Intervention training are to raise awareness of proactive behaviors using the 3 D’s (Direct, Delegate, Distract); to increase the motivation to help develop skills and confidence to intervene and assist when necessary; and ensure the safety and well-being of self and others.
Direct, Delegate, Distract:
- Direct: You are directly interacting with the people involved in the situation and letting them know that you are concerned. It may be a confrontation, “Hey, what are you doing?" Or it may just be checking in with the person who might be in harm’s way, “Are you okay?”
- Delegate: When you recognize a potentially high-risk situation and you may be uncomfortable saying something yourself; pull in someone else to assist (e.g. security, commander, chaplain, a friend).
- Distract: If you see a situation and can think of a way to divert the attention of the people in the situation, distracting is the perfect option.