Team Dyess receives violence awareness education

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Reyes
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  "Hurts one, Affects All" was the opening banner at a violence awareness seminar sponsored by the Dyess Air Force Base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office April 2 at the Heritage Club.

Robert J. Martin, Gavin de Becker & Associates representative and one of the nation's leading experts on predicting and assessing violently inclined situations, spoke to the Dyess community addressing active duty and dependents.

"He is an incredible expert in the field of thread assessment and personal safety," said Staci Vileta, 7th Bomb Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. "He is a powerful engager and is able to convey difficult information to educate and inspire people."

Mr. Martin is a 28-year-old veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, where he founded and commanded their threat management unit, which was the first of its kind in the nation. Gavin de Becker & Associates publish National Bestseller books such as, "The Gift of Fear," and advise clients on the assessment and management of situations that might escalate to violence.

During the seminar, Mr. Martin addressed key survival signals that protect us from violence: How to act when approached by stranger? When to fear someone close to you? What to do if you are being stalked?

"The threat of violence surrounds us every day," Mr. Martin said. "But we can protect ourselves by learning to trust and act on our gut instincts."

Throughout the month of April, the SARC will be focused on spreading the word of saving lives, not only in the Military, but in each of our own communities.

"I have known survivors who have had to deal with the impact of this type of trauma on their own," Mrs. Vileta said. "I have also had the privilege of helping people in the Air Force family walk that path, supporting them along the way."

Mrs. Vileta plans to team up with the 7th Security Forces Squadron to create self defense classes to help people build greater confidence.

"The Air Force is dedicated to protecting our Airmen by providing strategies that increase the safety of our friends and colleagues," the SARC said. "Our approach to prevention and risk reduction includes focusing on understanding how perpetrators behave. The presentation today was an important step in that direction and we are honored to be the first military base to sponsor a presentation from Gavin de Becker and Associates."

For more information regarding the SARC program, call (325) 696-5499. Victim care and support is available through a 24-hour Response Line at (325) 518-1802.