Bystander Intervention training important Published March 18, 2011 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE, Ga. -- All active-duty Airmen and civilian supervisors are required to have Bystander Intervention training by June 20, 2012, but so far only a fraction of the thousands here who need it have taken the class. Cindy Graver, sexual assault response coordinator, fears too many people are putting off the training because the deadline is more than 12 months away. With class sizes limited to 25, if too many people wait until next year to take the class, it will be difficult to get everyone trained by the deadline. It is imperative those who are required to take the training sign up for a class and get it done, said Col. Carl Buhler, installation commander. He was one of the first to take the 90-minute class when the training started last June. "It is interesting, engaging and useful," he said. "I know carving 90 minutes out of your day can be difficult, but everyone needs to make an effort to get it done." Bystander Intervention Training, which replaces annual sexual assault prevention and response training, is aimed a combating the tendency of people to look the other way if they see wrong being done to someone else. "People should take this class not just because it is mandatory, but because it helps reinforce the Airmen's creed and us to do what's right when sometimes it may be easier to walk away," said Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Bowen Jr., installation command chief, who has also taken the class. The classes, divided by sex and rank, are held regularly in Bldg. 941. Classes can also be scheduled on-site if a unit has enough people to fill a class. People who need the training can contact their training coordinator, call the SARC office at 468-2946 or 497-7272, or e-mail cindy.graver@robins.af.mil or jayne.bishop@robins.af.mil.