PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. Aca,!" At least once a month Presidio of Monterey female airmen learn the basics of avoiding sexual assault through a new course at Price Fitness Center here.
The Target Hardening Self Defense course was designed by the Air Force as a new way to teach young female airmen about sexual-assault prevention.
The defensive techniques taught during the course were also used as motivators to teach the airmen to not get into situations that may cause them to be assaulted, said Air Force Capt. Irna May Connor, Presidio of Monterey's Air Force sexual-assault response coordinator.
Aca,!A"So (while) the airmen come here thinking Aca,!EoeOh cool, I get to learn how to kick someone in the groin,Aca,!a,,c Aca,!A| we use martial arts as a sneaky way to teach them about awareness,Aca,!A? Connor explained.
Air Force Master Sgt. Justin Needle, a target hardening instructor, said during a recent class that martial arts techniques are not the only things that help the airmen learn about sexual-assault prevention.
Most of the target hardening staff is male, so Aca,!A"we donAca,!a,,ct see or feel things like the (female airmen) do,Aca,!A? said Needle. Aca,!A"So itAca,!a,,cs good to have students (who are already familiar with the program) here to help them.Aca,!A?
Both Connor and Needle agreed that the program would not be as successful without student volunteer instructors like Airman 1st Class Danielle Imhoff and Airman 1st Class Lauren Hodson, who help bring the program to a personal level for the airmen.
Imhoff and Hodson took the class first as students, but found such value in the lessons that they both came back as volunteers to help fellow female airmen.
Aca,!A"Hey, if I can help, why donAca,!a,,ct I'Aca,!A? Imhoff asked.
Hodson said she also understands that it is easier for the first-time participants to relate easier with Hodson and Imhoff than with the course instructors because in addition to sharing the same gender, they are in student status and are generationally similar to Hodson and Imhoff.
Aca,!A"We have our sergeants and (they) are male, makes it difficult to relate and (I) find people listen when it becomes more personal,Aca,!A? Hodson said.
Hodson also said that their relationships with other students helps to generate interest in the course for other service women who are stationed here, noting that the course is a welcome change from their more traditional classroom setting.
Aca,!A"When I first heard about the course, I thought, Aca,!Eoenot another death-by-PowerPointAca,!a,,c class,Aca,!A? Hodson said.
Imhoff said that the early Saturday morning class time was also not a desirable selling point, but it only took one lesson for them to not only understand the value of the course for the women stationed here, but to continue to support the program by volunteering their Saturday morning once a month.
Aca,!A"We are very supportive of the program,Aca,!A? said Imhoff. Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs something we can use, a hands-on experience.Aca,!A?
Needle said that regardless of the numerous joint locks, throws and strikes they teach and the confidence they can instill, there may be a time those skills are not enough.
Aca,!A"Maybe one of our techniques wonAca,!a,,ct work,Aca,!A? Needle said. Aca,!A"So we teach them at the end of the class about reporting, victims advocacy and that there is help (if attacked).Aca,!A?
The program wraps up with a review and understanding that a sexual assault could be a reality no matter what a personAca,!a,,cs skill level is.
Hodson said that the point is not always to win, but to know what a personAca,!a,,cs options are.
Aca,!A"The fact that they know anything now is important,Aca,!A? she said.
Aca,!A"You may not know anything and freeze up, and thatAca,!a,,cs when it could happen,Aca,!A? she added.
Needle agreed, Aca,!A"Even if they canAca,!a,,ct retain 100 percent of what we taught today, if they retain 25 percent, then we did a good job.Aca,!A?
Students are given a survey at the end of their session to give feedback on what they thought of the course. With most the results being very positive and with the importance of the subject matter being on their minds, Connor and the rest of the Presidio Target Hardening Self Defense staff have been prompted to consider the possibility to open the course to females from the other services and their families.
Aca,!A"We understand giving up a Saturday is asking a lot,Aca,!A? Connor said. Aca,!A"But itAca,!a,,cs something I wished I had in the past; itAca,!a,,cs just a great tool to have to prevent sexual assault.Aca,!A?
The Target Hardening Self Defense curriculum, originating from the Sexual Assault Reaction Coordination program at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, is a comprehensive education program on the dynamics of sexual assault. It addresses the topic of sexual assault from the perspective of: the predator Aca,!" prey paradigm, how people respond to a traumatic situation (fight, flight or freeze), bystander intervention issues unique to the sexual-assault venue, what a soft vs. hard target looks like from a sex-offender perspective and self-defense responses from setting firm boundaries with intoxicated or Aca,!A"pushyAca,!A? guys to severe attacks.
For more information on the program, visit <a href="http://www.targethardeningselfdefense.com">www.targethardeningselfdefense.com</a>.
For more info on sexual-assault prevention or reporting, contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator hotlines at 831-261-2895 (Air Force) and 831-915-2351 (Army as well as, temporarily, Navy & Marines).
Tips and information on sexual assault prevention or help in the local area can be found by visiting <a href="http://www.mtryrapecrisis.org">www.mtryrapecrisis.org</a>.
Related Links:
Presidio of Monterey on Facebook
Presidio of Monterey on Flickr
City of Monterey Rape Crisis Center sexual assault prevention tips
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