Fort Hood, Texas –
Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, along with Soldiers from various Fort Hood-based units, recently participated in Supporting Warrior Action Team training at Fort Hood, Texas.
SWAT is a two-day training program aimed at developing change champions within the Army. The course is currently targeted at providing younger Soldiers, specifically those in the ranks of sergeant and below, with a deeper understanding on how to identify inappropriate behavior and intervene in a positive and professional manner to crisis situations such as sexual harassment, sexual assault or possible suicide.
“SWAT brings together several of the pre-existing resource programs available throughout the Army, such as Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention, Equal Opportunity and Suicide Prevention,” said Sgt. First Class Naytasha Robins, III Corps Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. “This program was adapted from one that Eighth Army was doing at Fort Huachuca. We’ve been putting on this particular training at Fort Hood once a month since January.”
The course is broken up into two distinct parts. The first day consists mainly of classroom training focused on identifying factors, professional work environment, effective communication, and safe bystander intervention strategies. The second day expands on the classroom portion by taking students through various vignette scenarios, acted out live in front of them by role players. Each vignette presents a different situation that students analyze and discuss.
“People learn in different ways. By using the vignettes and giving Soldiers the ability to watch the various situations unfold right in front of them, it allows for a deeper understanding of the sometimes-subtle indicators that lead to these types of situations,” said Robins.
“This training is much more engaging than similar training I’ve participated in,” said Spc. Barbara Rocha, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 29th Infantry Division. “Seeing these scenarios acted out in the real world, in real time, instead of watching a video or reading through a slideshow was a much better way for me to learn, personally. It was interactive and better at holding your attention.”
The 29th is currently mobilized on federal active duty as they conduct pre-deployment training at Fort Hood in preparation for deployment to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, where the division will take responsibility for Task Force Spartan.