Wing to adopt Green Dot initiative Published June 22, 2016 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 27th Special Operations Wing recently announced its plans to implement the Green Dot violence-prevention initiative into its sexual assault prevention and response program in the coming year.Green Dot prepares organizations to implement a strategy of violence prevention that reduces power-based interpersonal violence, including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.The Air Force announced a three-year contract with the non-profit organization in December, and began training Green Dot implementers this year. Implementers are required to go to a three day training during which they learn how to invite and inspire others to explore their role in violence prevention.With that training complete, 30 Air Commandos from Cannon are now pursuing the task of training the rest of the 27th SOW.“We are implementing the training in three phases,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Eppinger, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron and 27th SOW Green Dot coordinator. “The first is leadership, which will be complete by the end of this month; the second is bystander training, which will be done throughout the summer; and the third is an overview, which we will complete before the end of the year.”The three trainings each has a different target audiences to help make the program as successful as possible.“The leadership group is trained first so that they have an understanding of what the program is and what is going to be expected of them to help make this program possible,” Eppinger said. “The bystander training is for influential peers within the different squadrons and units around the base, which starts getting the idea out of being proactive with violence prevention before everyone else is trained in the overview phase.”Implementation of the Green Dot program is part of a current five-year Air Force strategy. The wing’s leadership plans to begin by using Public Affairs to highlight individual and unit actions that add green dots to the installation’s climate map.“I hope the wing sees the teaching from this program firmly take hold, and be communicated and shared by all ranks,” said Jean Masters, 27th SOW Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. “I truly believe everyone would agree that domestic abuse, sexual assault and inter personal violence is something that has long-lasting negative effects on individuals, and will not be tolerated at the 27th SOW or within our communities.”