In April, personnel assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) are scheduled to complete the required Bystander Intervention to the Fleet training for fiscal year 2015.

April is also designated as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) and its theme, "eliminate sexual assault: know your part, do your part," aligns with the purpose behind the Navy's newest form of bystander intervention training.

Bystander Intervention to the Fleet, or BI2F, is a skills-based, peer-led training designed to prevent destructive behaviors and promote an environment of professionalism, respect, and trust for all. It provides Sailors with the skill to recognize potentially risky situations and take appropriate action to help shipmates avoid destructive decisions that could result in life-altering consequences.

"I hope the training that was delivered here will help Sailors to see their role in a new light and understand that they, just by virtue of knowing right from wrong, have the power to lead others," said Cmdr. Paul de Marcellus, deputy director for fleet readiness integration at USFF. "The more we hold each other to that higher standard, the more we build a culture that promotes guarding and protecting one-another against destructive behavior."

The goal of BI2F is threefold: to empower Sailors to intervene and stop behaviors that are not aligned with the Navy Ethos and core values, to provide Sailors with the needed techniques to safely and effectively intervene, and to promote a culture in which bystander intervention is expected, implemented and supported by everyone.

While bystander intervention training has been taught in the Navy's A Schools since 2011, BI2F is an updated approach with a broad focus, targeting all forms of misbehavior, not just sexual assault.

The training is different from past SAPR training in that its focus is wider, covering all forms of misbehavior, but its message is more general, said de Marcellus. The message is this: if you see something that is wrong or a situation that is going the wrong direction, every Sailor has the power to say or do something and that by doing so, we will change the culture of the Fleet.

The training covers multiple topics, including hazing, fraternization, sexual assault prevention and response, alcohol and prescription drug abuse, suicide prevention and physical readiness.

"The fleet needs to regularly engage in training and discussions on destructive behaviors," said Capt. Charles Marks, U.S. Fleet Forces Sexual Assault Prevention and Response officer. "Training in one area provides mutually reinforcing support for the others."

The training format also differs slightly in that it is conducted using a series of video vignettes which are meant to spur discussion and interaction among the training audience.

"I think that Sailors tend to shut down to a point when it comes to your typical GMT PowerPoint training," said de Marcellus. "I think they want to be part of the discussion and part of the solution."

The peer-to-peer element of BI2F training is critical in encouraging open, honest dialogue among Sailors of similar age and experience level.

Each command across the Navy trains facilitators to deliver BI2F training in small, peer-level groups. This peer-to-peer training is broken down into three categories: junior Sailors E1-E5, mid-level Sailors E6-E8 and O1-O3, and senior level O4-O10 and E9.

"The fact that we are observing SAAPM while simultaneously conducting BI2F is a great training opportunity," said de Marcellus. "We can build from the SAPR topic and then address the other behaviors that negatively impact our Sailors and our Navy and how we can combat those issues through vigilance and intervention. Each Sailor plays a role in that."

BI2F is required training for all active duty and reserve Sailors and must be completed by Sept. 30, 2015.

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.navy.mil/.