Officers and chief petty officers aboard Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (WPNSTA Yorktown) came together for Bystander Intervention training, March 5, to better understand their role as leaders for their Sailors.

"Deckplate leadership is about getting out and talking with your Sailors," said Command Master Chief (SW) Lee Friedlander, WPNSTA Yorktown CMC. "Bystander Intervention training is about stepping up and stepping in to do the right thing."

According to Friedlander, one of the most common barriers when it comes to stepping up and stepping in is fear. "Fear of retaliation, fear of repercussions, fear of authority and the difference in rank," he explained. "There's also the fear of misreading the situation and the fear of interfering in a private matter."

"We have to give our Sailors the right training, encouraging them to step in and not be just a bystander," added Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Jermaine Benton. "We need to have the courage as well to do the right thing."

The training was a combination of video vignettes and group discussion amongst the participants. Bystander Intervention is about encouraging Sailors to prevent or stop situations that are not aligned with our Navy ethos and Core Values.

"It's not just sexual harassment and sexual assault that we are talking about. It is about command climate, professionalism, hazing, and how we teach our Sailors to recognize and intervene in the small infractions before they cultivate into a negative command climate," Friedlander said.

Not being the one person to step in has a tendency to lead to a hostile work environment. According to Lt. Cmdr. Edward Alexander, WPNSTA Yorktown Port Operations Officer. "When that one Sailor is not an active bystander, and does not step in, it promotes an unprofessional workplace, favoritism, and misperceptions."

The one common theme raised by the entire group was being that role model that Sailors can look up to by setting the example. "We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard," said Chief Personnel Specialist Terry Mullen. "They (Sailors) are watching us."

Giving Sailors better options to drinking and partying, which often leads to those destructive decisions, is something every command needs to offer. "Community relations efforts and CSADD (Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions) events will improve the command climate and give Sailors better choices." Friedlander added.

Bystander Intervention applies to everyone in the Navy, from E-1 to O-10. It's about shipmates helping shipmates and being a leader.

For more news from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, visit www.navy.mil/.