D-M hosts RADS instructor course

  • Published
  • By Airman Saphfire D. Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Security forces Airmen, along with civilian law enforcement, participated in the three-day Rape Aggression Defense Systems instructor certification class, which was held here from 13 Sept. 2010 through 15 Sept. 2010.

Instruction time was split between the Kennedy Professional Development Center, where the classroom portion was held, and the Haeffner Fitness Center, where students underwent hands-on training.

RADS is a program designed to teach physical, defensive tactics that can be used when faced with aggression.

The instructor certification course equips participants with the skills necessary to execute physical tactics, the knowledge to teach the psychological and informational components, and instills the confidence to be able to lead classes as instructors, said Master Sgt. Andrew F. Sorenson, a security forces flight sergeant.

Classes are geared toward women, and can last nine to 12 hours.

When RADS was just beginning it targeted college campuses, and it was not an easy sell said Kathy Wright, the lead instructor of the course.

"When we approached the administration they were like 'Nope, hands off,'" she said. "All they could envision were students walking around hitting each other, but self defense is so much more than that."

The focus of the RADS program is teaching victims how to get out of a situation safely.

"Self defense is about being in the moment, and doing what you have to do to survive," she said.

The techniques taught in the course are purely offensive, but they can be a deterrent much like defensive moves.

"When someone sees you get into a fighting stance, it can make them think you're about to execute some defensive moves," Sergeant Sorenson said."Then they'll think whoa, let me back off and go find someone weaker."

The physical portion of the curriculum is very demanding, but students feel that it is worth the effort.

One of the students, a 4'10" security forces staff sergeant, Nakenya T. Portela-Bailey, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the armory, said that she is excited to be able to teach the public how to defend themselves in aggressive situations.

"At first, I thought this would be a total waste of time," said Sergeant Portela-Bailey. "But, considering that we're the law enforcement, the fact that we're now able to teach these techniques to people is awesome."

RADS was brought to DM by Lt. Col. James B. Hodges, the 355th Security Forces Squadron commander, who was involved with the program when he was stationed at Pope AFB, N.C.

"There are self defense classes, but this is a fight to survive class," said Colonel Hodges

His father, who has been a RADS instructor for 12 years, impressed this fact upon him with the story of a young college student who had taken the course.

According to his father she was attacked from behind, and she struck her attacker in the throat with her elbow.

The blow caused the attacker to blackout, and allowed her to escape.

Colonel Hodges wanted to offer this program on base because, as a security forces officer, he has first-hand knowledge of the assault crimes committed on installations.

"Last year there were 25 reported cases of sexual assault on D-M," he said. "And that's just the ones that were reported."

According to Ms. Wright, servicemembers can actually be more susceptible to becoming victims of aggression because they travel all over the world, and are put into all types of environments.

"We're trying to help the Airmen, through education, to make better decisions," she added.

Service members can sometimes have a false sense of security because they think that being in the military and on a military installation makes them impervious to attacks, when that is not the case.

Education in things such as self-prevention, risk reduction, and thinking ahead are what make this program so effective, said Col. Hodges.

Some of the women have said learning specifics about their bodies, like where their power base is located, has made them become more confident in their abilities.

"This is about what the average woman wants, which is to get home safely,' said Ms. Wright.