Commentary - Teal ropes to spotlight sexual assault response

News > Commentary - Teal ropes to spotlight sexual assault response

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Select Airmen began wearing teal ropes, which symbolize sexual assault awareness and support, within the student population at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., starting Oct. 15, 2012. Teal rope members receive specialized training by the 81st Training Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office staff and serve as a link between non-prior service students and SAPRO for information and referral support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kemberly Groue)
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Teal ropes to spotlight sexual assault response

Posted 10/16/2012

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Commentary by 1st Lt. Tina Tissot
81st Training Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office

10/16/2012 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) -- Among the core of our force at Keesler Air Force Base are our technical training students who, no doubt, enter the military with an array of stories.

Although they come from all walks of life, service, sacrifice and commitment are some of the same threads that weave their stories together. But what happens when an incident of sexual assault, whether it occurred before entering military service or after, threatens individual and unit mission readiness?

The introduction of Keesler AFB's unique "teal rope" program will address issues surrounding sexual assault through student involvement. A comprehensive effort is required as part of the solution to effectively address sexual assault issues. The 81st Training Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, in coordination with the 81st Training Group, will manage the teal rope program. Keesler AFB leaders developed the program with the goal of increasing prevention and awareness within the student community and providing outreach events that challenge the beliefs and behaviors that enable sexual violence among peers.

Starting Oct. 15, selected Airmen will begin wearing teal ropes -- the color symbolizing sexual assault awareness and support -- within the student population. Teal rope members receive specialized training by the SAPRO staff and serve as a link between non-prior service students and SAPRO for information and referral support.

Involvement in the program is open to students who have a minimum of two months left in their training. Students must be recommended by their military training leader, pass a background check and maintain an 80 percent grade point average to be accepted into the program. Teal rope members are expected to model the Air Force core values; uphold the highest standards of professionalism as representatives of the SAPRO; and be an approachable, listening ear for their wingmen in times of need.

"This program is so important because it helps raise awareness among our newest Airmen, and they will carry that knowledge throughout their careers," said Chief Master Sgt. Angelica Johnson, 81st Training Wing command chief. "This is an opportunity for Airmen to be leaders and help regulate their fellow Airmen on an important issue. It's also a chance for Airmen to go to a peer they may be more comfortable with, which assists the overall prevention efforts across the base."

All Airmen deserve an environment that is free from sexual harassment and sexual assault, and a culture where they can be treated with dignity and respect.

Shortly after being sworn in as the 20th chief of staff of the Air Force, Gen. Mark Welsh III addressed us all by saying, "Every Airmen has a story ... you are what makes our Air Force the best the world has ever known!"

Whether student or permanent party, we can all be part of the solution to end sexual assault.

Comments

2/2/2013 12:44:31 PM ET
I can easily see how someone in the infantry can be confused over uniforms. This insults no one with any level of intelligence.

JV, Chicago

1/18/2013 4:01:36 PM ET
I have never seen so much whining in my life. It's a coincidence deal with it.

Smitty, SanAnton

1/15/2013 10:57:38 AM ET
This is not the cord you are looking for. Hey the Army thought that giving out the Black Beret to ALL was a great motivator... It wasnt. This 'teal' cord is an insult to the brave men in the Infantry. Why didnt you guys just hand out SEAL tridents I mean you could make them silver right I mean there is no way that a slight color change makes this ok. I am all for the training and availability of these 'counselors' but change the device that identifies them. They will not be well received on Army posts at the very least they will be ordered to remove them by someone with more rank.... and rightly so.

Bastard6B, Missouri

1/13/2013 9:56:08 AM ET
I served for four years as a combat medic in the Army two of them with the infantry. I deployed as a line medic with the infantry. I promise you this is going to cause problems. My infantrymen were and still are very proud of their blue cords. There is a saying in the infantry Why is the sky blue Because God loves the infantry. A cord so close to infantry blue in color being worn by airmen is all kinds of f'ed up. I can't wait for the fallout from this. It's going to be epic. First airmen to get his butt whipped for wearing it off post at JBLM and getting spotted by an 11B is going to be pretty pissed off too.

JR, Jacksonville FL

1/13/2013 8:06:43 AM ET
The Infantry has a proud tradition and sure as the sun rises the first airman seen wearing this on any Infantry post will be beaten to within an inch of his life this is not a threat just a warning.

DMRNK, usa

1/13/2013 6:26:06 AM ET
They should certainly choose another color. The only way to get the Blue Cord is by doing your time in the pines in Ga.

Harmony Church, N.C.

1/13/2013 1:24:54 AM ET
great i now know i have done nothing in the Army as an Infantryman since airfoce now has it....

Roger, killeen

12/9/2012 3:28:21 PM ET
This has to be the dumbest thing I ever heard. After 25 years of service it never ceases to amaze me of things like this. What's next a meritorious medal for not spitting Idiots

Scott , Kansas

12/6/2012 2:56:22 AM ET
Why not chartreuse color cords.Newly minted infantrymen receive their Infantry Blue Cords at a Turning Blue ceremony. My turning blue ceremony was in a waist deep swamp on Ft. Benning........this is about like Air Force Security Forces calling themselves the Infantry of the Air Force. Horse hockey.

Robert Jackson, Oklahoma

12/5/2012 8:21:38 PM ET
You wanna be an Infantryman join the Army. Stupidest crap I've seen the AF do in a while. Wear a cord with the proper uniform after earning it for something besides a class on what you should be doing anyway.

MSG, Texas

12/5/2012 3:17:20 PM ET
The Infantry cord is Blue. Google it.

K Dubyah, Nun ya Business

12/5/2012 1:49:28 PM ET
The people who came up with this should not be allowed to either reenlist or reproduce especially the General who thought it was a good idea. I am alive today because of the gallantry and professional skill of FACs and pilots who put steel on the target in Vietnam. I can't believe this is their legacy. Pogo was spot on with we have met the enemy and he is us.

Col. Sam Floca Jr., Texas

12/5/2012 5:34:30 AM ET
The cord belongs to the Infantry. Find something else.

Barbara Barthen, CT

12/4/2012 9:23:43 PM ET
So I guess the AF didn't learn from the Army's Black Beret experiment. In case you haven't figure it out or heard it didn't work. So do us Infantry guys a favor and get your own cord.. How about just train your Airmen and not baby sit them and enforce the standards.

JG ABN INF, Nashville

12/4/2012 7:18:04 PM ET
Get your grubby hands off my infantry cord. This is just another grab by the air force to look harder then they really are. Anyone who's been deployed with their Security Forces knows what I am talking about. How many times did we have to here them refer to themselves as 'SF'. Out of all of the colors they go for 'teal'. Thats not teal you bastards thats bloody infantry blue which has been given out to the groundpounders since 1952. Get your own color. I recommend 'shitmuckle brown'.

SSG Behrens, FT Riley KS

12/4/2012 6:32:11 PM ET
Bravo Romeo and AF LeadershipUnless the AF has been using ropes in their tech schools since the Korean War you are actually inaccurate and insensitive to the traditions of its sister forces. The AF could have chosen another blue instead of Infantry Blue baby blue or teal.The first unit to be awarded the light blue fourragere was the 3rd Infantry Old Guard est. 1784 assigned to Arlington National Cemetery and stands watch over the Tomb of the Unknowns uninterrupted since 1948.So with the rich history and tradition of the U.S. Army Infantry Cord it is disrespectful of AF leadership to have chosen to use a sacred symbol of the Infantry.My 0.02 worth- but hey I'm just a Grunt.

MB 11B4, CA

12/4/2012 4:57:55 PM ET
Get a different color That color is for Army Infantry ONLY

Justin, Iowa

12/4/2012 4:34:18 PM ET
I understand the need for this awarness training but I totally dislike the ribbob Idea especially a color that it is. I am very proud og my INFANTRY Rope. That looks to close to my prized Infantry Rope. It also looks really stupid with the Camo uniform Please reconsider using the rope concept

SFC C. J. Bury Jr., Baltimore

12/4/2012 4:06:08 PM ET
They should have at least enough respect to change the color this is disrespectful to infantrymen.

Infantry, NC

12/4/2012 4:02:39 PM ET
This is friggin joke. Leave it to the air farce. What's next An I'm sorry for the fat people beret Another waste of government money.

chesty puller, massachusetts

12/4/2012 3:48:10 PM ET
I understand that cords have been worn at tech schools for years and that they can help with peer counseling. However at first and second glance this is an Army Infantry cord. Please consider changing the color or at least the shade or design of the cord to differentiate it from those worn by the Infantry.

Kurt Schneider, Texas

12/4/2012 3:33:33 PM ET
Get your own cord You are going to cause nothing but problems with us INFANTRY that earned that cord and not from just going to a class. Just get a different color.

Tim, OEF

11/1/2012 4:33:53 PM ET
Kudos MSgt Davis.

DLR, JBSA

10/23/2012 4:18:51 PM ET
Very interesting idea. It really brought out the comments too

The Old Retired Guy, San Antonio

10/23/2012 1:20:22 PM ET
Chief Midwest I went and looked at those stories and didn't notice any comments left by Chief Midwest either. Lead by example Chief lead by example.

Old Retired Guy, Retireeville IL

10/22/2012 12:12:53 PM ET
Do we have USAF folks wearing the infantry cord If no what's the issue Can't Army folks differentiate between the uniforms of the two services Hope this program provides the help they need as well as foster an atmosphere that will branch out to the full force.

Retired Shirt, Illinois

10/22/2012 11:53:14 AM ET
Sexual assualt is a CRIME. It should be treated like a CRIME. That doesn't mean having somebody wear a special colored cord. It means taking ACTION. This is eyewash. Will it make a difference I doubt it. We are treating this more like breast cancer...wear a pink ribbon. It isn't a disease. It is a CRIME

Jerry, Oklahama

10/20/2012 4:38:04 PM ET
Certainly not a bad program per se and I can see the argument of having peers to talk so if designating someone within the student population to help--then fine. Not sure how this will help regulate ones fellow airmen on this issue--someone needs to be reminded that sexual assault is wrong I disagree with the prevention statement by Chief Johnson--by the time an airman is talking to a teal rope something probably has already happened. Certainly not a culture issue as people make it out to be...just a few bad apples unfortunately

Realistic, LAFB

10/20/2012 1:59:59 PM ET
What next....Pink ropes for breast cancer awareness It is every NCO's responsibility to be a POC and assist if needed.

Ed Perry, San Antonio

10/20/2012 9:45:53 AM ET
Articles on AFNews about OTW missions MIA aviators' remains returning from VietNam and Silver Stars... and this is the topic that is getting the most attention. Shameful.

Chief, Midwest

10/19/2012 10:10:49 PM ET
Yep that'll fix it. Just all those awareness ribbons and wrist bands. The WWII generation would be embarrassed of us.

guy, atlanta

10/19/2012 4:08:47 PM ET
This is the silliest thing I have heard of in a long time. Educate Airmen on how to stay out of these dangerous situations and the numbers will go down. Too many of these sexual assault stories start with someone putting themselves in a bad situation.

Chris Kimball, Indiana

10/19/2012 2:10:17 PM ET
Instead of tech school this program should be incorporated at Lsckland since recent events have proven that is where it is needed most.

Andrea, Hill

10/19/2012 1:37:55 PM ET
Good idea but a little more research should be done to find a color that will not confuse or offend our sister services. I work with the Army and showed this article to several of my Army peers. They immediately correlated the rope to infantry and shook their heads so I think it might be a good idea to change the color. Victims of sexual assault will often talk to a peer rather than leadership so again this is a good concept. Just change the color as it is not too late.

Chief, TX

10/19/2012 12:38:42 PM ET
Editor's note: This comment was rejected because it did not meet the comment rules. Please review the comment rules, which can be found just above the comment submission form.

Mandingo Warrior, under your bed

10/19/2012 9:21:23 AM ET
Are you kidding me? What a horrible idea. I can't even stomach reading the rest of the article. How embarassing

Proud to be, AETC

10/18/2012 7:30:04 PM ET
I was a victim on sexual assalut in tech school and i had no one to talk to. i think this would have been helpful to me. im glad they are putting airman to help airman. its hard and intimating to talkto the MTL's and the 1st Sgt especially when you are new and you dont know what their role entails. we need to learn to trust eachother and have someone in our peer group to help us. They do however need t be trained on how to deal with the issue and respect privacy.

yayi, hickam

10/18/2012 7:22:52 PM ET
The comment trolls and negativity on any and all of the stories on this site are really getting out of hand. Instead of flaming the authors or denigrating the programs, how about you come up with alternative solutions if you think these are so unacceptable? Out of all the comments on this story, @Joe Offutt is the only one who even leaned toward that. No organization is perfect, but if the AF has gotten so stupid and wasteful and ridiculous as your comments would lead us to believe, why aren't you putting in your separation papers? Surely there are civilian organizations out in the real world that are salivating to have you and your awesome attitudes on board. Instead of using what few brain cells you have to put everything down, why don't you try to use them to make things better. You could start by shutting up.

KHM, OCONUS

10/18/2012 3:15:50 PM ET
LOVE the comments on these. They bring out the Blue Kool-Aid drinkers enmass

Garrett, Reality

10/18/2012 1:50:04 PM ET
Whatever happened to the idea that the all volunteer force were made up of people who were educated and of higher caliber then low uneducated people found through out the troubled city streets. I think 99.9 percent of the military are highly responsible people, some may not know what consistutes sexual assault in the minor sense or infraction. At least I hope that may be the case in some cases. Just weed out the bad ones with zero tolerance.

SNCO Ret 89, Ohio

10/18/2012 11:30:10 AM ET
Words cannot describe just how epically dumb this idea is. Wonder when the rainbow diversity rope will come out......

That guy, over there...

10/18/2012 11:09:39 AM ET
Another program like so many others to address the result. We really need programs to address the cause and not the effect proactive involvement at every level focused on prevention. Teaching young Amn to get involved to listen to be aware of signs of distress those should be the goals. This rope is nothing more than training a few to do what all should be doing. Shouldn't we all model AF core values not just teal rope folks

Joe, Offutt

10/18/2012 2:49:48 AM ET
Really This is gonna fix what They should save money and just wrap a reflective belt around their shoulder.....

Nasty, Almost retired

10/17/2012 5:18:50 PM ET
So I would make a great E9 because I support the concept of helping our Amn in Tech Trg I'm just a SNCO that is thinking positive and waiting to see if this makes a difference in our sexual assault numbers actually being reported in tech trg if that makes me drinking the blue kool aid or a future E9 then so be it. Way to go Keesler for trying something new and seeing if the result will be worth the criticism we shall see in time.

MSgt Davis, Lackland AFB

10/17/2012 3:37:49 PM ET
to Maj staff....Glad that you think oh SO highly of us Sir...This was sarcasm in case you didnt pick it up.

John Smith, My Tardis

10/17/2012 2:47:58 PM ET
For the last 65 years Airmen have behaved like rabbits in heat. This little cutsie rope will not change a thing.

Maj, staff

10/17/2012 2:24:20 PM ET
right beacuse people actually listen to ropes...lol this is gonna fail so hard. man we need a better system to help victims...this isnt working.pretty color tho i like teal.

John Smith, My TARDIS

10/17/2012 2:12:44 PM ET
Msgt Davis you would make a excellent E9.

blue , Kool aid

10/17/2012 12:43:22 PM ET
A two syllable word comes to mind and the first syllable is BULL.

Col Flagg, Here

10/17/2012 11:54:53 AM ET
The White Rope or Chaplain Program is to assist the Chaplains with their service and be a listening ear if needed not to be smart on Sexual Assault. By the article these Amn will receive specialized training from the SARC on how to help sounds like a victim advocate in the dorm.

MSgt Davis, Lackland AFB

10/17/2012 10:16:04 AM ET
Isn't this the same as the white rope White ropes sign a confidentiality agreement and are supposed to be available to NPS Airman for any personal issues they may have but are not comfortable talking with an MTL about sexual assault included.

Airman, Fresh out of Tech

10/17/2012 10:01:10 AM ET
Wow is the first comment that comes to mind when reading all of these comments. We wonder what is wrong with our Air Force and really we need to Check the Mirror where has the positivity gone It's apparent that none of you have been an MTL and know what this program is going to represent within the community but I think it's a brillant idea and wish I would of thought of it. Amn don't want to talk to people that they don't know they would rather confide in each other and if you were in the tech training world you would know how many sexual assaults go un-reported because they don't want to go to leadership etc... This isn't going to replace SARC it's going to assist SARC and hopefully help many young Airmen get the help they need. Who cares if it looks like an Army rope that's not the point... and I'm sure if it gets implemented across the AF that the uniform board may tweak it. Try seeing past the rope and looking for the positive of what Keesler is trying to do

MSgt Davis, Lackland AFB

10/17/2012 7:51:31 AM ET
Bravo RomeoI am quite aware that the AF has had ropes at tech school. I did not say that the Air Force was copying infantry cords I said that the similarity was embarassing. I have no doubt that this was simply an oversight on the part of whoever's OPR this bullet is going on that doesn't make it right. Once again. the SIMILARITY to Army infantry cords is not okay. Chalk you down for reading comprhension.

SrA Snuff, Right Coast

10/17/2012 12:08:04 AM ET
Don't be fooled this is in response to the Commander Directed Investigation and California Congresswoman Jackie Speier. This is another measure implemented at the suggestion of the Congresswoman and nothing more. This little rope will do nothing. Absolutely nothing. How about we have some stones AETC and stand up and say that 99 percent of MTIs AMTs MTLs and Instructors are doing what's right instead of rolling over while Speier calls us all rapist.

Shawn, AETC Fantasy Land

10/16/2012 8:37:39 PM ET
I pity the poor bastards that volunteer or are volutold into this position. I can't think of a quicker way to ostracize someone.

A1C Islander, Hickam

10/16/2012 7:15:09 PM ET
This is a mistake that is going to cost a student. While I understand the purpose my question is why I'm sure the answer is that for a student if the assault is from an instructor or MTL then they may not feel comfortable reporting it up the chain. My question is then where is the teal rope for permanent party who suffer assault from within their chainIf the purpose is just to provide a POC for the students to report assault to then why are we bothering with briefing them on the SAPR office in their inprocessing week Why bother training victim's advocates.My biggest fear is that this misguided program is going to lead to a student accidentally making an unrestricted report.Bottom line--good intent bad execution.

Tony, LA

10/16/2012 5:16:14 PM ET
The AF has used the ropes at tech schools for a long time: red ropes, black ropes, yellow ropes. Saying this particular rope is copying infantry cords is actually inaccurate.

Bravo Romeo, Fort Meade

10/16/2012 4:16:23 PM ET
this is the dumbest thing I've seen in a long long time.

are you, kidding me

10/16/2012 4:10:36 PM ET
I'd invite the Air Force to try this out at a tech school that shares space with Army or on an Army post and see how long it lasts. The similarity to infantry cords that the Army wears is insulting to them. Whoever thought of this should be ashamed.

SrA Snuff, Right Coast

10/16/2012 3:54:59 PM ET
Nice Infantry cord.

RG, Nellis

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