JB MDL participates in Operation Black Eye

Published Nov. 1, 2013
By Robin B. Jordan
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Family Advocacy Program

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Family Advocacy Program, with the support of several volunteers, participated in Operation Black Eye, a social experiment, Oct. 16, 2013, to promote awareness for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to observe bystander responses and interventions.

Every year Family Advocacy coordinates several base wide preventions, response and education efforts to elevate community awareness. This year, Operation Black Eye was implemented to raise awareness and bring to light how we respond as a community to potential victims of domestic abuse. This social experiment has been implemented at several other military installations to promote awareness.

The goal of this experiment was to embed simulated-abused "victims" into various duty sections and then observe the responses of their coworkers with whom they came into contact.

The JB MDL FAP and volunteers assessed bystander attitude, comfort level, familiarity with base services and overall willingness to intervene, ultimately aiding in domestic violence awareness and intervention. The focus was the unfortunate reality of domestic violence and what can be done to assist potential victims.

Supervisors recruited volunteers in each of the 87th Medical Group's subordinate squadrons, without informing the squadron members of the social experiment. Examiners screened each volunteer before participation to assess their comfort levels. Three active-duty military females and one male civilian volunteered for the experiment. The volunteers held various ranks, ages and job descriptions.

On the morning of the experiment, the four volunteers met in the Family Advocacy Program conference room. Two additional volunteers applied makeup to create black eyes and bruises on each of the simulated domestic violence victims. The volunteers were asked to go about their daily routines of patient care, base deliveries or running errands during lunch. The volunteers were instructed to offer no explanation, and instead hand out cards describing the experiment and confirming their safety in case they were confronted by concerned bystanders. The simulated victims were also asked to pay careful attention to their own personal thoughts, feelings and reactions to how they were treated throughout the day as they kept track of bystander interventions.

All participants reported being surprised by their observations.

"I was stared at while running errands at the Exchange but no one approached me," said one active-duty military female volunteer.

Another participant indicated that while delivering items, she was actively ignored by a co-worker. Several people also walked by, but did not intervene, she said, which made her feel odd and ignored.

One of the victims worked in direct patient care and noted none of the patients approached her, but some made minimal eye contact with her after noticing the black eye. The male civilian volunteer noticed others were reluctant to directly intervene in a group setting.
Bystanders approached him in a joking manner during one-on-one interactions, with the presumption the black eye was a result of a fight. Nearly all participants reported that the colleagues who closest to them were the ones who responded. The majority of the participants agreed that the manner in which bystanders approached them was crucial, as many only addressed them in the presence of others or in a joking manner.

The volunteers cited experiencing sadness, disappointment and hurt, resulting from the reactions they received throughout the day.

"I was around this person for an hour and he said nothing," said one volunteer.

The volunteers reported their senior leadership intervened and helped them learn more about the FAP's Domestic-Abuse Victim Advocate and supplied contact information. One senior leader asked if the person was okay and offered a closed-door session to address an incident.

Intervention doesn't require knowing the details about the private lives of everyone in the workplace.

"If someone suddenly comes to work with a black eye, show concern; if someone is being hurt, your silence damages far more than saying something that seems awkward," said Shaleen Anderson, Family Advocacy Program intervention specialist. "Take the time to be discreet, respectful and kind. If you are concerned, say something like, 'If you want to talk or you ever need anything, I am here for you.' Simple words of compassion have the potential to become a lifeline that might create hope that makes a difference in a person's life."

The FAP offers classes on parenting, communication and anger issues which can resolve a situation, rather than reacting after an incident. The FAP also employs a Domestic-Abuse Victim Advocate that is available to provide support and education, resources, court accompaniment and in-person appointments. The DAVA is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"I can't imagine, after this experiment, that I would not intervene," said one of the volunteers. "Knowing that no one said anything to me raises the question of 'what would happen if I were in a real situation?'"

If you or someone you know is at risk of domestic violence, information and services are available on the installation and in our local communities. The JB MDL Family Advocacy Program offers many services, referrals and Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates through contacting (609)754-9680. Their offices are located in the 87th Medical Group's Main Clinic and at Lakehurst co-located with the Military Family Support Center (Bldg. 488).