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Life is filled with choices. Sometimes the decisions we make can lead us down the right road, while others take us off course. Those speed bumps in life can make or break us, but what we do in the aftermath of failure determines whether we rise above it or continue down a path of destructive behavior.
To address a topic facing many military personnel, Naval Station Norfolk hosted the “Change the Culture” program at the Wind and Sea Recreation Center, July 12.
Developed by Capt. Roy Nafarrete, United States Pacific Fleet’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Officer (SAPRO), the program is an approach to destructive behavior prevention that shows how to maintain a resilient workforce by eliminating destructive behaviors and promoting positive ones.
The program began by defining the Navy’s culture.
“The Navy is a cultural space,” said Nafarrette. “A space can also be your circle of friends, or your command. San Diego has its own culture. Norfolk definitely has its own culture. A culture, simply defined, is what is normal. More specifically, it’s what is accepted as normal behavior by the majority of people in a space.”
Destructive behavior in a culture can include sexism, racism, hazing, and even assault and suicide. Changing the culture to eliminate such behaviors can mean many things.
“What change the culture means to me is creating an evolved moral standard to create the most advantageous environment to be comfortable, productive and instilling a want to come to work,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Daquann Woodall, the Coalition of Sailors against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) command coordinator for the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “This is approached by attacking the base of the problem with educating Sailors and raising awareness on topics that damage our ability to perform and have team cohesion. These topics are, but not limited to sexism, racism, prejudices, fear, domestic violence and DUIs [driving under the influence]. In a nutshell, destructive behaviors.”
The Change the Culture program aligns closely with the goals of CSADD.
“This program relates to CSAAD in purpose and the approach of changing the culture,” said Woodall. “The intent is to prevent Sailors from making a destructive decision by educating in a variety of ways, including different forms of communication. The CSAAD program is run by E-5 and below who task each other to create ways to prevent destructive behaviors amongst their peers. The end goal is preserving combat readiness and allowing shipmates to become efficient bystander interventionists.”
CSADD has worked to provide resources for the command that can help prevent many destructive decisions, especially when it comes to alcohol and how Sailors can affect others with their decisions.
“CSADD is currently working on health promotions and preventing DUIs and ARIs [alcohol related incidents] from affecting our shipmates,” said Woodall. “They have been the driving force distributing Safe Ride cards and produced a multi-source drinking and driving program card such as LYFT, UBER, and Safe Ride. CSADD filmed a video highlighting some realistic scenarios of how one decision can affect another, but most importantly it identifies all of the resources we have on board USS George Washington for assistance.”
Sometimes, the best way to help Sailors off of a destructive path is through direct intervention.
“When Sailors see shipmates leading a destructive lifestyle, they should say something,” said Woodall. “Approach the person and inquire about their life. Depending on the response or reaction, determine the resource needed. It can be something as simple as them just being a listening ear.”
Influencing the behavior of others is a mark of leadership. However, demonstrating real leadership can be easier said than done.
“A true leader isn’t someone who can recite verse out of a policy because telling someone to do something just because it comes from a book isn’t leadership,” said Nafarrete. “A true leader is someone who can influence others to change their behavior, good or bad. You can’t accomplish that without influence, but you can’t have influence without credibility.”
Nafarrete said that, for a leader, the first step to building credibility is simply to be honest with themselves about what they are doing right and wrong with how they talk, think and conduct themselves. Focusing on the ways one needs to improve will display a greater strength of character to others.
“Sailors who oppose behaviors they disagree with run the risk of being ostracized,” said Nafarrete. “Sometimes, all it takes is that open act to make someone else speak up. That Sailor has influenced someone else to follow their example, which makes them a leader.”
Leading by example may seem challenging, but it’s an opportunity to create a positive impact in the Navy’s culture, both now and in the future.
“The change can be gradual, but if people are honest and open about doing the right thing, it will affect the actions of those around them, and thus change the culture,” said Nafarrete. “When new Sailors come to a command, they will parrot the culture, and perpetuate the values that we hold as important in the Navy.”
Life is about choices! What we say and do can determine the road ahead. By being the best version of ourselves, we can look out for one another and be committed to the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment, while fostering a Navy culture that best reflects our one Navy team!
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2018 14:12 |
| Story ID: | 284607 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 640 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Change the Culture: Avoiding Destructive Behavior, by PO2 Adam Ferrero, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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