Over half of the women in the United States have experienced sexual violence during their lifetimes and one in four have experienced an attempted or completed rape. Most of these occur before the age of 25 with many of them occurring while the woman is a minor. 1 Though one in three men report sexual violence with physical contact during their lifetime, it is no surprise the vast majority of victims are women. 1
There are several strategies to address these troubling statistics which include promoting social norms that protect people against violence, teaching skills to prevent sexual violence, creating protective environments, and supporting victims and survivors. However, one proactive approach is to provide women and girls with opportunities to empower themselves. 1
That’s where the UNC Health Appalachian Hospital Police come into the picture. In 2007 their first full-time officers became certified RAD instructors and they began offering Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Women’s Basic Self Defense training in 2008.
Though RAD Systems offers specific classes for men, the classes taught through UNC Health Appalachian are only for women.
“Originally my decision to become an instructor came from seeing that there was a gap in the availability within the community for this type of training. At the time, Appalachian State University Police Department offered the training, but it was restricted to their student population. Once becoming an instructor and presenting the training a number of times, I saw the impact the course had on so many people from different walks of life,” said Mark Hassell, Lieutenant for the UNC Health Appalachian Police Department. “This is what inspires me to continue offering the training and trying to reach as many people as I can with it. My earnest hope is that no one is ever put into a situation that they have to rely upon the physical training that they have learned, but if they are, I want them to have every tool possible, available to them. My wife not only found the course empowering, but believed in the value it imparts to every participant so strongly, that she became an instructor as well. It truly is a great experience and I feel honored and blessed to be a part of each and every class.”
Hassell says during the training, the focus is on using techniques and body mechanics to maximize the power that every woman has. This class is designed for the average woman with no previous experience or background in physical skills training. During the last session of a class students may choose to participate in a “fight day” or simulation. This involves instructors donning protective suits and running students through several real-life scenarios. This optional portion of the class allows each participant to test out the techniques they have learned with realistic scenarios, in a safe environment. He says many times toward the end of the session participants admit they never knew they were so physically strong.
“This course doesn’t just cover physical techniques, it explores societal expectations and historical constraints placed on women, it delves into the mindset of the attacker to better understand how to prevent becoming a target of violence, it provides ways to become more situationally aware and it truly is an empowering experience for most everyone that participates,” Hassell says. “During the lecture/discussion-based portion of the training, we also invite our local domestic violence resource center, OASIS, Inc. to speak with our participants about the resources that they have available, should anyone ever be in need, as well as how to help someone you know that is experiencing domestic violence.”
UNC Health Appalachian Hospital Police offer RAD courses for free to any woman between the ages of 10 and 90 who wants to attend. At the end of a course, participants receive a signed manual which becomes their ticket to return and practice at any class held anywhere in the world, free of charge, as long as there is space in the class.
Due to the number of instructors and training space available, the class size is capped at 24 participants for each session. Hassell says he is often asked if a participant can bring their daughter to class. He says girls 10-14 may attend with their parent or guardian and girls 15-17 can attend with a signed permission slip or waiver from a parent.
He also said they have found that participating in this class with a daughter, sister, cousin, or friend, tends to be a great bonding experience.
“I have seen, even for people who have never met one another prior to this training, that there is a strong bond that is formed during course,” Hassell said.
To date, more than 900,000 women have attended RAD Basic Physical Defense training, throughout the world. UNC Health Appalachian Hospital Police hopes to add to that number by offering RAD sessions in May and July. These are 12-hour classes that are split into three days (all on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.). All classes are held at the Watauga County Recreation Center.
Although the majority of the instructors are sworn law enforcement officers, some women who have completed the class go on to become instructors. Male instructors must have a law enforcement background or submit to a background investigation. Once approved, all instructor candidates attend an instructor course and are required to be checked off on every part of the program by RAD Systems staff instructors in addition to annual training to maintain certification.
The most popular and most often held class is the Basic Physical Defense course. UNC Health Appalachian Hospital Police Instructors are also certified to present Advanced Self Defense, Keychain Defense Options, RAD for Seniors and Aerosol Defense Options courses.
1 – https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/fastfact.html
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