From Survivor to Ethics Trainer

One of my favorite parts of this job is conducting training related to ethics and victim services. Yesterday, I was booked to speak to Army SARCs and SAPR VAs from across the service.

Last week, I created a brand new ethics training for this class based on notes and ideas I had bouncing around from prior trainings. Instead of the typical discussion of the D-SAACP Code of Ethics and policy constraints and so on, I decided to focus up front on Why We Do This Work by discussing motivations and personal missions.

Then I transition into discussing:

• What was your first SAPR work day like?
• What was your best SAPR day like?
• What was your worst SAPR day like?
• What are you most proud of doing this work?
• Then I ask, “why didn’t you quit on the worst day?”

Literally, ask the questions and then we talk before transitioning.

Once are on the same page about our personal motivations, we tie them into how boundaries and policy assist us with remaining focused on the task at hand – victim care. Then, tie it off with a nice bow focusing on some bullet points to help with a gut check to keep ourselves honest.

Some feedback quotes from the recent training:

• Thank you for being so candid and straight forward. This is serious business and was such a great class.
• One of the better Ethics Classes I’ve sat through!! Thank you!!

Anyway, I enjoyed that class and the participation. Can’t wait to launch it with the Marine Corps.