Institute for Learning, Education and Development (ILEAD)

Bystander Intervention Training for Veterans provides tools and techniques to respond if Veterans witness harassment or sexual assault.

As VA Secretary Denis McDonough said, "Every VA patient, their families and caregivers, as well as sexual assault survivors, staff, visitors and advocates should feel safe in all VA facilities." At the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) we are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and welcoming environment in every VA facility.

As part of this commitment, VA is pleased to announce the release of Bystander Intervention Training for Veterans. This training provides tools and techniques to respond if Veterans witness harassment or sexual assault. The training will increase confidence in recognizing situations where harassment is taking place and will equip Veterans with knowledge and skills to prevent those situations from escalating. It will also help them recognize when to seek out assistance. This free online training is an opportunity for Veterans to learn ways that they can contribute to a healthy and safe environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

We all have a role to play to keep our community in VA safe and free of harassment and taking Bystander Intervention Training for Veterans can help in this effort. The training requires no registration, can be accessed from a computer, smartphone, or tablet and only takes 30-35 minutes to complete.

Thank you for your service and for your commitment to a harassment-free VA.