Circle of 6: Cadets to download app to increase safety, prevent violence Published Jan. 8, 2015 By Amber Baillie U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Circle of 6 phone app allows cadets and Airmen to discretely notify their friends should they find themselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. Developed in 2011 by Tech 4 Good, Inc., the app allows users to store six names and numbers of people they trust. In an unsafe situation, the user can press a "Call Me" option sending out a text message to their "circle of 6" saying, "Call and pretend you need me. I need an interruption." The user can also select a "Come Get Me" option sending out a text message that reads, "Come and get me. I need help getting home safely," along with their GPS location. "It's important because people should have every tool available to them to keep them safe," said 2nd Lt. Tobiah Kroskob, a Culture, Climate, and Diversity Projects staff member here. " It's a really quick and easy way to communicate with the people you trust, should you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation such as sexual assault or feeling uncomfortable by yourself." The app is free to the general public and available for Apple and Android users to download. "Cadets have their phones on them all the time and the app is user friendly," said Cadet 1st Class Avery Larkin, Personal Ethics and Education representative here. "This app is another avenue to communicate. If you're feeling unsafe you can simply press the circle." "A lot of cadets are good about using the buddy system and don't go out alone," she said. "Even so, I'd rather have the app and not need it than need it and not have it." Circle of 6 was created during the White House "Apps Against Abuse" challenge. In November, the Cadet Wing along with PEERs here participated in the "It's On Us" campaign, a White House initiative against sexual assault. All cadet squadrons were briefed on the campaign and app. U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School cadet-candidates will be briefed this month. "It's so simple," said Cadet 1st Class Lauryn Van Valkenburg, a PEER representative here. "It takes two taps on your phone to communicate to a friend that you need help. You don't have to text a full sentence or contact multiple people because the app does it for you." The app also gives users access to the national sexual assault hotline, the campus anti-violence support center (put in by the user) and links to information on healthy relationships. "It's an easy way to increase cadets' awareness and open dialogue," Larkin said.