Resiliency Campus builds stronger mind, body, spirit

Photo By Maj. Spencer Garrison | U.S. Army Capt. William Whitfield, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Engineer Bn., and Capt. Kellen Peterson, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div., carry one another Feb. 24, 2016, at the Fort Hood Resiliency Campus during "Medal of Honor" physical training, a circuit workout designed to challenge and inspire Soldiers by relating the exercises to the actions of real-world Medal of Honor recipients. The exercises, which included tactical movements such as sprints, low-crawls, and carrying a simulated casualty to safety, are part of Fort Hood’s pre-command course for unit commanders and first sergeants. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Spencer Garrison, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

02.24.2016

Story by Capt. Spencer Garrison 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas - The Fort Hood Resiliency Campus is keeping busy in its mission to strengthen the Army profession and support the Fort Hood community in mind, body and spirit.

Most recently, the campus hosted classes for unit commanders, first sergeants and master resiliency trainers, to equip leaders with knowledge and resources to build resiliency among their own Soldiers and Families.

"The Resiliency Campus acts as a one stop shop for helping Soldiers...work through their problems, receive assistance on things that come up in their life, (and) help them optimize their own performance," said Capt. Jason Norwood, the Resiliency Campus commandant.

This was on full display Feb. 24 at the campus's Applied Functional Fitness Center, where unit commanders and first sergeants gained first-hand experience with the fitness center's rigorous training programs, including suspension training and total-body resistance exercises.

"This class helps motivate Soldiers, boost their esprit-de-corps, and normally even if they're tired coming in, they're going out energized and more resilient," said Sgt. Kelly Velasco, a master fitness trainer who helped lead the suspension training workout.

The commanders and first sergeants then moved outside where they were introduced to "Medal of Honor" physical readiness training, a circuit workout designed to challenge and inspire Soldiers by relating the exercises to the actions of real-world Medal of Honor recipients. This included tactical movements such as sprints, low-crawls and carrying a simulated casualty to safety.

The physical training is an overview for these unit leaders, Norwood explained, to equip them with a greater knowledge of the resiliency-focused programs and facilities available to their Soldiers and families.

While the morning's activities focused on developing physical resiliency, he noted this kind of training benefits Soldiers in other ways, as well.

"Resilience is resilience...the ability to bounce back from things physically will play into Soldiers' ability to bounce back from challenges in other aspects of their lives," Norwood said.

Another program occurring that morning at the Resiliency Campus was the Master Resilience Training course, a two-week course which certifies Soldiers, Army Civilians and spouses to lead the resilience training programs in their individual units, organizations and family readiness groups. The morning discussion included calm breathing techniques and "hunting the good stuff," a deliberate focus on positive thinking.

The Fort Hood Resiliency Campus’s mission is to facilitate readiness and resiliency in the Fort Hood community through the integration of holistic mind, body and spirit programs and education in order to strengthen the Army profession and improve unit readiness. For more information about programs and services offered through the Resiliency Campus, please call [phone].

• Date Taken: 02.24.2016
• Date Posted: 03.02.2016 21:44
• Story ID: 190898
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US