Photo By Staff Sgt. Brittany Cannon | 131st Bomb Wing Citizen-Airmen took part in a Resiliency Fair, in a series of...... read more read more
131st Bomb Wing Citizen-Airmen took part in a Resiliency Fair, in a series of small-group sessions held during March drill at the wing’s three operating sites.
The event helped service members learn about available resources, where to find them, and how to use them. Most importantly, the resource fair was an opportunity to encourage everyone to seek help when they need it in order to keep their lives, their families and their professions on track.
“You may not need these resources today, but you might tomorrow – and if you never need them, one of your fellow Mogarians may need them,” said Col. Ken Eaves, 131st Bomb Wing commander, in his address to participants.
Roughly 100 Airmen heard the message at a time, in each of 13 sessions offered across drill weekend at Whiteman, Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Base and Cannon Range. The goal was 100 percent participation by wing members, to maximize awareness of all available resources and of common stigmas about using those resources.
“Sometimes Airmen are afraid to seek help for mental stress; especially by those who support a strategic deterrence and assurance mission and who might fear they'll be removed from those duties, and that’s not necessarily the case,” said Eaves. “We need you to do the mission, but I need all of you at 100 percent. To help you be your best, we will get you the resources you need.”
Once Eaves addressed the group, Airmen separated into different smaller breakout sessions and rotated through short orientation seminars with each of the seven participating wing helping agencies.
“The biggest take-away is gaining confidence in the resources and how to use them,” said Amy Creighton, 131st Bomb Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. “It’s important for individuals to know seeking help will not hurt their careers.”
Early intervention from trusted and readily available resources is essential to the health and wellness of the wing and its members, and to mission effectiveness, Eaves added.
Core resources on hand to share information about their resources included:
• Airman and Family Readiness Program
• Military and Family Life Counselors and Financial Counselors
• Sexual Assault Response Program
• Wing Director of Psychological Health
• Chaplain resources
• 131st Medical Group services
• Wing Legal Office and Area Defense Counsel
“Our goal is to help you see things from a higher point of view and get a new perspective,” said 131st BW Chaplain Lt Col. Scott Doby of the services offered at the fair. “We want to teach people how to bend without breaking and let them know that when things go wrong in life, you’re not alone – and that it’s normal.”
“Being out on the flight line the majority of time, I was unaware of many of the resources,” said Senior Airman Colin Luke, low observable technician with the 131st Maintenance Squadron. “It’s nice to know that there are resources like free financial advising available and programs for single service members who are traditional Guardsmen.”
Resiliency describes a person’s ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and to bounce back from adversity, according to 131st BW Command Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Settle. Wing leaders planned the Resiliency Fair to best ensure that every one of the 131st's Citizen-Airmen know what resources are available to them, how to use them, and aren't afraid to do so when they need to.
“At one point or another, every Airman will go through a difficult period in their life. The 131st Bomb Wing is committed to providing the resources needed for every one of our Airmen, no matter your job or your unit, where you work, or whether full time or part time,” she said.
A similar event, geared toward spouses and family members directly, is planned for September during annual Family Day events at Whiteman and at Jefferson Barracks, according to Settle. In February, Eaves mailed a letter to each Guard spouse to announce the September events and to invite families to participate.
“I’m new to everything,” said Airman 1st Class Harmony Muller, 131st Operations Group commander’s support staff. “I may not need all these resources now, but it’s nice to know there are resources available when that time comes.”
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2017 18:02 |
| Story ID: | 226834 |
| Location: | WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Resiliency Fair aims 131st Airmen at wing’s key helping resources, by MSgt Colton Elliott, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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