AFGSC hosts human weapons system team conference

Photo By Senior Airman Tessa Corrick | Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Purdue University Military Family Research Institute director, speaks to a group of attendees at the 2018 Human Weapons System Team conference at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Feb. 12, 2018. MacDermid provided key concepts for resiliency in children, families and military communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tessa B. Corrick)  

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES

02.22.2018

Story by Airman 1st Class Tessa Corrick 

2nd Bomb Wing

Air Force Global Strike Command hosted the 2018 Human Weapons System Team Conference Feb. 12 to 13, at Barksdale Air Force Base.
The conference, comprised of attendees from each AFGSC base, addressed programs and questions regarding Airmen, civilians and their families.
“The purpose of the conference was to continue to build of command-wide quality of life initiatives to assist our Airmen, civilians and their families to reach their full potential,” said Maj. Richard Laca, AFGSC A1 personnel programs branch chief and key leader in the planning for the conference.
The H-WST conference also provided an avenue to speak on issues affecting each base and discuss possible solutions.
Key speakers included Gen. Robin Rand, AFGSC commander, Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, AFGSC deputy commander, and Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Purdue University Military Family Research Institute director.
“The whole idea is that we get these new ideas and establish a follow through,” Tibbets said. “Personnel think outside the box and we encourage them to do so. We want all of those ideas, even if we get a hundred and only two work out - we still want those two.”
Resiliency is a big factor for the H-WST. MacDermid was able to provide key concepts for resiliency in children, families and military communities.
“Resilience is a complicated construct,” MacDermid said. “That is why the challenge of assimilating and interpreting difficult experiences and building them into your soul, understanding and intellect is hard work - it also takes time. On the back end it can be wonderful because it can make you a better person.”
The H-WST is a growing program which allows AFGSC to support personnel in their work centers, but also offers support that they can take home with them.
“We care about our great Airmen, civilians and their families,” Rand said. “We want to make sure that we are addressing their needs. Then we get to work and identify ways that we can get better.”

• Date Taken: 02.22.2018
• Date Posted: 02.22.2018 09:18
• Story ID: 266787
• Location: BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, US