Photo By Master Sgt. Patrick Evenson | U.S. Airmen with the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, gather in the...... read more read more
The 139th Airlift Wing took a wing-wide tactical pause on Nov. 5 to check on our Airmen and ask the question, “How are you doing?”
Many times, the response we hear is “I’m fine,” but on this day, wing leadership took the time to encourage people to answer the question honestly and to provide tools to be more effective wingmen.
The day began with commanders speaking about the importance of taking a step back and directly addressing the issue of suicide. Although the topic of suicide is often uncomfortable to discuss, this conversation opened the door to talk about tools that can be used to help each other, as well as incorporating resiliency as a part of everyday life.
The day continued with luncheons that allowed Airmen to build camaraderie, and concluded with an all-hands call formation with Col. Ed Black, 139th wing commander. Black facilitated a conversation that helped wing members see similarities in their lives.
“We all experience both suffering and hope,” Black said. “They are part of the human experience, and they can enter your life at any time. You are not alone, even when you feel hopeless. You have a whole wing of people who are here for you, so reach out.”
If you are in crisis, call the Veterans/Military Crisis Line (dial 1-800-273-8255 and press 1) to speak with a confidential counselor that can help or call 911.
If you are struggling and need some help, local and national resources are available to help:
• Local: The 139th resiliency center has confidential resources for psychological health (Dr. Phil Pringle, 816-236-3356), sexual assault (139th SARC, 816-236-3371), financial counseling (Randy Gerard, 816-236-3939), family readiness (Airman and family readiness assistant, 816-236-3219) and chaplain services (816-236-3175).
• National: MilitaryOneSource.mil provides similar counseling services and resources. It is available 24/7 to service members and their families still serving, as well as veterans and their families who have separated in the last 365 days.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2019 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 350941 |
| Location: | SAINT JOSEPH, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wing Conducts Tactical Pause to Check On Our Airmen, by Capt. Sean Navarro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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