Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sara Kolinski | Michelle Tarca, 104th Fighter Wing psychological health director, meets with the...... read more read more
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BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts – The 104th Fighter Wing utilizes the U.S. Air Force’s Resiliency Training Program to boost Airmen moral and maximize mission readiness through building resilience. The U.S. Air Force identifies the four pillars of resilience as physical, social, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. The Resiliency Training Program was created to help strengthen these pillars through Airmen practicing effective coping strategies in times of hardship.
To help promote these resiliency skills, the Air Force created Resiliency Training Assistant and Master Resiliency Trainer roles to build and sustain a workplace that fosters both physical and emotional resilience. The 104th Fighter Wing has implemented this program by appointing multiple RTA’s and MRT’s throughout base to assist their fellow Airmen in times of need.
“Being an RTA is all about being a good wingman and helping your fellow Airmen cope, whether that be on base or deployed overseas,” said Tech. Sergeant Jessica Gallis, 104th Logistic Readiness Squadron customer service noncommissioned officer in charge. “You get to help people, and then you get to learn how to help yourself.”
To become an RTA, a member must complete a set of trainings that specialize in teaching effective coping skills and identifying factors which can lead to hardship. After additional trainings and shadowing MRT’s, an RTA can further help their fellow Airmen by becoming a Master Resiliency Trainer.
“I definitely want to be a Master Resiliency Trainer,” said Gallis. “I always want to have a bigger effect, and I always want to be that person who can be there for our Airmen and help them get through difficult times by finding ways to cope.”
As the lead Master Resiliency Trainer at Barnes, Michella Tarca, 104th FW psychological health director , hopes to continue to grow the Resiliency Training Program by adding additional RTA’s within each section on base to better assist Airmen when on drill or serving overseas.
“Being an RTA is what the Air Force is all about,” said Tarca. “It’s all about being a good wingman and being able to look out for each other. The more Airmen that we can train to become RTA’s and learn effective coping skills, the better we are able to do that.”
The 104th FW looks to continue to build and foster resilience at Barnes Air National Guard Base by having at least two RTA’s per squadron, in addition to MRT’s, to help train Airmen on how to build effective ways to cope with stress or hardship. Some tools that the program uses to build resiliency is through identifying personal strengths, practicing gratitude, improving mindfulness through balanced thinking, while also helping Airmen set value-based goals.
“I would encourage anyone to become an RTA,” said Gallis. “You really get to make a difference just by being there for people and help people build resilience when they need it.”
| Date Taken: | 03.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2024 12:19 |
| Story ID: | 466380 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD , MA, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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