Photo By Senior Airman Samuel Toman | Raven Coward, director of psychological health for the 153rd Airlift Wing, poses for a...... read more read more
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Raven Coward, director of psychological health for the 153rd Airlift Wing, has served the Wyoming Air National Guard since August 2023. She provides direct support to Airmen through counseling, telehealth services, crisis response and coordination of community-based resources, helping ensure that service members have the mental health resources they need, even if they live far from a military base.
In addition to her clinical duties, Raven collaborates on family readiness initiatives, morale events and member support programs. She said her priority is making sure Airmen have access to timely care and guidance. Raven said her role also involves consulting with commanders on mental health issues, connecting members to local resources and providing ongoing support for those in crisis.
“Mental readiness directly affects mission readiness,” Raven said. “If someone’s functioning is impaired, even by something small, it can impact the entire process. Every job is essential. If one part of the machine stops, the mission doesn’t move the way it needs to.”
Raven oversees the wing’s suicide prevention program, which she has made interactive to better engage Airmen during training sessions. She said the goal is to make difficult conversations more approachable and to give members tools to recognize and address mental health challenges. She often incorporates images and examples specific to her wing to make training personal and relatable.
She said the most rewarding part of her work is hearing from members who later share how a conversation, resource or training resonated with them. “That’s the hope, that we make a positive impact on people’s lives,” Raven said. “When someone tells you it mattered, that gets me in my heart.”
Raven said her dedication to the work stems in part from personal experience and a family history of military service. “I’ve seen suicide impact entire families,” she said. “Talking about it openly and improving support can help people return to a place where they can function and enjoy life.”
Outside of work, Raven enjoys participating in community theater, volunteering, knitting and spending time with her children. She is also known around the wing for her unofficial work uniform: a growing collection of 25 pairs of overalls, which she wears daily.
24 Hour Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 or TEXT 838255
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2025 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 551236 |
| Location: | CHEYENNE, WYOMING, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Raven Coward Leads Psychological Health Initiatives for Wyoming Air National Guard, by SrA Samuel Toman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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