Leaders help inspire resilience

Published May 4, 2012
By Capt. Kathleen Ferrero
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Multiple deployments. Budget cuts. PT tests. Combat stress. All of these issues weigh down on today's Air Force family.

To help Airmen and family members overcome stress, the Air Force is focused on enhancing force resiliency.

"Resilience does more than help you through bad times," said retired Army Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum during a presentation April 20.

"People who are resilient, and know they are resilient, will be more likely to take advantage of new challenges and opportunities -- not just do better through adversities."

Cornum directed the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, which inspired Comprehensive Airman Fitness, Air Mobility Command's resilience framework.

"I thought this was a program we needed to support. But after hearing Cornum speak, I recognized an even greater need to inculcate resiliency in our lifestyles because of its proven, positive impact," said Brig. Gen. Timothy Green, AMC Director of Installations and Mission Suport.

Resilience is not a specific skill but a set of resources, Cornum said. "Like with physical fitness, a person's potential psychological fitness is a function of genetic potential, environment, and effort," she said.

Master Resilience Trainers help emphasize the impact that individual efforts can have on improving resiliency, countering the "helpless victim" mentality.

Every AMC base has at least one MRT, said Ivera Harris, AMC chief of Airman & Family Services. The trainers teach members that challenges are temporary and not permanent, and that challenges are local and not global. The trainers also share active, constructive response skills to replace passive, destructive response habits.

Another way to boost resiliency resources is using the Global Assessment Tool. The GAT is an anonymous online survey to gauge various aspects of individual resilience. It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is available through the Airman Fitness Tracker at https://www.sft.army.mil/sftfamily/.

Additionally, users are given an option to explore resiliency tips specifically tailored to their GAT results. The GAT directs the user to this training module option after their survey is complete.

But ultimately, resources make little impact without committed, involved wing and squadron commanders.

"Senior leaders need to carry clear, positive resiliency messages to our Airmen and their families and encourage them to take advantage of the training, practice what they learn and grow into stronger teammates and Airmen," said Green.