Seminar helps Scott couples stay resilient

Published March 28, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Scott Air Force Base hosted resilience training for 12 couples at the Enlisted Professional Enhancement Center March 23-24.

The two-day training, which was specifically designed for couples, taught eight techniques to help cope with stress, solve problems and communicate.

"I really didn't know what to expect when I went to the training," said Eliane Sinnot, a Scott spouse.

Senior Airman Lucas Sinnot, 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron, had taken the unit resiliency training a few months earlier and saw how it could positively affect his relationship with his wife.

"I wanted the both of us to be able to identify things together as we learn," said Sinnot.

One of the major points the couple took away from the training was how to respond in an active and constructive way.

"Now we can identify areas that might set each other off and can communicate more efficiently," Sinnot said.

The Sinnot's took the training with the future in mind. They wanted to be able to handle every situation positively.

"With a baby on the way, that can add a lot of stress," he said. "If we know how to talk to each other, we can try to lessen the stress."

Another couple, the Kruse-Wrights, also took the training not knowing what to expect.

"I was expecting the training to be a 'somebody's wrong' type of training," said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Kruse-Wright, Airman Leadership School instructor. "I was wrong. It was more of understanding your partner."

Participants took a 240-question survey which identified their top and bottom strengths. Based on the top and bottom strengths, couples learned different ways of handling situations.

"I thought the training was going to be personality based," said Jennifer Kruse-Wright, Customer Contact Association employee. "The training took the strengths and weaknesses of each personality and explained how they were skills."

Optimism and positively responding were the key points they took out of the training.

"I think that if I focus on how to react to her good news I can yield a more optimistic view," Nicholas Kruse-Wright said.

Other skills covered included avoiding thinking traps, detecting icebergs, hunting the good stuff and putting things into perspective.

"It really exceeded my expectations," she said. "Most people wouldn't think that spending eight hours of your weekend training to be resilient would be worth it, but it is."