Resiliency Trainers step up to help Airmen stay mentally fit

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Julie Briden-Garcia
  • 301st Fighter Wing
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Last month, eight Airmen and one key spouse mentor here became Resiliency Training Assistants (RTAs) to support the 301st Fighter Wing's Comprehensive Airman Fitness program. 

Fitness, an integral part of the military, entails an Airman's physical as well mental well-being -- the latter seemingly more difficult to sustain.

"These RTAs serve as a resource to help Airmen, military families and leadership within their units stay connected through education and availability, helping the 301st be a better wing," said Laura Loftin, director of psychological health and master resilience trainer.

Webster explains resilience as the ability to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens. Psychological resilience is defined as an individual's ability to properly adapt to stress and adversity. Resilience takes training.

Emphasizing the wingman concept of Airmen and families taking care of themselves and each other, RTAs equip units with four things: provide resources to units to build a more resilient force, equip leadership with the most recent Air Force resiliency guidance, conduct unit-level training on all skills and assist Master Resilience Trainers during large training events such as Wingman Day.

Loftin explained the course as three days of intense training covering 11 different courses such as physical and spiritual resilience as well as interpersonal problem solving skills.

"The training class was the best I have ever taken in the military," Senior Master Sgt. Angela Rabel, a new RTA and 301st Medical Squadron health administration superintendent. "It was thorough and very valuable in equipping us to take the skills back to our particular units to share. These tools are so simple, yet strategic, in helping all Airmen, regardless of rank, become aware of how and why they should manage their lives in ways that build their resilience."

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force prioritized resilience as one of the top Air Force readiness issues due to high operations tempo, persistent suicide rates, and self-defeating behaviors. In 2011, the Air Force created CAF. 

"Our job is to fight and win the nation's wars," said Gen. Mark A. Welsh, III, Air Force Chief of Staff. "We'll never be good enough at it; we've got to get better every day. It's not an easy task, which is why Comprehensive Airman Fitness is so important. Our focus is on the well-being and care for ourselves, each other and our families so we can be more resilient to the many challenges military service brings."

The Air Force also understands families are vitally important to the culture of embracing holistic fitness and resilience skills, thus spouses participating in the Key Spouse Program are encouraged and can volunteer to train as RTAs.

The program's goal is to build and sustain a thriving and resilient Air Force community explains Karen Breazeale, the class key spouse mentor and wife of the 301 FW commander.

"[Lauran Loftin] did a great job teaching useful skills to cope with various issues that could impact the four pillars of our resiliency: physical, mental, spiritual, and social," Breazeale said. "It was both informative and interactive -- we even taught a class on the last day. I am certain these positive coping skills can help our Airmen, and their families, successfully overcome any challenges that might shake the foundation of their 'four-legged resiliency stool'."