Team Fairchild enhances resiliency eight hours at a time

by Senior Airman Mary O'Dell
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/4/2013 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE-Wash. -- An Air Mobility Command priority-training course is making its way into the lives of Fairchild Airmen.

This eight hour-resiliency class, designed to build self-confidence, personal strength, spiritual growth and an overall appreciation for life, is open to civilian and military personnel on base.

"Building resilience is vital to overcoming the speed bumps and pitfalls life throws your way," said Maj. Eric Cameron, Fairchild's lead master resiliency trainer and bioenvironmental engineering flight commander. "While the impacts of these adversities are handled in different ways, the fundamental principles being taught in this resilience training provide a skill set that will no doubt enhance everyone's resilience."

Topics discussed during the class include the Comprehensive Airman Fitness Model, how to avoid thinking traps, putting issues in perspective, and capitalizing on strengths.

"Modules are taught using personal examples and interactive tools to help hit main points," said Cameron. "Once individuals have a clear understanding of the skills being taught, they are then given the opportunity to reflect inward to identify and share both challenges and positive moments in their life."

Each of the ten master-resiliency trainers here attended a two-week course at Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. There are also resiliency-trainer assistants who can teach up to four hours of the course.

"This is the best Air Force training I have ever been a part of," said Tech. Sgt. Paula Barkhauer, master resilience trainer. "This training is designed to give our men and women the tools for coping with adversity before an event happens."

AMC's senior leadership established a strategic goal of 20 percent of Airmen receiving eight hours training by the end of 2012. Fairchild exceeded that goal and is on track to meet or exceed again to have 80 percent of the base trained by December 2013.

The First Term Airman Center was the starting venue for Fairchild to get the resilience training off the ground about a year ago. It is also now offered the first and third Tuesday of every month at the education center.