Dover Airmen learn life-coping skills

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/18/2012 - Dover Air Force Base, Del. -- Fifty airmen at Dover Air Force Base, Del., attended resilience training on Dec. 14. This training was one of 29 training sessions conducted by seven Master Resilience Trainers and six Resilience Training Assistants in 2012, 33 of which have been conducted since Air Mobility Command's big push in September. AMC's goal is train 20 percent of active-duty military across the command by Dec. 31, 2012. The 436th Airlift Wing will finish the year strong, reaching 28 percent of their active-duty military equating to approximately 950 personnel.

The resilience training course is designed to focus on Airmen and their family's total well-being and support the Air Force Comprehensive Airman Fitness framework, which consists of the "4 Pillars of Fitness:" mental, physical, social and spiritual.

"During the eight-hour class, participants are taught the seven competencies that build an individual's ability to be resilient and the nine skills directly tied to enhancing those competencies," said Master Sgt. Jeanette Spain, Senior MRT. "This class teaches the resilience skills that directly tie into everyone's ability to be more resilient and the effectiveness of the skills is dependent on an individual's commitment to using them," said Spain.

Spain said trainers teach the skills that enable mental toughness, optimal performance, strong leadership and goal achievement.

Research has shown the benefits of the training include less stress and anxiety, better health and sleep, increased energy, focus, self-awareness, confidence, improved relationships, communication and performance.

Spain said resilience training is like preventative maintenance for your car. It's a proactive approach to develop and equip Airmen and their families to navigate through life's everyday challenges before they happen, said Spain.

She feels confident that this course and regular use of these tools will have a positive impact on an Airman as a leader, spouse, parent, coworker and friend.

"It [resilience training] allows us to draw on or build inner strength that enables us to do more than survive but also thrive both personally and physically," said Spain. "Everyone can be more resilient."

Staff Sgt. Jennipher Scribner, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron supply technician, attended the course. She said the training was very helpful for her as she prepares for an upcoming deployment in May.

"I think Airmen, people in general, have a whole lot of things on their plates may it be social, work or life," said Scribner. "This [training] can teach you to go and pick up yourself and carry on especially with the deployment tempo, particularly in my career field. This can help you learn how to deal with life."

Scribner said this training has helped her learn other ways of helping any Airman that may have problems in their life.

Spain said utilizing the skills taught during the training, on a regular basis, allow Airmen to be better prepared for future situations and have more control on the outcome.

"This training changed my life. A complete paradigm shift in the way I think, view and respond to daily situations and people," said Spain. "Eight-hours is a long time to be away from your work centers just to sit in a classroom but the clarity you gain from attending the training is well worth it."

Wing leadership has been impressed with the training.

"I am very excited about this training. It teaches our Airmen life lessons that will help them in all facets of their life and will ultimately increase Team Dover's mission readiness," said Chief Master Sgt. James Smith, 436th Airlift Wing command chief. "The resilience training team has done a fantastic job training the members of Team Dover."