Dodging stressors and building Airmen resiliency

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. N.B.
  • 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- --  The Hunters have taken a very different approach to changing the "wingman" culture, as part of the ongoing effort to build more resilient Airmen.

The 432nd Wing, 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing held a dodge ball tournament to kickoff the quarterly Comprehensive Airmen Fitness day on Aug. 9. The tournament's purpose was to provide an opportunity to help Airmen think outside the box when it comes to CAF days.

"CAF day is a combined day of safety, training and resiliency," said the Command Chief of the 432nd WG, 432nd AEW Chief Master Sgt. Butch Brien. "It's about getting together as a team, breaking away from the normal 'safety day' and really looking at the big picture to help our Airmen."

The tournament included 130 Airmen broken into 13 teams. Teams were encouraged to dress in costumes, develop chants and have fun.

"It was a good morale booster for Airmen to come together and play a fun game of dodge ball," said Airman 1st Class Andrew, 432nd WG, 432nd AEW knowledge operations specialist. "It was awesome seeing the wing commander all dressed up and having fun with his Airmen."

Smaller breakouts at the squadron level will continue this month with the quarter's focus area, mental resiliency.

The mental pillar focuses on helping Airmen approach life's challenges in a positive way by demonstrating self-control, stamina and good character all while seeking help and offering help to others.

Wing leadership expressed immense support for CAF days and their importance to make sure they are doing everything they can to help strengthen Airmen.

Brien went on to say, "We need to be safe, fit to fight and work on resiliency together so we can help one another out."

By helping Airmen understand the application of CAF through interactive training and team-building activities, the training teaches Airmen to respond to life stressors.

The four pillars of CAF are mental, physical, social and spiritual. Each is designed to continually work together to support Airmen and their families.

To learn more about the four pillars of resiliency, visit the Air Combat Command CAF website at http://www.acc.af.mil/library/comprehensiveairmanfitness/index.asp.