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Wingman Week teaches spiritual, mental resiliency

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Keesler Airmen participated in different events to build resiliency and wingmanship throughout the base organizations June 8-12.

Airmen were able to break from their daily jobs to focus on unit cohesion and wellness using the spiritual and mental domains of the Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

"In 2012, the Air Force implemented Comprehensive Airman Fitness to improve the well-being, reduce self-defeating behaviors, enhance work and life balance for Airmen and families and strengthen personal readiness," said Liz Waters, 81st Training Wing community support coordinator. "The program's cornerstone is resilience development, under the auspices of four key domains:  mental, physical, social and spiritual health. Individuals benefit from Wingman Week activities as it reinforces the fundamentals of resiliency through programs that encourage healthy positive behaviors for themselves, their family, friends and their community."

Events like the Resilient Color Me 5K, Air Force Storytellers and Resilience Fair were held not only to show Airmen resilience in the work place but also in their personal lives.

At the Storytellers event, Airmen like Staff Sgt. LC Fowler, 336th Training Squadron military training leader, were able to share their personal resiliency stories with Airmen of all ranks.

"I believe the Storytellers event is very beneficial to Wingman Week because I get to share my story with these Airmen, and hopefully help them get through rough situations they might face," said Fowler. "We all get caught up in work and might not be able to reflect on how we can use these resources given to us to become better Airmen and overall people. It's very important to take time out to help yourself every now and then."

Units were also able to hold their own wingman events. Spanning from group bowling to unit BBQs, squadrons strengthened their resiliency skills while having fun.

"I like seeing personnel having fun while improving their well-being and strengthening their resiliency," said Waters. "Wingman Week offers a pause in our day-to-day mission to reinforce the wingman concept and focus on unit cohesion and wellness."
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