JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Throughout a military member's career, they are likely to hear many buzzwords that indicate a certain process, program or requirement has special focus from their leadership. Sometimes, this focus is perceived as a sort of "flavor of the month" to be endured, then forgotten. Sometimes these buzzwords disappear as an idea floats into obsolescence or irrelevance. Sometimes they disappear because they have become part of the culture; adapted to the advancement of our military professionalism. I hope that resilience will be another one.
Resilience is what makes the old adage "it's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it that matters" ring true. Resiliency is everything you do to shore up those four pillars of well being after the devastating 8.7 earthquake hits your life. Resiliency is being prepared to handle life's bumps yourself and the willingness to ask for help when it is needed. The military does an outstanding job of providing shoulders for you to lean on when tough times hit.
It once was stigmatized as bad for your career to seek outside help for your issues, but that has changed dramatically in today's Air Force. We, as a military would much rather have you seek help and return to full duty than be distracted and ineffective for long periods while muddling through your problem unaided. Helping agencies provide everything from mental health services, to a caring ear by licensed clinicians who can meet with you without generating any record for less intensive issues.
So if you are an Airman, Sailor, Soldier or Marine, often the most courageous thing you can do to is to ask for a hand up. At Joint Base Charleston, we all have access to the mental health clinic, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Be Well, Military Family and Life Consultants, Resiliency Enhancement Visit, chaplains, Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, American Red Cross, Airman and Family Ready Center, ARC, supervisors, friends, mentors, first sergeants, commanders and agencies too numerous to name here. Military OneSource is a highly valuable asset for short-term, off-base referrals and great information. Supervisors, this is your call to learn about how best to support and solidify the resiliency of yourself and your subordinates.
Having the strength and resources to deal with everything from that well deserved Enlisted Performance Report rating you know you earned, but can't believe you got, to an unimaginable tragedy that leaves your quivering in its wake defines resiliency. Without resiliency, the mission doesn't get done. That is a quality that should be part of our military culture!