15 Nov 2018

Tyndall F-22 family proves resilient after Hurricane Michael, father’s plane crash

Ten days after Hurricane Michael ravaged Maj. Jeremy Boudreaux’s home and Tyndall AFB, he got a call that his father was killed in a plane crash approximately 30 miles northwest of Eglin AFB. Boudreaux and his wife, Jessie, had evacuated to Auburn, Ala. but when they got the call that his father passed away they drove to the crash site.

24 Oct 2018

Faces of Recovery: Resilience through tragedy

As the majority of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, was devastated by the severe damage caused by Hurricane Michael, thousands of Airmen, families and civilian workers were forced to evacuate the base. One evacuee shared her story of how she maintained resilience throughout the ordeal.

8 Oct 2018

Finding healing through helping others

Seeking care never slowed me down; it helped me through my toughest times.” Senior Master Sgt. Richard “Joe” Chwalik has been through a lifetime’s worth of setbacks; incidents that have left long-lasting emotional scars. Yet, he found his way through the darkness by asking for help when he needed it most. Like many, Chwalik witnessed a lot during his deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2009. However, an incident in October of that year left a lasting impact on him. Chwalik did not return to seek help due to fears of facing the medical evaluation board process. He numbed his pain with sleeping pills most weeks, and with alcohol over the weekends. His symptoms included flashbacks, bouts of anger and frustration, night sweats and terror leading to many sleepless nights. He constantly relived what he experienced while deployed to Afghanistan.

8 Aug 2018

AF band member offers resiliency with free guitar lessons

In line with the Comprehensive Airman Fitness model, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright says resiliency initiatives are a top priority for the Air Force. “A focus on resiliency ensures Airmen and their families are fully equipped with the necessary tools, support system and mentality to persevere through difficult situations while taking care of the mission, themselves and their families,” Wright said. For people looking to learn guitar without a huge investment, a Joint Base Langley-Eustis Airman may have an answer teaching free guitar lessons to help promote resiliency.

27 Jul 2018

Wingmen Connect initiative aims to create healthier, more resilient Airmen

An idea developed about three and a half years ago, after an Airman realized her coworkers needed guidance she was unable to provide. Although the location of her assignment was great, the Air Force unit was difficult to function within. Wingmen Connect was created to foster an Air Force culture where members can feel comfortable seeking and receiving help from supporting organizations and experienced Wingmen across all ranks, creating a healthier, more resilient Air Force

30 May 2018

Two worlds, one way of life: former monk becomes Airman

For most people, spending a day without their phone is an impossible feat. To spend 30 days without a phone, writing, reading, talking or even eye contact would seem unfathomable, but for Thailand Buddhist monks, this is their world. After spending 18 years in that world as a monk, Airman 1st Class Kornkawee Rue Art, 23d Medical Support Squadron (MDSS) pharmacy technician, traded his robes for a uniform, in his continual pursuit of a life bigger than himself; one of meaning and purpose.

4 Apr 2018

World record holder carries skateboarding values into Air Force

“I guess they thought it was just a phase,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nicholas Whitehurst, thinking back to how wrong his parents were when they bought him his first skateboard as a Christmas gift.

26 Oct 2017

Airman ropes off stress, uses music

Sitting on the edge of her stool, staring out at a sea of faces staring back, she tunes her guitar. Once the guitar is just right she takes a sip of her dink, grabs her pick, takes a deep breath and begins playing.

1 May 2017

552nd ACW Wounded Warrior selected to compete in Warrior Games

Lt. Col. Jacqueline Burns, assigned to the 552nd Air Control Group, 552nd Air Control Wing, attended the 4th Annual Air Force Trials for Wounded Warriors in February at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and has been selected to compete as part of the Air Force Team at the 2017 Warrior Games. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program is a Congressionally

17 Apr 2017

Deployed-in-place Airmen build resiliency

The 450th Intelligence Squadron, in partnership with the 693rd Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group’s Airmen Resiliency Team, host a monthly Warbird Resiliency Week at Ramstein Air Base. This program provides a venue for deployed-in-place Airmen to collectively discuss how they deal with the stressors of having such a lifestyle and offer a normalized, phased resiliency period for every squadron member.