Air Force Resilience

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Suicide and interpersonal violence are serious issues that require comprehensive, seamless prevention, intervention, and postvention responses from exceptional leaders. In order to support readiness and build a more lethal force, leaders must foster and promote resilience among their Airmen. Leaders should familiarize themselves with available resiliency tools and resources to prevent and respond to crisis such as suicide or sexual assault.

Prevention Tools

Tools to build unit resilience and prevent crisis.

An image of an Airman's boots walking through the water.

Intervention Tools

Tools for leading high-risk Airmen and navigating through a crisis.

Master Sgt. Leigh Weigold, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron section chief of plans and programs, fires her weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. As the largest career field in the Air Force, it’s the job of Security Forces to protect, defend and fight to enable U.S. Air Force, Joint and Coalition missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)

Postvention Tools

Tools for reintegration and leading after a crisis.

ASAB utilizes IHAT mission to increase efficiency

Situational Exercises

Exercises that provide the opportunity for Leaders to test their knowledge, rehearse their actions, and refine contingency plans so they are better prepared to lead in times of crisis.

Airman 1st Class Jamere Morris, 39th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, fastens a sling to the landing gear of an F-4 Phantom II during a lift March 8, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

Task Force True North

Time Based Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Air Force is introducing a new approach to suicide prevention called Time-Based Prevention – to focus on the “means” of suicide. Suicide attempts with a firearm are 90% lethal. Safely stored firearms require deliberate access actions to operate, creating a barrier and assisting in the prevention of suicide attempts using firearms. Time-based Prevention efforts are not intended to limit or prohibit the legal ownership or use of firearms for individuals. Airmen are encouraged to go “SLO" - S = SAFES, L = LOCKS or O = OUTSIDE THE HOME.

Resilience Multimedia

#ReserveResilience

A look at how the 927th Development and Training Flight teaches trainees resilience before going off to Basic Military Training.

145th Airlift Wing Pauses for Resiliency

Members of the 145th Airlift Wing conduct a resiliency tactical pause to address Airmen mental health, and build relationships to combat suicide and stress in and out of the workplace.

CMSAF Resilience Tactical Pause

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright shares his thoughts on the recent announcement of the Resilience Tactical Pause.

Peterson Resiliency Programs

This video includes clips from the other videos in the series and ties them together with the 21st Space Wing commanders message on resiliency. The goal is to highlight not just the resiliency programs the Air Force offers, but the impact that these programs have on the individuals who use them.

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Herschel Walker Resiliency Interview

This is the full interview of Herschel Walker on resiliency and mental illness.

Resilience Website Tools

The Air Force Office of Integrated Resilience recently unveiled a new website (https://www.resilience.af.mil) that highlights tools to help Airmen and their families thrive, and provide a culture of dignity and respect across the Total Force. These tools, including prevention, intervention and postvention lines of effort, aim to confront the challenges of sexual assault and suicide head-on, thereby developing a more resilient force.

A1 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Awards

Congratulations to our A1 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award winners in the Senior Officer category - Lt Col Darren James of A1P, and in the Senior Enlisted category - SMSgt Nicole Snowden A1LE.

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Building Strength Through Partnerships

The 655th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, 718th Intelligence Squadron, makes taking care of Airmen a priority, providing services and events designed to discuss and actively participate in team resilience training.

AskCareEscort

If you have identified an airman that may be considering suicide, it’s important to Ask your Wingman directly about what’s going on. This will help you determine what needs to be done next. Ask about issues early rather than waiting for things to escalate to the point of crisis. Take all comments about suicide seriously. Be an active listener and let your Wingman tell you about their challenges. Although it can be awkward, it’s important to ask the tough questions about whether or not your Wingman is thinking about harming or killing himself. If the answer is yes, or if you even suspect that the answer is yes, don’t leave the person alone.

Care for your Wingman by calmly listening and expressing concern. Don’t be judgmental or promise secrecy. If your Wingman is having thoughts of suicide, you need to act. Remove anything he could use to hurt himself and immediately seek help.

The final step is to Escort your Wingman immediately to the nearest emergency room, Mental Health Clinic, chaplain, or primary care clinic, and contact the supervisor or chain of command. If a distressed Airman refuses help or you're not sure what to do, call your supervisor or 911 for help. Never leave an Airman who is having thoughts of suicide alone, even to go to the bathroom.

Ask Your

Wingman

Have the courage to ask the question, but stay calm
Ask the question directly: Are you thinking of killing yourself?

And, do you have access to a firearm?

Care For Your

Wingman

Calmly control the situation; do not use force; be safe
Actively listen to show understanding and produce relief
Remove any means that could be used for self-injury

Escort Your

Wingman

Never leave your buddy alone

Finding a Way Through Depression

RAF Lakenheath --

His marriage ended on ugly terms. He had been depressed for months. He feared negative consequences to his career so he shared little of what he was going through with his friends and supervisor. Then, Senior Airman Michael Drinkwater made a plan that finally gave him a sense of relief. But, it wasn’t relief from a plan to get well. Instead, Drinkwater had made a plan to end his life.

“[I was] almost romanticizing it, thinking about it quite a lot and putting together a plan. And in those two weeks where I had a plan, I felt more relief that I had in months,” said Drinkwater.

Military Crisis Line

DOD Safe Helpline

Military OneSource

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