Resilience web page header graphic

Our Spectrum of Resilience

One of our greatest sources of strength to meet the unique challenges of military life comes from our connection with others across a Spectrum of Resilience.  Ourselves, our family and friends, our peers and social networks, as well as support agencies and clinical/medical health professionals all influence and contribute to our personal resilience.

The Spectrum of Resilience also emphasizes our individual responsibilities as Wingmen to our co-workers, friends, and families.  Be present and ready to help your Wingman should you see there could be a need.  That is the embodiment of community, connection and care that we all (at any rank) deserve and want in our culture.  Set the example with your own Resilience and support the resilience of those around you.

CSAF CMSAF Spectrum of Resilience Graphic.  The Spectrum includes self, family, friends, peers, support services and medical professionals.

Download the Spectrum of Resilience graphic here

How Comprehensive Airman Fitness and the Spectrum of Resilience Intersect

Comprehensive Airmen Fitness (CAF) is a holistic, strength-based, integrated framework that plays a role in sustaining a fit, resilient and ready force.   CAF is not a standalone program—it is multiagency programs and activities working together across the DAF to create a Spectrum of Resilience.

Familiarize your self with CAF, how the domains and tenets influence your personal resilience, then use the resources on this website to grow your Spectrum.

Comprehensive Airman Fitness graphic

 

 

Airmen's Time

In an April 2022 memorandum, the CSAF stated that connecting with fellow Airmen and Guardians has to be a top priority. Airmen’s Time execution guidance is intentionally vague to allow adaptation to meet unit and personnel needs.

What is Airmen's Time? 

It’s all of us making time to connect and get to know each other beyond the uniform. Understanding the stressors we each face at home and work. The more we know about each other, the better we can support each other to live our best lives.

Airmen's Time isn't:

It’s not a once a year program. There’s no topic or agenda to discuss. Our lives and situations are the discussion. Airmen’s Time is about sharing experiences and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

What does Airmen’s Time look like in action? 

Allocating time in our duty day, when and as needed, to talk with and get to know each other, in both formal and informal settings. If we can acknowledge and respect our differences while discovering the common goals that unite us, will be #StrongerTogether.

PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO READ MORE ABOUT AIRMEN'S TIME TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES


WANT TO HELP OTHERS BUILD THEIR RESILENCE? 

JOIN FFIT OR BECOME A RESILIENCE  TRAINER

 

Fortify the Force Initiative Team (FFIT)

What is FFIT?

Fortify the Force Initiative Team (FFIT) is a volunteer community of Airmen, Guardians, families, retirees/veterans and DoD Civilians who are passionate about resiliency and mental health efforts.

 

FFIT is focused on ACTIONABLE initiatives that make a difference in the lives of Airmen, Guardians, Civilians and their families.  The also clarify and explain existing Resilience resources.  

 

How do I contact the FFIT team?

Look for the Fortify the Force group on Facebook, email DAF.FFIT.FortifytheForce@us.af.mil, or visit FFIT Initiative.

 

 

Fortify the Force logo

Department of the Air Force Master Resilience Trainers (MRTs) are taught Resilience skills and how to use them, including but not limited to:

  • Express gratitude
  • Develop values-based goals
  • Bring personal strengths to task
  • Reframe thoughts, emotions and actions
  • Practice mindfulness
  • Improve physical resilience

MRTs are force multipliers who teach skills and application to others.

 

 

Master Resilience Trainers (MRT) and Resilience Training Assistants (RTA)

What is an MRT/RTA?

MRTs and RTAs are volunteers certified through Air University to conduct resilience training at the installation under the guidance of the local Resilience Program Manager/Community Support Coordinator.  MRTs and RTAs provide resilience training at the First Term Airman Center, all levels of Professional Military Education, commander courses, Executive Group development, senior spouse orientations, and other venues as directed.

Becoming an MRT

MRTs are Uniformed, Civilian and Key Spouse volunteers. Following a self or leadership nomination, volunteers are trained locally as RTAs and then submitted to attend the official MRT Course (MRTC) through Air University. Following successful graduation from MRTC, volunteers serve as embedded support across their assigned installation. Contact your local Community Support Coordinator or MRT Program Manager for additional details.

 

GUARDIANS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE

The stress, adversity, struggles, and setbacks that are a natural part of the human condition coupled with the demands of national service make it vital that we integrate resiliency considerations into every aspect of our Guardian Ideal.

 

Graphic image of "The Guardian Ideal" handbook cover.

 

 

----- > Tools for Building Resilience Skills

AFMC Connect

AFMC Connect focuses on building relationships. We invest in our collective success by providing the time, tools and resources to enhance personal and professional performance. AFMC Connect is a multi-faceted initiative integrating a shared message across the command, while giving time and autonomy back to squadrons.  For AFMC Connect to be effective, leaders at every level must have active and sustained engagement with the people they lead.

AF Gaming ESports

Air Force Gaming & Esports is a community based gaming organization comprised of the world’s greatest Airmen and Guardians. Our aim is to recruit the leaders of tomorrow, retain the Airmen and Guardians of today, and strengthen each wingman's resiliency through friendship, accountability, and mentorship. Join your teammates on AF Gaming ESports.

The Bridge

ACC’s “The Bridge” strives to Connect People and Strengthen Units and Communities. Developed by the ACC A1 to share materials command-wide, “The Bridge” consolidates resources to to help Airmen and Guardians find reliable information for challenging personal and professional issues quickly.

  

Dragon Chat

Small core discussion groups that incorporate a way for all Airmen and Guardians to connect with one another, support the Air Force mission, heritage, and our Core Values. The intent is to improve how well we get to know one another as individuals and team members. Get together with your military and civilian coworkers in small groups of 15 people or less, once a month, every month for an hour. Check out Dragon Chat.

Five Minutes to Thrive

Each new day presents us with opportunities to adapt and overcome challenges placed on our paths. How we adapt to change in our lives is influenced by numerous internal and external factors. We have tools at our disposal to help us feel like purposeful actors in our lives and not merely bystanders. Check out the tips from Five Minutes to Thrive.

Mental Fitness Obstacle Course

Self-Awareness is a critical step in self-improvement. Not only identifying when you are under stress, but how you cope, and how you can improve for the future. How you respond in your environment has implications far beyond just yourself. When you raised your right hand and swore to defend the Constitution of the United States, you became a part of something bigger than yourself. You because a member of one of the greatest teams on earth and you owe it to your teammates to be the best version of yourself that you can be, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Mental Fitness Obstacle Course

Operation Grit

OPERATION GRIT is a holistic approach centered around connecting Airmen and Guardians to each other, heritage, and the broader Air Force mission. USAFE-AFAFRICA is investing in collective success by providing time, tools, and resources to enhance personal and professional performance and promote a shared responsibility of Airmen/Guardians taking care of Airmen/Guardians. A foundational component of this initiative are the monthly “Check 6” discussions guided by leaders and supervisors at every level during their normal routine workflow. Discussions center on key topics that strategically align resilience and prevention focus areas, by-law training requirements, personal/professional development, Air Force Core Values, and goals established in the MAJCOM Community Action Plan.  OPERATION GRIT is deliberately focused on two primary shared protective factors for Interpersonal and Self-Directed Violence - Connectedness and Shared Sense of Purpose -  to have the greatest impact for prevention and resilience that will result in long-term, durable culture change and meet desired outcomes.

SOAR

SOAR teen outreach, developed at Edwards AFB, helps encourage social interaction and creates a peer-to-peer support system for teens with the goal of suicide prevention. You can find an outline of the program on our website. SOAR is currently for ages 13-18 and meets once a month. The teens pick what activities they’re passionate about and do them as often as they want together To find out more information about starting a similar program at your installation, visit the SOAR Facebook page: @SOAR Edwards or email at: soar.edwards@gmail.com for more information. 

Team Talks

Team Talks is a program that is pre-designed to allow leaders to have facilitated, open, and transparent communications with their Airmen and Guardians with little to no preparation. The prepared questions allow even the most introverted leader the ability to lead a discussion that promotes communication and understanding. Team Talks is a monthly conversation that could take one hour to explore a given topic. Team Talks provides quotes to break the ice, questions to explore and grow, helping agency contact information if needed, and optional additional information such as blog posts, articles, AFIs, books, and TedTalk/Youtube videos. Team Talks is provide in a word document that may be edited/tailored to your specific organization to better serve your organizational needs. Find out more about Team Talks

Who is Your Person?

This short, simple exercise proved deeply meaningful to team Vance for uniformed and civilian Air and Space Professionals. Regardless of rank or position, you have or will face tough times or encounter challenges and obstacles – but no one has to face them alone. So, perhaps we can all take a moment and follow Team Vance’s example and ask ourselves “WHO IS YOUR PERSON?” 

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