Resiliency training extends to families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center on Travis Air Force Base has created an avenue to develop a more steadfast and resilient force by extending resiliency training from the Airmen to the family members.

The A&FRC is scheduled to hold its second Family Master Resiliency Class tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bldg. 660. The target audience includes Airmen, spouses and mature teens.

"This class has been modified from the Master Resiliency Training to be more family oriented," said Master Sgt. Joseph Bogdan, A&FRC Readiness NCO. "Other bases are experimenting with separate classes for spouses and teens, but since families interact as a unit, it made sense for Travis to create a class that involves everyone."

The class is scheduled to include a lecture with power point, group activities and a guided discussion. A free pizza lunch is provided for those who attend.

Master Sgt. Breeann Gresham, 60th Force Support Squadron Readiness and Plans section chief, has attended MRT training individually and attended the last FMRC with her 13-year-old daughter.

"One take away for me personally was how to actively listen and communicate with my daughter," she said. "It has changed our relationship for the better."

Not only did Gresham benefit from the skills taught in the class, her daughter was able to develop resilience as well.

"This class is very important because I'm able to equip my daughter with skills at a young age that she can use every day and at the same time she gains an understanding of why these skills are important," Gresham said.

According to Bogdan, resilience training needs to extend to the family members because they play a vital role in an Airman's well being.

"We as Airmen can make ourselves resilient at work all day," Bogdan said. "But our family life tends to bleed into our work life and it's essential for families to be equipped with the same resilient skills on which the Airmen have been trained."

Gresham explains that resilience is especially important for military members and their families to develop in the current operations tempo.

Airmen live in a world of increased deployments, separation and constant change, she said.

"This training doesn't just make you a better Airman, it makes you a better person," Bogdan said.

The FMRC is slated to be held once a quarter.

For more information or to sign up for the class contact Master Sgt. Joseph Bogdan at 424-2486 or joseph.bogdan.1@us.af.mil.