News>CMSAF discusses need for strengthened resiliency at symposium
Photos
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy speaks Feb. 17, 2011, in Orlando, Fla., during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air Warfare Symposium and Technologies Exposition. Chief Roy spoke about building resiliency in Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy speaks Feb. 17, 2011, in Orlando, Fla., during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air Warfare Symposium and Technologies Exposition. Chief Roy spoke about building resiliency in Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
by Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
2/18/2011 - ORLANDO (AFNS) -- The Air Force's senior enlisted leader discussed the importance of resiliency and its impact to the service Feb. 17 here during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke candidly about the repercussions of a force that fails to foster a culture of resiliency, referencing hot-button issues such as alcohol-related and ground-safety incidents, spousal and child abuse, sexual assault and suicide.
"People matter ... lives matter," the chief said in regard to the consequences of failed resiliency. "Overall, our Airmen and families are very resilient. We have to set that tone of resiliency culture within our units, within our communities."
To further emphasize Airmen vocalizing the need for or offering of help, the chief presented a video of the results of failed resiliency. Airman 1st Class Austin Gates-Benson died by suicide May 3, 2010, in Afghanistan.
Assigned to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Airman Gates-Benson seemed unlikely to commit suicide, according to his friends and family. They came forward to share their memories of an outwardly jovial Airman, friend and son.
"Austin died because he was silent about his problem," said Fred Boenig, Airman Gates-Benson's father. "Don't be silent about yours; things that look perfect maybe aren't."
His parents, Joie Gates and Mr. Boenig, joined their son's friends and 54th Combat Communications Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Donald Cournoyer to urge viewers to speak up about any issues they may be going through, find resources for help and assist others who may struggle.
The impetus behind the video was clear, according to Chief Roy.
"'I want to make sure no other Airman feels it necessary to go to this extreme means of ending that pain,'" the chief said, relating Ms. Gates' motivation for participating in the video. "We ended up in 2010 with 100 suicides, and unfortunately, I have to report to you today we're already past that this year compared to where we were this time last year."
The chief also noted other trends impacting the force, adding that even dips in certain statistics should not be cause for complacency.
"Alcohol-related incidents have come down slightly from 2009 to 2010 fiscal year, but nearly 7,000 incidents is still a lot," Chief Roy said. "I would also argue that 3,600 ground-safety incidents in FY 10 is a lot."
The chief expressed concern for indicators on the rise.
"Child- and partner-abuse cases are both up for 2009, and divorces are up for the third year in a row," the chief said. "Unfortunately, we also have about 600 cases of sexual assault each year."
The chief's final message was a call to action for all Airmen to "communicate, care and commit."
"Our Airmen are the ultimate weapons system we have, and we need to care for them," Chief Roy said. "(Promoting) the resiliency culture is the right thing to do for our Airmen, our families and for the United States Air Force," he said.
Comments
1/31/2012 6:29:32 PM ET Resiliency....what ever happened to closing down the squadron early on a Friday and tapping a keg out back Most people don't trust their supervisors or leadership because they are always throwing them under a bus or stabbing them in a back. Comradery between Air Force members is depleted because everyone is doing more with less and everything is absolutely mission critical and we all just piss each other off because we are all trying to get 10000 things done.
Eric, Ramstein
3/8/2011 9:16:56 AM ET I would argue that we've already proven to have developed a culture of resiliency.In particular, the Aircraft Maintenance field has bent over backwards and worked absolute miracles in the face of adversity, manpower shortages, supply system failures and sky-rocketing ops tempo over the last 10 years. The fact that we are still able to fly, fight and win is testament to our resiliency. The Air Force of today expends far too much time and energy chasing social issues and not nearly enough energy focused in on the application of Air Power. Just my opinion.
K, Barksdale
2/28/2011 10:25:42 AM ET I agree with several people's comments including CMSAF Roy's. The AF needs to develop a culture of resiliency and adaptability. Our country is at war so there are going to be rough times, hectic schedules, and frequent deployments. But I don't see how the AF can do all this and develop resiliency, all while cutting end-strength even further. BL hit the nail on the head with his comment - the force is expected to do more and more with less and less. Something is bound to break. Maybe in addition to developing resiliency the AF needs to develop some stability.
Retired Shirt, Kirtland AFB
2/24/2011 11:05:08 AM ET I read the article, took the resiliency training and read all the comments. After quite awhile of thinking about and discussing these issues I have come to a conclusion about how to stop these problems. Pay us more money.
Ryan, Dyess Tx
2/23/2011 7:54:17 PM ET Looks like spousal abuse is out and partner abuse is in. LOL.
DS, AK
2/23/2011 9:18:54 AM ET @MSgt L believe it or not people are allowed to raise the BS flag when they see it. There's this almost magical belief out there that any and all negative comments whatsoever are bad and need to be stamped out. Well sorry but SNCOs and commissioned officers do get paid to think and raise their concerns to leadership not just blindly accept every new concept or buzzword with great enthusiasm and boundless energy. Sometimes cynicism is the best feedback leaders can get.Cynics still care the jaded don't care. I'm a cynic and I speak out when something comes across as BS because sometimes the leadership _needs_ to hear it sometimes they really live in a self-reinforcing fantasy land where all their great ideas don't translate into great benefit once they hit the real world.
Maj D, DC
2/22/2011 4:28:38 PM ET One person can only go so far in trying to solve an issue as big as this one. The Chief did his best to address this issue from his perspective so if that isn't good enough for us we should try addressing it ourselves. If that doesn't work then at least we tried.
GSSneak, W MO
2/22/2011 3:56:55 PM ET I think Chief said it best: Communicate, Care and Commit. Rather than spending your energy on posting neg comments, let's take an active role and lead our airmen by commuinicating, caring and committing.
MSgt L, WA
2/21/2011 11:46:57 PM ET Chief, how about focusing on less chaos. In the past 8 months the enlisted corps has gone through another NCORP and now PALACE BALANCE where select NCOs are being re-trained into required specialties. Some of our NCOs chosen under PALACE BALANCE have only been on station 6 months. I understand balance but at what cost? In addition, there was no shot across the bow, not even a puff of smoke that this PALACE BALANCE program was coming. Leaders were caught off guard when NCOs started coming up asking what they just received. WE had no clue. If we are going to be the World's number 1 Air Force then we need to treat our people like they are number 1.
Focus, Edwards
2/21/2011 10:51:56 PM ET Some of the statistics referenced here support the need for resiliency. It is indisputably clear that resilient individuals produce a resilient force who gets the mission done. One statistic that is regretably unreliable is alcohol-related incidences (ARI). If I were drinking a few beers and saw someone else who had been drinking about to drive their vehicle, if I attempt to stop them I could be party to an ARI if the individual became violent and I had to defend myself. I would be punished for trying to be a good Wingman and doing the right thing.
Straight Shooter, OCONUS
2/21/2011 10:44:31 AM ET Not to sound pessimistic but this is just another buzzword that translates to "suck it up." Some things never change. Retired life rocks.
Jay, Earth
2/20/2011 6:40:21 AM ET Clearly, increased rates and lengths of deployments, decreased manning, and all the other cuts and changes over the years are working out great. My Airman passes his PT tests and wears his reflective belt. Therefor I thought he was immune to problems.
SSgt K, Little Rock
2/20/2011 2:14:00 AM ET I took the resiliency training the other day and found it to be rather useless. I can't help but feel that the AF just doesn't have a real understanding of the type of pressures that we all deal with on a daily basis. This training is just a way to say that the AF is trying to do something. It might help out some and that is always good but until we address some of the real issues facing the AF we won't really change anything on the scale that needs to be done. We are doing so much more with less and it seems that we are always adding more useless training on top of an already full plate. I feel that my primary job is more of an additional duty and all the additional duties that used to be done by career fields suited for these jobs no longer exist. This is just one person's opinion and I may be way off base but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are others in the same boat. BTW, I still love the USAF. I just want to make it better for those coming behind me.
BL, SW OK
2/19/2011 3:29:41 PM ET Sorry Chief, but Amn are not a weapon system. That may be part of the problem. We are human, we have free will and are free to make our own decisions. The problem is when leadership paint a broad brush across the force thinking we all think and act the same with similar morales and ethics when in fact we don't.
