health.mil

Emily Greene  |  Health.mil

March 30, 2012

Rousing calls to action kicked off the Warrior Resiliency Conference IV in Washington, D.C. March 29.  This year's conference, sponsored by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), is entitled "Restoring Readiness: Individual , Unit, Community and Family."  Attended by members of both military medical and non-medical communities, the conversation revolved around building total force fitness.

Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and Navy Capt. Paul Hammer, director of DCoE set the tone by emphasizing the importance of resilience for the military community as a whole.

Hammer warned that the term "resilience" cannot be allowed to become simply a buzzword, because resilience is critical to the core values each service holds dear.

Woodson added that the military's core values set the course for success.  And, he said that the promise to "never leave a fallen comrade" applies at war and at home, and extends not only to wounded warriors, but to the servicemembers, families and communities who comprise the defense community.

To fulfill that pledge, Navy Rear Adm. Margaret Kibben, chaplain of the Marine Corps and deputy chief of Navy chaplains said that medical and line leaders must look beyond programs and focus on individuals.

"It behooves us as caregivers to be aware of where people are in their journey," Kibben said.  "When we talk about a person's spirit there is no box.  As we seek resiliency, we need to remember that they are living it."

Several speakers at the conference stressed that Total Force Fitness and troop readiness is more than a medical issue and that every member of the military, especially leaders, are charged with the care and support of the rest of the community.  In response to this need, the conference featured a panel of the senior enlisted leadership of each service branch.

Sgt. Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III, Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West, Chief Master Sgt. Of the Air Force James Roy and Coast Guard Command Master Chief R. Shane Hooker, command master chief for the deputy commandant for mission support, and Marine Sgt. Major Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, provided a realistic, intimate look at the lives and struggles of U.S. troops and their families.  Each spoke of methods that have been translating the concepts of Total Force Fitness into action.

A common theme was the changing nature of the nation’s defense networks and the need to build synergy across the services, medically and otherwise.  And, each panelist reaffirmed the commitment to care for service members and their families, “from cradle to grave.” 

“The thing that makes our service go ‘zoom’ is our people,” West said.  “It is important for us to take care of one another.” 

In every instance the bounty of programs was acknowledged, along with the challenge to ensure they are well used, managed and shared. 

“We’ve got enough programs,” Roy said.  “We need action.  We need a culture of taking care of each other.” 

Hooker said it was also important that individuals care for themselves. 

“The most important person in managing your own readiness if you,” he said. 

Hooker also re-emphasized the importance of raising awareness of programs for assistance, decreasing the stigma of those undergoing stress and seeking help and increasing the life skills of servicemembers and families. 

In conclusion, Battaglia reminded conference attendees that the strength of the nation’s armed forces relies on the members who comprise it.

“The health and readiness of our total forces rests on our non-commissioned officers,” Battaglia said.  “Stay fit, stay strong, stay resilient.”

Health Care [News]  |  mens health   Total Force Fitness   DCoE   resilience