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Ft. Belvoir Warrior Transition Battalion and Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Training Center conduct resilience refresher workshop for unit MRTs

Filed under Resources, Training, Warrior Transition Command, WTC, WTU/WTB by jmiller on April 1, 2014 at 11:51 am {no comments}

By Alissa L. Bookwalter, CSF2 Training Center Liaison Officer to Warrior Transition Command

Ms. Ashley Jenkins, a CSF2 Training Center Master Resilience Trainer-Performance Expert (MRT-PE), covers “Hunt the Good Stuff” with a Ft. Belvoir WTB MRT.

Resilience skills are an integral part of the Army’s Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) for wounded, ill and injured Soldiers. Warrior Transition Command (WTC) also uses resilience skills for Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) Families, Cadre and staff, ensuring that resilience training is offered at the unit level at all WTU’s – primarily though Master Resilience Trainers. Master Resilience Trainers (MRTs) are selected by their command staff to attend a two-week MRT training course conducted by Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2).

Once a certified MRT returns to their WTU, they develop a unit resilience training program and conduct resilience training for local Soldiers, Families, Cadre and staff at least once per quarter. Local CSF2 Training Centers, staffed by CSF2 Master Resilience Trainers-Performance Experts (MRT-PEs), are available at the installation level to assist MRTs with training, resilience and performance enhancement skill refreshers and conducting two week MRT courses.

The Fort Belvoir Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) recently conducted a Resilience Skills Refresher Workshop in conjunction with the National Capital Region (NCR) CSF2 Training Center. All Fort Belvoir WTB MRTs and command staff attended the workshop that provided additional skills training and practice-teaching on two of the most heavily utilized resilience skills in the WTU – “Hunt the Good Stuff” and “Goal Setting.”

“As an attendee and participant, I observed the true benefits of resilience refresher training,” said Fort Belvoir’s WTB Command Sgt. Maj. Clark Charpentier. “Leaders must provide opportunities to equip MRTs with the skills necessary to be a force multiplier within their organizations.”

Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Training Center MRT-PEs covered “Goal Setting” and “Hunt the Good Stuff” with unit MRTs. After a brief refresher on the skills, the MRTs had the floor to demonstrate their knowledge and teaching abilities to the audience and Command team.

Michael Fairman, the National Capital Region CSF2 Training Center Manager noted that “keeping MRTs refreshed and engaged is critical to the success of the CSF2 program. As a CSF2 Training Center, we are equipped to provide MRTs with the tools that allow them to be successful.”

The Fort Belvoir WTB plans to continue Resilience Refresher Workshops once per quarter to keep unit MRTs current on skills.

For more information on CSF2 Training Centers and Resilience skills, please visit http://csf2.army.mil/index.html.

A Wounded Warrior’s Pixie Dust

Filed under General, Resources, Soldier and Family Story, Training by jvargas on March 9, 2011 at 11:29 am {one comment}

By Emily Oehler, WTC Stratcom

Throughout my life there have been key people, that when I met them, I knew it was something special. I’m not talking about celebrities or those with political power. I’m talking about someone who centers you, makes you realize there are greater things in this life, and makes you a better person for knowing them. Really special people. When I have met these rare people, I was instantly struck to my core—an indelible mark I would forever carry. I would say it was like a lightening strike, but for me, it’s been more like a feeling of being sprinkled with the joy of pixie dust. Magical.

Two years ago I met one such person and his wife—they both gave me a dash of pixie dust—retired SSG Shilo and Kathreyn Harris. On the flight home after meeting them at a work conference, I wrote Shilo and told him he was one of the most beautiful people I had met and that his strength, humor, compassion, and faith were inspiring. Since meeting the Harrises, I’ve had the honor of interviewing them a few times for work with the Warrior Transition Command (WTC) and the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2). During my last visit, they each sat down with me for separate three hour interviews to share the nooks and crannies of their life since Shilo was severely injured in Iraq. They shared their story in hopes of helping others cope with similar life-changing events. The newly finished 30-minute video is a compelling look at service, marriage, compassion, fortitude, faith, loss, hope and love.

Warriors in Transition: A Story of Resiliency demonstrates true strength of character:

On February, 19, 2007, during his second deployment to Iraq, the vehicle SSG Harris was traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED), killing three Soldiers, wounding the driver, and leaving SSG Harris with third degree burns on 35% of his body. Due to the severity of his burns, SSG Harris lost his ears, tip of his nose, three fingers, and he sustained fractures to his left collar bone and C-7 vertebrae. Shilo told me, “You know when I’m talking to Soldiers I try to tell them you have to look at everything that God gives you as a gift. It may not always be the gift that you want, but you have to take what you get sometimes and turn it into something else. And that’s kind of what I’ve done.” Since retiring, Shilo has become an Outreach Coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Project.
So that Shilo could recover at home, Kathreyn became his primary caregiver spending up to six hours a day on his wound care. Additionally, she was mom to their daughter and stepmom to his three sons (and now a newborn baby!). During his recovery, she became an Advocate for the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) to support other wounded warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center. Kathreyn shared with me that, “The situation that we’ve been put in, it would have been just as easy to let it guide our life into a negative and into turmoil—and all the negative things that you can imagine but we’ve taken what happened to Shilo and we’ve turned it into a very positive thing.”

I don’t want to share too much and spoil watching the video, but I do hope you take time to watch them share their story—it’s not unlike many of the stories I’ve heard over the past four years shared by some of the 8,000 severely wounded Soldiers and Veterans I have had the honor of meeting. The Harrises’ story will feed your soul, inspire your heart, and captivate your mind.

And, watch out for their pixie dust!

Operation Enduring Care – Wounded Warrior Family and Caregiver Conference

Filed under Behavioral Health, Training by jvargas on August 5, 2010 at 8:05 am {no comments}

By Patty Sands, WTC Stratcom

Thursday, September 23, 2010
Centennial Club at Biggs Airfield, Fort Bliss
0800 hrs – 1700 hrs

Click here to register for the conference.

The USO is partnering with Fort Bliss to bring the first-ever Wounded Warrior Family and Caregiver Conference to the military community. Special guest presenters will share their expertise during a range of sessions, focusing on a variety of topics that include post-traumatic stress disorder, caregiver boundaries and intimacy, parenting, financial security and suicide prevention.

This conference is for spouses, parents, and caregivers of Wounded Warriors. Local school counselors and administrators are also welcome.

Two evening activities are scheduled to take place at the conclusion of the conference:

A BBQ for Wounded Warriors, their caregivers, and families, 1745 hrs – 1915 hrs.
A concert open to Fort Bliss and all conference attendees, 1930 hrs – 2100 hrs.

Is there a registration fee?
Registration is complimentary.

What is the deadline to register?
Space is available on a first come, first served basis. To guarantee your spot, please register by Monday, August 23. We will do our best to accommodate individuals who would like to register after this date.

Who is allowed to attend the conference?
Spouses, parents, caregivers and children of Wounded Warriors are invited to attend. Local school counselors and administrators are also welcome.

What meals will be served during the conference?
Lunch will be served along with morning and afternoon coffee breaks. A BBQ will be held in the evening and is open to caregivers and wounded warriors.

Are my children able to attend the conference?
Child care will be provided during the conference. Children are also welcome to attend the evening BBQ and concert. Please be sure to indicate on your registration form how many children you will be bringing.

Is there lodging available?
Yes. All active, guard and reserve members of the Armed Forces, retirees, and dependents are authorized to use Fort Bliss lodging facilities. Shuttle service is available to and from the El Paso International Airport. Courtesy transportation is also available to and from the Centennial Club. Call 915-565-7777 and reference the group code, “USOCON” to make your reservations.

Who will be speaking at the conference?
Guest speakers will include members of the military, wounded warriors and their caregivers, and subject matter experts. We will continue to update the conference agenda and expect to have a final agenda listing all confirmed speakers by late July.

Go to the event website

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

Resiliency and Compassion Fatigue

Filed under Behavioral Health, General, Non-profit, Training by jvargas on April 26, 2010 at 4:03 pm {one comment}

By Sarah Greer, WTC Stratcom

At AW2 Annual Training on Friday, the staff attended a session on Resiliency and Compassion Fatigue. Like AW2 Family members and caregivers, AW2 staff are empathetic, compassionate people, and they are usually deeply emotionally invested in the AW2 Soldiers and Veterans they support.

As I listened to the session, I wondered if some of the suggestions could also be applicable to AW2 Family members and caregivers. I’m not a psychologist or therapist, so I’m not an absolute source, but I thought this information might be helpful to others.

The presenter, Dr. Lisa Landry, explained that resiliency involves sustaining good health and well-being during stressful conditions. It’s usually not a natural skill; instead, it’s usually a learned strength. This doesn’t mean that resilient people deal with everything perfectly, but that they actively work to prevent burnout, take care of themselves, and prevent suffering.

Dr. Landry suggested several tips for preventing compassion fatigue and increasing resiliency, such as:

Acknowledge what is happening – it’s okay to admit that you’re dealing with a difficult situation
Take a break when you need one
Listen to your Family and friends who notice you’re disengaged, irritable, or isolated
Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and mentally; This includes getting enough sleep and exercise, eating well, and engaging in creative and social activities
Find a peer to talk to and share how you’re feeling; Another AW2 Family member or caregiver is probably going through a similar experience
Keep your sense of humor and let yourself have fun in life
Be aware of how you’re feeling and look for things that revitalize and invigorate you
Make time for yourself
Make time for your Family and friends

During the months I’ve supported AW2, I’ve had the privilege of talking to many AW2 Family members and caregivers – to spouses and parents, as well as AW2 children. I’ve been incredibly impressed by their big hearts and deep resilience. They show so much grace and compassion, and I hope they’ll continue to take care of themselves as they support their AW2 Soldiers and Veterans.

AW2 Annual Training—Changing Futures

Filed under Staff Stories, Training by jvargas on April 24, 2010 at 1:55 am {one comment}

By COL Jim Rice, AW2 Director

We’ve had a great week at AW2 Annual Training with a focus on “Changing Futures.” Spending time with 200 members of the AW2 staff was powerful—these people have so much passion, so much empathy. They genuinely care about AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families, and they want to do everything they can to support wounded warriors’ transition to life post-injury.

As we moved through the trainings sessions, AW2 Advocates had lots of detailed questions. They’ve asked how to help their wounded warriors get the most benefits possible—they wanted to understand all the details about each program and topic. I’ve been moved by the excitement in their voices when they share success stories about individual Soldiers, and I’ve seen the frustrations in their faces when they talk about hitting roadblocks. It’s also been heartening to see them support each other—suggesting solutions, offering encouragement, and reminding each other how our mission impacts lives.

The AW2 training team assembled a productive schedule, including in-depth sessions very applicable to the staff. These topics will enhance the quality service AW2 staff provide to AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families:

Tricare and Medicare
Social Security for Wounded Warriors
Finance Information
AW2 Eligibility Requirements
Continuing on Active Duty/Reserve (COAD/COAR)
Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) and Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
Social Media Engagement
Resiliency and Compassion Fatigue
Four in-depth sessions on Veterans Affairs benefits

To the AW2 staff, thank you for all you do to “change futures” for AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families. You are making a difference, and I’m proud to serve with you.

It’s All About the People

Filed under Training by jvargas on April 20, 2010 at 5:47 pm {no comments}

By COL Jim Rice, AW2 Director

AW2 Advocate Kathreyn Harris and AW2 Operations Management Specialist Scott Burdsall at AW2 Annual Training.

You can feel the energy. Well, probably a more accurate statement is that you can hear the energy. Literally.

Year round, 200 people work all hours of the day, any day of the week, on any number of issues. While their work varies, their commitment never waivers and their mission remains focused. They provide local support for severely wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families. In local communities around the globe, these staff fulfill the Army’s promise of Warrior Care. Alone, they change lives. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with—and this week, they’re all together in Dallas, Texas, for the Army Wounded Warrior Program’s Annual Training.

As I walk through the hotel, the staff’s passion is not only audible in the questions they ask and the lessons learned that they share, but it’s physical. You can see the joy when someone talks about their Soldier’s success or the agony over a Veteran’s set back. For these 200, it’s all personal. As it should be.

During this week, the entire AW2 staff will train together to ensure we’re the best we can be for our wounded warriors—they deserve nothing less.

As I talk to AW2 staff, I’m reminded of the power of people. How one peson can help an amputee continue on active duty. How one Veteran can inspire another. How one phone call can save a life. How one story can motivate a volunteer. How one company can provide a new career path.

Today during our general session, I looked at a room full of “ones” and was struck by the cumulative impact each “one” had on the lives of more than 6,000 wounded warriors. This group, AW2, is changing futures. Now that’s energizing.

Comprehensive Soldier Fitness: New Tool for Soldiers, Families, and Army Civilians

Filed under General, Resources, Training by jvargas on February 4, 2010 at 4:56 pm {one comment}

By LTC Jeanette Griffin, WTC Stratcom

The Army recently launched Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF), a new tool to help Soldiers, Families, and Army civilians face the physical and psychological challenges of sustained operations. CSF’s mission is to develop and institute a holistic fitness program in order to enhance performance and build resilience. The program focuses on five areas of fitness:

Physical
Emotional
Social
Family
Spiritual

Participants complete the Global Assessment Tool (GAT) survey which rates their emotional, social, Family, and spiritual fitness. They are then directed to training modules that match their fitness levels on each of the different areas.

I took the GAT a few weeks ago and realized that an AKO log-in is required. The GAT took me about 15 minutes, and I was satisfied with the balance of my scores.

After completing the survey, I was intrigued, and I completed one of the Emotional modules called “Put It In Perspective”. This module also took about 15 minutes and helped me walk through an exercise where I avoided “catastrophic thinking”, or focusing on the worst-case scenario, and instead developed a plan for the more realistic possibilities. In the exercise, I was told that my senior leadership wanted to see me by the end of the day.

First, I had to write out the “worst case” possibilities – that I might be fired, reprimanded, or given an impossibly difficult assignment.
Then, I wrote out the “best case” possibilities, such as being promoted or given a raise or award.
Finally, the module helped me look at the more realistic ideas – that my supervisor might be giving me feedback on a specific assignment or tasking me with a specific project, and I developed a plan for addressing the issue.

AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families are an incredibly resilient group of people who have overcome so much. This tool won’t solve the wide range of problems wounded warriors face during recovery and transition, but it may provide some tools to address the challenges that continue to surface. I encourage AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Family members to give it a try.

CSF emphasizes that the GAT scores are confidential, and individual scores will not be reported to Commanders or Leadership. CSF is not a screening tool for any physical or psychological disease or dysfunction. It is instead a self-assessment tool to help individual Soldiers, Family members, and Army civilians to evaluate their balance of their fitness levels on each of these dimensions.

2009 Annual Training in San Antonio

Filed under Advocate Story, Training by jvargas on April 30, 2009 at 4:01 am {no comments}

I am AW2 Advocate John Hulsey. I have been an AW2 Advocate since November 2007 at Brooke Army Medical Center.

I was excited to learn that the Annual AW2 Conference would be held in San Antonio this year. I knew that all of my fellow Advocates would have a wonderful time here. San Antonio is a great place to visit this time of year; The River Walk is not too crowded and the weather is great for getting out and walking around.

I know that for many of the Advocates and AW2 Staff this will be their first visit to this great city. Talking to them and listing to them explain where they visited and what they did the night before I know that they truly enjoyed their visit to the Alamo and the other attractions that are offered here. AW2 Staff seem to be really enjoying San Antonio’s rich tradition and diverse collection of outstanding restaurants and nightlife along The River Walk.

I was looking forward to this training to learn more about the changing role of the AW2 Advocates as we acquire the new mission of Recovery Care Coordinator. It was obvious from the training that we received on this that much work needs to be done as we move toward this new role. Even as we wait for policies and regulations to be developed and put in place, we have started preparing to change many of the things that go on behind the scenes.

Making these changes will require hard work and a shift in current AW2 paradigm. However, I believe that the end product will provide our Soldiers and their Families with a plan that will give control of their life back to them while assisting with their transition to their “new normal” and their new future. While the AW2 Staff, at all levels, will be working hours upon hours to make these changes a reality, the only changes that the Soldiers will see are the enhanced services that we provide.

I once had a supervisor that would have called this the “swan effect.” On the surface you see the swan as it glides smoothly across the water. If you look under the surface you see the swan’s feet going crazy trying to keep the Swan moving in the right direction. I believe that giving the Soldiers a plan with goals is the right direction for AW2 and I am confident that we will be able to transition to this new role without any interruption in services for our Soldiers and Families.

Becoming an AW2 Advocate

Filed under Advocate Story, Training by jvargas on February 3, 2009 at 2:16 am {no comments}

To all AW2 staff, Soldiers and Families,

I recently was provided the honor of becoming an advocate for the AW2 program. I consider it an honor because of what we do everyday for the brave men and women who have sacrificed and their Families who have sacrificed right along with them. This program, which is unlike any other, affords us the opportunity to give back in the form of a helping hand. I have just completed the third day of training for new advocates, and so far have been impressed with the program and its functionality.

As a disabled retiree who worked his way from injury to separation hitting bumps in the road at each step in the process, I welcome the chance to provide service to our Soldiers and Families, to aid them in their journey as they transition back to duty or back to their community. I have met many wonderful people within the organization, and can say with confidence that the Army Wounded Warrior Program is staffed with caring and passionate individuals who show genuine concern for the well-being of Soldiers and Family. Our commitment to the program and to those we support is of the highest importance. Without the dedicated personnel, the program would not be successful in caring for our severely wounded, ill and injured.

To the Soldiers and Families whom we support, know that we have your best interests at heart and wake up every morning with the desire to help you get where you deserve to be. To the AW2 staff that have brought the program to the level that it is currently at, thank you, and continue to make great strides in all areas that our operation encompasses. To the new advocates that I am currently training with, good luck to you all, and I can tell from our short time together that you will all do great things for our Soldiers and their Families.

Robert Lipp, AW2 Advocate

AW2 Advocate Training

Filed under Training by jvargas on February 2, 2009 at 6:14 pm {no comments}

– by Mark Stuart, AW2 Advocate –

I wanted to post a blog so my fellow advocates and AW2 Soldiers could get some insight into the training we have been receiving here in Alexandria, VA.

Although we have only been in training for three days, the wealth of information has been great. Now, I am not one with words, so please bear with me. I spent 23 years in the Army. That’s 23 years of giving and receiving training, so I think I am qualified to judge training. The training we are receiving has been outstanding – from those presenting the training, to the level of detail presented, and especially my classmates. It’s almost more valuable to hear the stories, experiences and opinions of my classmates than the actual presented class itself. Mike, Gerry and Patty have been an asset to this training. Meg, Mary, Jennifer and countless others have obviously placed a lot of time and effort into this, and there is still more to come. These Soldiers are going to benefit beyond measure from what we will be learning here. Thanks to all of the trainers and classmates that have made this an experience.