MRTs strengthen resilience at work, home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Stefanko
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Master resilience trainers (MRTs) hosted resilience training for military spouses Oct. 6, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The event's goal was to teach spouses Comprehensive Airman Fitness, the Air Force program that links resilience to maintaining mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness. Jan Devitt, 86th Airlift Wing community support coordinator, is responsible for providing the training with her team of 17 MRTs.

"Resilience is important for spouses because their state of mind influences their family and friends," said Devitt.  "By undergoing resilience training, the audience learns how to keep a positive mindset through all the uncertainties that occur in the military."

During the training, MRTs discussed how individual values play a role in accomplishing personal goals.

"When you don't know what your most important values are, it is difficult to accomplish your goals," said Cesar Alvarez, 86th AW MRT. "There may be people who tell you what you should strive for whether it is school, career progression, etc. However, if that's not where your values lie, then you won't hold yourself accountable.

"By realizing what is significant to you and matching your goals to reflect that, you hold yourself accountable and will be more likely to succeed," Alvarez continued.  

While the event focused on building resilience, the MRTs also stated that communication is key between spouses because it helps establish what each other's true values are.

"A common response from new Airmen is that they value money," Alvarez said. "However, if you dig deeper and ask where they would put that money, it is usually toward a house, or a car or their family. Then they realize it isn't money they value, but the security that it provides.

"When spouses communicate their values, it adds another level of support for each other to help achieve those goals," Alvarez concluded.

The training was initially intended for key spouses; however, future resilience training will be open for all to attend.

"No one expects someone to be resilient all the time; people need a boost every once in a while," Devitt said. "Whether you get that boost from a lesson on how to bounce back or by networking and making a friend, this course is beneficial for everyone."

For more information on resilience events, call the 86th AW community support office at 478-8630.