Innovative approach: New program aimed at building resiliency

Published March 4, 2013
By Scott King
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- There is a new program at Fairchild designed to make it easier for people to sign up and attend self improvement classes.

Leadership Pathways is a component of Comprehensive Airman Fitness. The goal is to build resilience through increased class attendance offered on base. The program provides one-stop shopping allowing people to see what classes are available base-wide thus eliminating the need to search through various websites, brochures or other media.

"Fairchild's program is in its toddler stage, but we are posting new classes daily to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing SharePoint and we encourage people to start checking it out," said Dawn Altmaier, 92nd ARW community support coordinator. "Hopefully, through increased participation, we can build better leaders, spouses, parents and Wingmen by offering classes that build skill sets to strengthen people's ability to handle stressful situations."

The program has incentives for people who take advantage of the many courses offered.

The incentive portion of the program is based on a three star tier system. Someone who takes eight classes earns one star and receives unit-level recognition. If they take 15 classes they earn a second star and receive group-level recognition, upon taking 20 classes, they get recognized by the 92nd ARW commander.

The Airman & Family Readiness Center is glad the program is spinning up.

"Leadership Pathways is designed to involve Airmen, Guard, reservists, civilians and spouses," said Angela O'Connell, 92nd Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant. "Good leaders seek out ways of increasing their education and knowledge to enhance their resiliency and that of their unit. This program makes it easy and rewarding to research avenues to help not only a person, but also those people who they are in contact with daily."

Base representatives are hoping to increase enrollment in classes.

"I believe once word gets out, and if leaders at all levels support their folks, then the program will be effective," Altmaier said. "We encourage people to take classes with a family member or their Wingman. The more people who enroll, the more skillsets folks have to operate within the work center or at home."

Often there is stigma attached to attending self help classes, but this program is designed to curtail that.

"Leadership Pathways is innovative in that it makes the classes available to everyone," O'Connell said. "They were always available but sometimes there was a stigma attached. People don't need to have anger issues to attend an anger management class or budget issues to attend a Thrift Savings Plan and Investing Class. But, participants are certainly better informed after attending and they can potentially assist someone who may be facing those issues. People add to their resiliency and assist with the resiliency of their unit as a whole - it's a win-win for all."

To inquire about available classes log onto: https://eim.amc.af.mil/org/92arw/CAIB/Pathways on a CAC-enabled government computer or call Dawn Altmaier at (509) 247-5273.