JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The 673d Air Base Wing focused on resiliency training, safety day, and the Dirty Dozen team challenge on May 25, 2017. This was the first time all three have been combined into one day.
“Resiliency Day, or resilient service member day, is an opportunity for the commanders to meet the intent of building and developing resilient Airmen capable of overcoming adverse situations,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Steven Beck, JBER Resiliency program manager. “This one is special because we teamed up [with JBER Safety team and the first sergeants’ Dirty Dozen team challenge] to put on a huge event for our Airmen and Soldiers.”
Airmen must complete individual resilience skills training under Air Force Instruction 90-506. The event is geared towards Airmen, but Soldiers, civilians and family members can also participate.
“There is a requirement for Airmen to complete four hours of IRST [each year],” Beck said. “So we hold two resilient service member days around November and in May or June.”
Resiliency is part of the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness designed to focus on the four pillars – physical, mental, spiritual and social. It also allowed the safety team to emphasize safety procedures while participating in archery, kayaking, hunting, hiking and other high-risk activities.
The Dirty Dozen team challenge is an obstacle course put together by the JBER first sergeants. Four-man teams compete in 12 stations relying on each other to finish the race.
“We wanted to focus on the physical, mental, spiritual challenge and social challenges,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Charter, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant. “Some of the challenges were a four-person push up, a math problem, a walk of faith, and making sure they are communicating with each other to complete each station.”
“These events have the ability to educate our service members and their family through training and build camaraderie through teamwork,” Beck said. “I’d like to see it so enriched with valuable training that family members come and participate with their service members too.”