JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- To highlight Stress Awareness month, Alcohol Awareness month and Move More month, the Troop Medical Clinic, 673d Mental Health Clinic, Buckner Fitness Center and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Force Support Squadron hosted the Light Up JBER Sprint Triathlon at Buckner Fitness Center on JBER, Alaska, April 13, 2024.
The triathlon consisted of an indoor swim of 300 yards, an indoor bike for 25 minutes, and an outdoor 5k race. About 130 people participated, according to U.S. Air Force Captain Meghan Bailey, a clinical social worker for the 673d Medical Group.
Several supporting agencies such as Military One Source, the United Service Organizations, and others attended the event. They set up booths with pamphlets, refreshments and resources for mental health resources.
“The Buckner [Fitness Center] staff was wonderful and fully supported the event,” said Bailey. “We had helping agencies come out to help connect people to resources on base, and the Air Force First Sergeants donated money for wooden coins to commemorate [the event].”
Bailey and the JBER medical team have hosted three “Light Up JBER” events over the past year with about 100 to 150 participants for each event.
For Suicide Prevention month in Septemeber they hosted a 12K run; in January, they hosted 2K and 10K cross-country ski races, encouraging JBER service and family members to keep on top of their mental health and stay positive during the long, dark winters in Alaska.
“These events are important in Alaska with getting our Airmen and Soldiers out in the arctic environment and having them engage in enjoyable activities they’ve never tried before,” said Bailey. “They help build resiliency specifically by hitting all the resiliency domains: mental, social, spiritual, and physical.”