“This is a holistic approach that aims to strengthen our collective resilience, while reinforcing protective factors and reducing unwanted behaviors through deliberate and meaningful development,” said Maj. Gen. Carl Schaefer, AFMC deputy commander. “By focusing on our mission and building a shared purpose augmented by strong connections, our people will be in the best position to create the AFMC and Air Force we need.”
Driven by the Air Force Resilience Tactical Pause held in fall 2019, the AFMC Connect effort focuses on the importance relationships and communication in a resilient culture. Monthly training topics with tools and implementation guidance center on deliberate, leader-driven meaningful discussions.
“AFMC Connect offers leader-led discussions that incorporate the content normally delivered in mandatory training sessions. This delivery method is aimed at helping our Airmen develop strong connections with leadership and one another as well as a shared purpose as an organization,” said Jennifer Treat, chief, AFMC Integrated Prevention and Resilience. “The discussions are efficient, deliberately targeting specific protective factors and are tailorable for commanders to meet the individual needs of their installation populations. We want our leaders to have the freedom and flexibility to meet the needs of their own organizations within the context of the overall effort.”
AFMC Connect integrates annual suicide awareness and bystander training for military and civilian employees, with implementation and tracking the responsibility of commanders at all levels. The short, 15- to 30-minute training sessions promote meaningful dialogue, leveraging personal accounts of resiliency to create and reinforce connections within organizations.
Resources and implementation guidance are available on the AFMC Connect page of the command website at https://www.afmc.af.mil/connect. An internal SharePoint page hosts additional content and training resources for use by leadership team and facilitators when conducting the monthly sessions. Leaders and participants are encouraged to provide feedback to the AFMC Connect team to help ensure the trainings, tools and resources are meeting command needs.
“The resiliency tactical pause was merely a starting point for continued conversation and dialogue between our leaders and teams. AFMC Connect provides an opportunity to continue this engagement as we grow more resilient personally and professionally,” said Schaefer. “Together we can cultivate and continue to grow a culture of caring across AFMC.”
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