May 2012 - 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Perception vs. realityCapt. Julia Vanover with the EglinAir Force Base Outreach and Resiliencyprogram said she‘s worked with manyupper enlisted airmen and they usuallyfall into one of two categories when itcomes to seeking mental health services— those who have decided to end theirlives and those who‘ve waited until theend of their career to get help. She saidfor those who‘ve decided that suicide isthe answer; a visit to mental health is alast-ditch effort. But for those who gethelp at the end of their career, the delaywas about preserving their career. ―Theybelieve — appropriately in many cases —that coming in will hurt their career,‖ shesaid during the question-and-answerperiod of an enlisted service chiefs‘ panelat the Warrior Resiliency Conference.McCarthy said the stigma associatedwith seeking help for mental health issuesis real and not unique to militaryculture. Because of the very nature ofmilitary service, there are some jobs,such as those dealing with nuclear weapons,where you cannot have a mentalhealth condition. In addition to that, securityforces airmen who have been determinedto be high suicide risks anddeemed unfit for duty will have theirguns taken from them and everyone willlikely know. ―We‘re going to take theirgun away for their protection and everybodyelse‘s,‖ McCarthy said. ―But everyother cop sees that. Nobody likes their coworkersto think that – to use their language– ‗not a full up round.‘‖ ButMcCarthy said that 97 percent of peoplewho seek mental health care do not haveadverse actions taken against them, andthe Air Force has to get that message outto airmen. Vanover suggested that oneway to get that message out would be forthe enlisted chiefs to share their personalstories with troops so they‘ll know youcan seek mental health services and stilladvance your career. ―I hear a lot of peoplesay that [seeking help] is a sign offlexibility — it‘s a sign of strength,‖ shesaid to the panel of service chiefs. ―Youall have successful careers ...what ifevery single one of you went to mentalhealth and talked about it?‖At the conference, Sergeant Major ofthe Army Raymond Chandler said thepersonal message is what people remembermost, so on the spot he shared hisown story.In 2004, he was almost killed by a122mm rocket that came into his roomwhile he was winding down from aneight-hour patrol in Baghdad. He said hepushed aside how he felt about his neardeathexperience for years until he foundhimself on a downward spiral. ―I prettymuch spent 2009 through 2011 in behavioralhealth seeing a social worker andgoing through some pretty intense counseling,‖he said. Chandler said when hewas being considered for his current position,he was asked by then-Army Chief ofStaff Gen. George Casey if there wasanything that might come up that wouldembarrass the Army if it came to light.Chandler told him about his time incounseling. Instead of Casey viewing theconfession as a sign of unfitness, Chandlersaid the general told him to sharethat story with soldiers whenever he felthe could. ―If I can be chosen, that showsthe Army‘s commitment,‖ he said. ―I‘m abetter husband, a better father, and atthe end of the day, a better soldier‖ forseeking help.Marine Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, thetop enlisted adviser to the Joint Chiefs ofStaff, said that he, too, sought the help ofa psychologist for post-combat stress.―Battaglia didn‘t see it, some of his fellowNCOs or officers didn‘t see it,‖ he said,speaking in the third person. ―It was myspouse who saw it. I was in denial andshe‘s the one who identified it: ―Hey,there have been some changes in you.Maybe you need to go see someone‖.Though Roy didn‘t have a personal storyto tell, he said at the conference that AirForce leaders are considering whether todo more pre-screening for pre-existingmental health conditions. He said ifmaintaining security clearances and personnelreliability programs for airmen innuclear operations is a barrier to seekingmental health services, then those areboth areas that need to be looked at. Healso said there is a concern that whenairmen do seek help — particularly forpost-combat stress — that they aren‘tgiven the samerespect asother troops.―In certainsituations,we‘ve had airmencome backfrom the Areaof Responsibilitywho wentto behavioralhealth wherethey were told,‗There‘s nopossible waythat couldhave happenedto you becauseyou are anairman,‘‖ hesaid. ―That‘s aproblem.‖Warning signsTraining materials for front-line supervisorsidentify these signs of distress:*The belief there is no solution or noway out*Feelings of hopelessness*Anxiety or nervousness*Agitation, anger, irritability*Frequent arguments, indecisiveness*Isolation, social withdrawal*Depression*Low self-esteem*Constant fatigue*Trouble concentrating*Change in appetite or weight*Insomnia*Excessive sleeping*Upset stomach*Frequent headaches*Loss of interest in normal activities*Neglecting one‘s responsibilities*Talking about death or suicideKnow your peopleSupervisors should be on the watchfor any unusual or sudden changes in:Behavior, Appearance, Hygiene, Demeanor,Emotions, Work, Performance,Relationships at work or at home.Help is available:* Airmen, remember you can help.You can either seek help in a crisis orbetter yet, help in prevention effortsbefore things escalate. Resources includeour Chaplains and the full-timeDirector of Psychological Health,Shannon Mandle (413) 568-9151 ext6981536 or Military One Source at800-342-9647. Peer support and preventionactivities are critical whenthere is a personal crisis. Peer interventionare statistically proven to bethe most likely way to prevent both
MAY 2012AIRSCOOPMassachusetts Air National Guard (MA ANG)JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERSMilitary Vacancy Announcement (MVA)(Must be a current MA ANG member only)2012-003- SERIVCES OFFICER (Major to Lieutenant Colonel)*(Must meet this rank requirement at closeout date)Closeout Date: May 21PAGE 13This position is a Headquarters MA ANG Traditional Guardsmen Tour at JFHQ-MA (Joint Force HeadquartersMassachusetts National Guard). Must possess a fully qualified Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC)038F3/4, 34M3 or 21R3 (Logistics AFSC must retrain to 38F3). Must have secret clearance, at a minimum.GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Assist unit level operations within and across assigned FEMA Regions. Individual will Provides staff assistanceto unit-level operations with an emphasis on field training and mobility readiness. Individual selected is responsibleto JFHQ –State, unit and staff agencies for successful conduct of unit level tasking under both on base and deployedconditions. Develop and distributes plans and policies. Establishes plans and policies for filed units on resources,program operation, personnel and facilities. Monitors operations for compliance with policies and standards.Tracks financial performance, provides financial oversight, and ensures adequate financial controls. Monitorfield organizations; determine resource allocation- people, money, facilities, and equipment—to accomplish organizationaltasking. Coordinates with JFHQ – State, JFHQ JOC, NGB-JOC, AFNORTH (T10) wing, group,squadron and flight organizations to ensure proper and timely completion of mission assignmentsSPECIALITY QUALIFICATIONS:Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of readiness and mobility operations; food service, lodging, fitness andrecreation practices; civilian and military personnel policies; APF and NAF financial management principals ofaccountability, propriety and stewardship; and business management principals. Education. For entry into thisspecialty, undergraduate academic specialization is desirable in hospitality, restaurant and hotel management,recreation, fitness, business administration management, finance, accounting or public administration management.Training. All training requirements based on LWRRH MISCAP, AFI 10-214, Prime RIBS Program Mangerguide, Ancillary, and PME. Experience. For award AFSC 34M3, a minimum of 24 months experience in Servicesassignments is mandatory.TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:- Must complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.- Must complete Contingency Wartime Planning Course.- Must complete Deliberate and Crisis Action Planning and Execution Segments (DCAPES) Program- Joint Operation Center (JOC) 101 Training.Application Packages: Officers applying for this Traditional Guardsmen position at JFHQ-MA ANG must include the following in theirapplication package:Military Resume, Virtual Military Personnel Flight (VMPF) report on individual personnel (RIP), Copies of at a minimum last 4OPRs, Letter of Recommendation from Group and/or Wing Commander, Copy of a current Physical Fitness TestMandatory criteria as indicated in the MVA must be documented on the members report on individual personnel (RIP). If it is not indicated onthe RIP, it is incumbent upon the applicant to ensure that the applicable source documentation is provided with the application. Must meet theabove stated grade/rank requirement by closeout date of advertisement. Applicants must have a SECRET CLEARANCE and be able to obtaina TS/SCI level clearance to apply for this position. Officers applying for this position must have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree prior to applying.Application for this MVA signifies agreement to the following statement: ―I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all ofthe information on or attached to this application is true, correct, and complete and made in good faith. I understand that false or fraudulentinformation on or attached to this application may be ground for rejection. I understand that any information I give may be investigated.‖Applications should be sent to:JFHQ MA ANG(Attn: COL Green)50 Maple St.Milford, MA. 01757Questions regarding this advertisement can be sent to: peter.green@ang.af.mil
Page 1: May 2012Recipient of the Air ForceO
Page 4 and 5: MAY 2012AIRSCOOPVisitors from Parag
Page 6 and 7: MAY 2012AIRSCOOPTime to goBy Techni
Page 8 and 9: MAY 2012AIRSCOOPSafety: How goes it
Page 10 and 11: MAY 2012Spikes in suicidesBy Markes
Page 14 and 15: MAY 2012Medical Group Training Mana
Page 16 and 17: MAY 2012Welcome to new membersAIRSC

May 2012 - 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?