Airmen ride to resiliency

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Preston Webb
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall Airmen participated in resiliency training May 17, 2013, during a trip to Thorpe Park, a theme park in Surrey, England.

"Resiliency is building within people the ability to 'bounce back' from hard times or traumatic events," said Chaplain (Capt.) Henry Hahm, 100th Air Refueling Wing, 100th Operations Group chaplain.

The chaplain's office worked with the Airman and Family Readiness Center and various first sergeants to hand-select Airmen for a trip to the park as an alternate duty location.

On the way to the park, Airmen learned about "Four Lenses" -- four color-coded temperaments denoting how someone views and reacts to the world around them.

The four colors -- gold, orange, green, and blue -- indicate whether someone is more structured, free-spirited, fact-driven or emotion-based. Airmen discovered their color, how it relates to them and how to better understand people of different temperaments.

"Understanding other colors help Airmen see what they're missing, and what they need," said Elisabeth Leath, 100th Force Support Squadron Exceptional Family Member Program family support specialist. "Every color brings something different to the table."

Part of being resilient is having a support system of friends and family to lean on during rough times, Hahm said. It's also important to step back from the stress of daily life once in awhile and calm down.

Airmen learned the importance of both creating a support system and taking time for themselves during the trip to Thorpe Park.

"Just like a cellphone, everyone needs a chance to recharge their batteries," Hahm said. "The purpose of this trip is just that: to give Airmen a chance to recharge."