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Security Forces Squadron values resiliency

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Editor's note: This is the second in a series of resiliency articles.

For Senior Airman Kole Kribs, the NCOIC of electronic security systems with the 375th Security Forces Squadron, being resilient is important since he is one of 220 squadron members who protect a 13,000-member workforce and 8,000 family members on a daily basis.

And, thanks to training provided by the wing and internal programs established by leadership within the squadron, all members of the unit are improving their resilience so they can "bounce, not break."

Kribs is a recent graduate of the resilience training offered by the base and said it has helped him to deal with the stressors of his career field, as well as communicate better within the squadron.

"It's definitely opened up lanes," said Kribs. "Going through the training lets you know that it's alright to talk to people. The unit has really made it a point to talk to whoever you need to, to make sure you're alright."

His first sergeant, Master Sgt. Robert Fitzpatrick, said they send as many people to the training classes as possible so it can help "strengthen the bonds within the unit."
In addition to wing training, Fitzpatrick said the unit has welcomed the chaplain and mental health professionals to aide in the resilience building.

"We have a designated chaplain who we can reach out to if we need anything," he said. "Whether we have someone who's having a bad day and just needs to talk to someone or there's someone going through administrative proceedings, our chaplain has been terrific in being available and assisting our Airmen."

Because security forces is one of the most deployable career fields in the Air Force--six month deployment rotations--Fitzpatrick said they work to ensure the Airmen are mentally healthy before and after a deployment through their designated mental health consultant as well.

SFS personnel routinely perform "outside the wire" missions, convoy operations, detainee operations, police transition team missions, and any mission where there is a high chance of sending or receiving gunfire. These are all considered high intensity deployments.

"We see the need, and the value, of working with mental health for our Airmen who've been on high risk deployments, who have possibly seen gunfire or a wounded teammate, and the mental health professionals are an avenue for our Airmen when they need someone to talk through the problems if they feel they need too," said Fitzpatrick.

While communication is one of the biggest focus areas the 375th SFS tries to instill in Airmen, deployed or in a home environment, there are other ways the unit works to strengthen the resiliency in their unit such as promoting the ideals of getting adequate sleep, taking time off, and promoting proper nutrition and staying active.

"If you just go to the training and exercises with an 'it's just something I gotta do' attitude, it's not going to be of any value," he said. "Our squadron has responded favorably so we're just trying to keep the team invigorated with resiliency so that they know that we care about them."