Military spouses increase resiliency Published Dec. 7, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- More than 50 military spouses flooded Rockwell Hall, Nov. 29, to take part in Team Scott resilience training. The day-long resilience training program taught participants how to understand why they react the way they do in a given situation, identify and correct counterproductive patterns in thinking through the use of critical questions. "We all face challenges," said Senior Master Sgt. Ronnie Tabor, master resilience trainer. "The resilient part of it is to take that challenge and respond to it in a positive manner. "This is so powerful, we want the family members to get this training too," he said. "Before opening this up to spouses only one part of the relationship was getting the training, but it will make the Airmen more resilient if their family understands these concepts as well." Several training blocks helped participants also identify deep beliefs and core values that fuel out-of-proportion emotion and tools to help improve optimism. Other sections focused on how to respond to others with authentic, active and constructive interest to build stronger relationships. Tech Sgt. Christina Henderlong, resilience training assistant, had previously gone through the training and quickly had her husband go through it before he deployed. "He came out of it definitely more receptive to me coming with him with all these ideas," said Henderlong. "Now he understands everything I have been coming at him with, and I hope that's what everyone is taking out of this." Positivity and optimism are some of the traits the training and instructors try to bring out of each participant during the six hour training. "It helps you deal with all the day-to-day challenges, especially in our environment," said Henderlong. "We're constantly being told to do more with less--less manpower, less money. These tools can help you better deal with problems emotionally and intellectually." Tech Sgt. Juan Lara, resilience training assistant, said he had an Airman who bounced back from negativity by using a key tool called hunting the good stuff--taking time to record at least three good things that recently occurred. "His sister had passed away awhile back before this class, and he started 'hunting the good stuff' as part of his everyday routine," said Lara. "At the commander's call that was around Thanksgiving, he went up to Colonel Hornitschek and told him how much he liked the program and how it helped." Tabor and the team of resilience training assistants have taught over 750 people on Scott Air Force Base the concepts and tools behind the training. "Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen their relationships and to bounce, not break," said Tabor.