Creating resilient people who happen to the world

by Staff Sgt. Amber R. Kelly-Herard
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

8/13/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Resilience training builds stronger Airmen who can handle adverse conditions and recover from them easily.

To equip defenders with resilience, Air Mobility Command security forces commanders and trainers participated in the 2013 AMC Security Forces Defender's Edge Training Summit July 29 through Aug. 2, here.

"Security forces and explosive ordnance disposal forces operate outside the wire on a regular basis in dangerous conditions and find themselves in situations needing operational resiliency," said Col. Randall Richert, AMC Directorate of Installations and Mission Support Security Forces chief. "Defender's Edge Training is important because it provides Airmen a set of tools prior to an incident occurring."

Defender's Edge Training was created by Dr. Deloria Wilson, Air Force Security Forces Center, especially for security forces Airmen. Wilson came to Scott personally to teach this course about remaining calm under stress.

"Defenders learn their technical skill set and do well in the Air Force," said Richert. "With this training, Airmen can develop a tougher mind - spiritually, mentally and physically.'

"If you combine a tougher mind with technical skill set, they have the tool set to do a job well," Richert continued. "Then if you create a team of Airmen all with the same training, it creates an incredible team."

The summit also included Sergeant Rock Physical Training, a special type of training developed around 2004 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, with fitness specialists and experts from the Cooper Institute, focusing on muscle failure and muscle memory.
Additionally, retired Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing" and "On Combat" presented "The Bulletproof Mind" at the base theater. Experts also offered a clinic on injury-free running.

"The tools provided during the week of training are all invaluable and when coupled with one another make a more resilient SF Defender prepared for rigors specific to police work, base defense and ground combat," Master Sgt. Peter Maraia, AMC Security Forces Resources and Budget manager. "Not only am I coming away from this training personally more prepared for my duties as a Security Forces member, I am now armed with knowledge that will help me assist my fellow Defenders."

"For most people, the world happens to them," said Richert. "We want to create people that happen to the world."