Jan. 25, 2022 Invisible Wounds Initiative helps build a supportive culture for Airmen, Guardians, and families through focused leadership The Command Team Campaign is a communications effort to increase knowledge and enable command teams to build connectedness, trust, and openness to tough conversations about cognitive, emotional, or behavioral conditions associated with trauma or adverse life events.
Aug. 29, 2020 Intrepid Spirit Center opens at Eglin AFB Eglin Air Force Base’s Intrepid Spirit Center, the first on an Air Force base, is a treatment center dedicated to post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, associated pain conditions and psychological injuries in active-duty service members.
May 19, 2020 Military Caregiver Month: Hidden heroes The Caregiver Support and Family Program was founded in 2014 to improve caregiver resiliency by connecting them with other caregivers who can share experiences, provide guidance and ultimately build trust and long-lasting relationships.
Feb. 9, 2020 Rescue dogs help heal wounded warriors The Office of the Warrior Advocate is a first-of-its-kind organization that was founded by two wounded warriors that saw a need. It is in that same spirit of seeing needs and answering the call that service dogs are becoming part of Offutt’s landscape and cultural norms.
May 10, 2019 Around the Air Force: EOD Memorial Ceremony / Tyndall Industry Day / Groundbreaking On this look around the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein speaks at the 50th EOD Memorial, Air Force officials discuss rebuilding Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and Eglin AFB, Florida, starts construction on the Intrepid Spirit Center.
May 6, 2019 Intrepid Spirit Center moves forward The 96th Medical Group held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the construction of the Intrepid Spirit Center at Eglin Air Force Base, May 2.
Sept. 12, 2018 Preventing suicide - starting with myself There is rarely a day that passes when I do not think of ending my own life. Some days, my depression is an overwhelming weight to bear and it takes nearly everything I have just to push the thoughts away and get on with my routine.
July 4, 2018 Air Force Widow vows to bring awareness to invisible wounds Air Force veteran Stacey Pavenski, 46, of Palm Bay, Florida, has post traumatic stress disorder, but she didn’t get it from serving in combat. It came from her husband’s combat struggles that drove him to take his own life in their bedroom, Sept. 18, 2017, while she was in the kitchen. He was 45.
May 14, 2018 Check your ego at the door, be your own advocate Master Sgt. James Stalnaker always thought going to mental health was a deal breaker for your career; that mental issues make you a weaker person. It took encountering struggles of his own to change those views.
March 16, 2018 First-ever blood test for detecting brain injury cleared by FDA Brain injuries can happen from a fall, while in combat or during training exercises. Thanks in part to research funded by the Defense Department and the Army, Banyan Biomarkers has created the first-ever brain trauma blood test. On Feb. 14, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration cleared marketing of
March 14, 2018 Clinic answers call for invisible wound care In the midst of brain injury awareness month, construction of a facility to treat traumatic brain injury is well underway at the 96th Medical Group.
Jan. 8, 2018 EOD Airman receives Purple Heart More than 10 years after his injury, Tech. Sgt. Douglas Smits, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team leader, received a Purple Heart medal at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, Jan. 5, 2018.
Oct. 4, 2017 The show must go on Butterflies begin to invade their stomachs as they step foot on the battered floor. The smell of painted wood fills their nose and the heat of the spotlight touches their skin like a tanning bed. A geyser of adrenaline shoots through their body increasing their heart rate to an all-time high. The
Sept. 28, 2017 Competition fuels hearts, ignites relationship In 2015, when a Naperville, Illinois girl met a small-town boy from Eagle River, Alaska, neither knew immediately how their relationship would evolve beyond teammates; however, the now engaged pair of retired Air Force athletes would still say “teammates” will always be a word that first comes to
July 7, 2017 Adaptive sports shift outlook on life “I was sitting at home alone one night and had taken out my pistol; I remember how cool it felt in my hands and knowing I was moments away from taking my life. In that split second, my phone went off with a text from one of my Airmen who said he needed my help getting to work the next morning, and I