Resiliency Training

By Capt. Jino I Caro (Pacific Regional Medical Command)March 16, 2015

Safety Brief Before The Event
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MEDDAC J Participants in the Paintball
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – MEDDAC-J enjoys a fun filled paintball training event, incorporating resiliency training as part of the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign, which also included practical scenarios on March, 15 2015, at Tama Hills, an Air Force Recreation Facility ri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers Enjoy BBQ
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pictured from left to right, Pfc. Neanna Lamora, Sgt. Nicholas Moore, Pfc. Alyssa Sanchez, staff members from MEDDAC-J, enjoy their lunch between paintball rounds on March, 15 2015, at Tama Hills, an Air Force Recreation Facility right outside of Tok... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MEDDAC-J Soldiers participate in resiliency briefing
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Who says training can't be fun?

Medical Department Activity- Japan (MEDDAC-J) incorporated their resiliency training into a practical application - using paintball to teach the skills necessary for Soldiers to respond quickly to stressful situations.

On March, 15 2015, MEDDAC-J went to Tama Hills, an Air Force Recreation Facility right outside of Tokyo, to conduct resiliency training in support of the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign.

Soldiers volunteered their Sunday to conduct training.

"It was amazing. Soldiers actually wanted to go and do some training on a weekend instead of dreading it, " remarked Staff Sgt. Antoine Perry, an emergency technician at MEDDAC-J.

The Soldiers got a bus ride from Camp Zama, Japan, to Tama Hills and arrived at 9:30 in the morning.

The training started with a safety brief by the Tama Hills recreation staff, followed by a brief by Capt. Peter Dell, MEDDAC-J Chief of Behavioral Health.

Dell's brief covered three Resilience Topics: Assertive Communication, Problem Solving, and Real Time Resilience.

"For paintball you need to communicate assertively with your teammates, apply problem solving skills and use real time resilience, so that your team can accomplish its mission and embody the promise of no one left behind," said Dell.

After the morning session, the Soldiers identified and talked about their reactions and feelings during a lunch BBQ.

Their talks allowed them to strategize, focus and plan how to take out the other team for the upcoming afternoon session, which is one of the goals of Resiliency training: to bounce back from defeat and move forward.

The training ended at 4:30 p.m., when Soldiers arrived back at Camp Zama, ready to apply the skills they learned.

"We all get tired of powerpoint presentations, and this was a welcomed change. I actually learned more about applying resiliency skills today because it was hands on." Said Sgt. Nicholas Moore, an emergency technician.

"This is resiliency training as it's most basic." Said Sgt. 1st. Class Michael Correa, a MEDDAC-J laboratory technician, and it actually reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by General MacArthur, 'Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and on other fields will bear the fruits of victory',".