CAMP TAJI, Iraq (Army News Service, Sept. 13, 2010) - The Taji Warrior Resiliency Campus held its grand opening Sept. 7, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a lecture on resilience by the director of the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program.
"This is my first trip to Iraq since 1991, and I can think of no better reason to be here than for this ribbon cutting," said Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, a Desert Storm prisoner of war. "This resilience center is exactly what CSF was intended for; it is an opportunity to make good people better."
The goal of CSF is to increase resilience and enhance performance by developing the five dimensions of strength: physical, emotional, social, spiritual and Family.
"This building is made up of the five pillars that comprise Comprehensive Soldier Fitness," said Col. Frank Muth, the commander of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, who is in charge of the new campus.
"It allows Soldiers to come here and get the relaxation associated with either physical fitness or MWR facilities, but also if they are having a tough day, or they have a bad conversation with a family member, they can also turn to someone for help. Everything is right here in one location."
The Taji Warrior Resiliency Campus is open 24 hours a day and has something for each of the pillars of CSF. If a Soldier needs to discuss something troubling them, they can either talk to a chaplain or a combat stress counselor. There is also a nutritionist on staff.
Unlike other resiliency centers, Taji's has an obstacle course and boxing ring to help the troops release stress. The facility's interior was completely remodeled by Soldiers for Soldiers.
The CAB's senior enlisted advisor Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Thomson said it took about three weeks and 24 of the brigade's Soldiers to convert an old squadron headquarters into the new resiliency campus. The Soldiers gutted the building, cleaned it and did all the construction and painting.
The CAB Soldiers built a theater room and a multi-console gaming center to help their fellow Soldiers relax. They also built several privacy booths for phone and video calls to loved ones in the states.
"One of the greatest threats to our Soldiers and their families are multiple deployments," said Muth. "Having a strong Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program strengthens resiliency which helps fosters our philosophy of Soldier strong plus Family strong equals Army strong."
(Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth serves with Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., Public Affairs.)
Desert Storm POW retraces her footsteps
By Capt. Efrem Gibson
TAJI, Iraq (Army News Service, Sept. 14, 2010) Aca,!" Aca,!A"Certainly, itAca,!a,,cs a homecoming of sorts.Aca,!A?
ThatAca,!a,,cs how Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum described her first visit back to Iraq 19 A,A1/2 years to the day she was released as a prisoner of war.
The catalyst for the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness director to return to Iraq was an invitation to be the guest speaker for the grand opening of the Taji Warrior Resiliency Campus, about 15 miles outside of Baghdad.
The center is operated by the Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and is the first of its kind in Iraq. Cornum was thankful for the brigadeAca,!a,,cs invitation, because it was an opportunity to speak to Soldiers on resilience.
The CSF concept was not around in 1991, but Cornum demonstrated great resilience back then, surviving eight days in captivity by Iraqi forces. The goal of CSF is to improve a SoldierAca,!a,,cs Aca,!A"resilienceAca,!A? by focusing on five dimensions (physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and Family). Cornum credits her spiritual strength for getting her through her time in captivity.
Aca,!A"I had great confidence in the Army and felt what we were doing (in Iraq) was right. I also believed that if I stayed alive long enough, the Army would come and get me.Aca,!A? The general also felt being able to put it in perspective was a key factor that helped her stay alive.
CornumAca,!a,,cs experience as a prisoner of war has helped her realize there is a need for CSF. She is able to personalize the teachings of CSF and relate them to a real-life incident sheAca,!a,,cs experienced.
Aca,!A"No matter how grave or mundane the situation is, I always try to take a disadvantage, and turn it into an advantageAca,!A? she said. Aca,!A"I live my live every day like that.Aca,!A?
Although she was glad to be in Iraq again, Cornum does not consider the trip to be closure for her. Aca,!A"It was an event. I donAca,!a,,ct look for closures to events, they just end,Aca,!A? she said. The general said she was happy she had come back to Iraq to demonstrate that a person can return to the scene of a bad experience and be ok. Cornum does not even hold animosity toward the men who held her captive.
Besides being a guest speaker, Cornum had other plans while she was in Iraq.
Aca,!A"See the country and all of the progress,Aca,!A? Cornum said. Aca,!A"The last time I was here, I was blindfolded in the back of a truck so I didnAca,!a,,ct see much.Aca,!A?
(Capt. Efrem Gibson serves with Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs.)
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