FORT KNOX, Ky. - Army Human Resources Command has established a Ready and Resilient Campaign also known as R2C to support its Soldiers, civilians, contractors and family members to work in conjunction with the Army campaign.
The program emphasizes the belief that the creation of an environment where every Soldier, Army civilians and family member is treated with dignity and respect and given the opportunity to fulfill their potential is fundamental to the readiness and health of the Army.
The R2C program is one of the top priorities of the command. The goal is to have local programs and events support the development of life skills, which will develop the readiness and resiliency of the total HRC workforce, according to Col. Charles Slaney, HRC Deputy Chief of Staff and Commandant.
"We have over 30 master resiliency trainers in the command that work at the directorate and staff level to coordinate training events and education events," said Slaney. The command is actively involved in programs aimed at health and spiritual wellness and eliminating sexual assault, sexual harassment, bullying, hazing, substance abuse, domestic violence, suicide prevention and any stigmas or barriers associated with seeking help."
It is very important for commanders to keep their finger on the pulse of the command. One of the many ways commanders do this is through the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) Unit Climate Assessment which is confidential.
This tool allows the Commanding General to proactively assess critical organizational climate dimensions that impact the organization's overall mission, readiness and even its resiliency. It takes a look at the "shared perceptions" of Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilian employees about formal or informal policies and practices within the command, said Master Sgt. Johnnie Garcia, HRC Equal Opportunity Advisor and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.
"As a result of the survey the command is able to closely review actual unit climate assessment findings and amplification of issues raised. Then education, prevention and intervention programs are instituted instilling values essential to Army readiness and resiliency, which is key to ensuring our ranks are always a place to showcase 'Dignity and Respect for All,'" she said.
The command surgeon's office is helping in broadening the efforts in health resiliency by addressing the Army medical department's Triad of Health, which encompasses adequate exercise, nutrition and rest.
"The most recent effort is the Army Wellness Center now having an office in the Maude Complex, located in Building 6 on the first floor." said Lt. Col. Randall Freeman, HRC Command Surgeon. "The center offers several different programs including body fat measurements, resting metabolic rate measurements and health education."
Other programs the surgeon's office has established include free blood pressure checks on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month and a 1.5-mile wellness walk every Tuesday and Thursday. At the same time as the blood pressure checks take place a nutritionist from Ireland Army Community Hospital is also available to answer any questions about nutrition and diet.
"While we haven't found anyone with urgent hypertension which needed immediate medical care," said Dr. Freeman, "we have definitely found those who didn't realize how high their blood pressure was."
Other events such as the Health and Wellness Fairs, offers all HRC personnel and their family members information on starting or maintaining a healthier, active life style.
In the chaplain's office, command chaplain, Maj. Mark East and his assistant, Staff Sgt. John Bennett have established events to support the R2C program.
Chaplain East offers a class in spiritual fitness which trains individuals how to leverage their personal and spiritual and religious environment as a tool to build internal strength to survive external pressures and to drive on during extended times of discouragement, fatigue and anxiety.
The chaplain's office coordinates participation in the Strong Bonds program. Last year HRC offered four Strong Bonds events, three for Army families and one for single Army Soldiers.
"There are three types of Strong Bond events," Chaplain East stated. "One is for couples, another for families and one is for singles. In all events two important skills are taught. Number one, you'll learn how to disagree and resolve conflict without hurting each other. Number two, you'll learn how to set common goals for your marriage and your family."
The success of the program is not in one particular event but the cumulative effect of having a variety of events that cover all facets of life, faith and health.
LaAnna Mraz, the secretary for the HRC Commanding General, is an example of that cumulative effect. Mraz recently experienced a serious medical event that extended over a considerable length of time.
"When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked and pretty much knew what had to happen and I knew it would be a long journey." Mraz recounted. Then I remembered what I had learned in a resiliency training class at HRC about how to 'hunt the good stuff.' That, along with my faith and great support system gave me the strength and determination to accept what was happening now, and once it was behind me to look forward to what I would be doing in the future"
"Another wonderful program is the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program," she said. Through the caring and generosity of other federal civilian employees donating their leave after I had used all of mine, I still received a paycheck and that took a lot of stress out of my life."
"The HRC R2C program has a good start at HRC," said Slaney. "We want to ensure we expand and enhance resiliency across the Command and the workforce. As we move forward, we don't want to leave anybody behind."
"To this end HRC has stood up its own Community Health Promotion Council. Under this council we will have a workgroup. The workgroup will talk to issues, concerns and items, and then bring it to the council where we will work through it, and make recommendation to command leadership for implementation," Slaney explained.
HRC will continue to develop and improve methods of events to ensure they directly contribute to a Ready and Resilient Army. Together we are Army Strong.
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