OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea - Soldiers and Airmen are improving their personal and professional lives one meeting at a time at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.
Mentoring, Inspiring, Supporting, Teaching and Empowering through Rapport, or MISTER, is a group that provides Soldiers and Airmen with the resources and information to navigate the challenges a service member can expect to face while serving overseas.
During the group's April 25 meeting, they invited Ruth Barry, the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade military and family life consultant, to discuss stress management and coping methods.
"I've come to learn military people are asked to do things, things the rest of us are not," said Barry. "You're asked to come to Korea for your first duty assignment. Move around every few years, and work crazy hours at a potentially stressful job. So we're asking a lot of you."
With the Chatham House Rules in effect, Soldiers and Airmen were free to share personal stories of everyday stressors without the fear of reprisal. Meetings are designed to engage the audience and promote two-way communication.
The climate of the room allowed for open and honest dialogue. Soldiers and Airmen were quick to provide support and reassurance to one another.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Aubrey Quarles, MISTER president, 51st Fighter Wing, the credit behind the group can be attributed to a former 51st Fighter Wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Terrence A. Greene.
"Greene charged NCOs to find positive ways to engage and create open dialogue with Team Osan members, to understand the unique challenges of being assigned to Osan and ways to combat those challenges," said Quarles. "The end goal was to improve quality of life and reduce alcohol related incidents on and off the installation."
Quarles believes the program is working, especially because many of the Airmen and Soldiers that attend the meetings are influential in their workspace.
Despite the group's namesake, meetings are open to everyone and cover a wide range of topics. The only requirement for attendees is that all personal anecdotes are shared without attribution and done in a respectful manner.
Past meetings included topics on servant leadership, an officer-commissioning panel, embracing and excelling in diverse environments and the risks of binge drinking.
One of the major benefits of the group is the support from the senior leaders on base. We have their ear, and they listen to what we have to say, said Quarles.
Those interested in attending a MISTER event are encouraged to follow their Facebook page at www.facebook/MISTERofOsan for meeting dates and times.
Social Sharing