The first in an seven-part series to help Soldiers become healthier, more balanced and resilient; The author attended Soldier 360A,Ao, a course offered by the Grafenwoehr Military Community designed to help Soldier-leaders gain insight, knowledge and skills to foster a healthier unit environment and become better leaders.
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - According to dictionary.com, resilience means two things - the power or ability to return to the original form or position after being bent, compressed or stretched; or the ability to recover readily from illness, depression and adversity. During the Soldier 360A,Ao Leader Comprehensive Fitness Course, a two-week course for junior and senior noncommissioned officers, leaders are introduced to programs available throughout the Grafenwoehr Military Community, while learning to provide support to their squad members and peers, who might be struggling with stress, relationship challenges, anger, physical fitness or other challenges.
The course curriculum incorporates a series of seminars, presentations and activities delivered by instructors and volunteers from within the community. Sessions are taught by professionals and health care providers at on-post and local off-post facilities. The training offered the NCOs new insight into practices and opportunities that might not have been available to Soldiers before, such as sleep and pain management using acupuncture, and relaxation and physical fitness techniques, Tai Chi and yoga, ancient art-forms that reinforce the Army's typical physical fitness training. Then there was meditation, hypnosis and art therapy, which are techniques that could be used for stress reduction, mental focus, balance and psychological fitness.
I had the pleasure of participating in this amazing reinforcement of human resilience. For me, it was a life-changing experience. I witnessed 44 NCOs and leaders from within my community, who openly talked about the effects of frequent deployments on themselves, peers and families. After the first four days of the course and basic instruction on the signs and symptoms of stress and training in anger management, participants could describe the triggers for unhealthy behaviors in themselves and their peers and could address potential tools to reduce its effects.
I'm not saying it was amazing that they could understand the material. It was amazing because these NCOs were obviously challenged by their responsibilities. They are leading squads, platoons and companies of Soldiers who are facing similar challenges and stresses at home. The discussions were candid, some talked about the difficulties of making connections at home with their families and battling their own demons - challenges that can lead to personal destruction and Army mission failure. Others talked about unhealthy worry over potential mission failure that has led to lack of proper rest anxious behaviors that affected the unit and caused depression and fear. What is amazing is that these Soldiers aren't much different than most other NCOs at other installations in other communities. However, these Soldiers showed a great deal of dignity and courage and spoke up, honestly and candidly unafraid to try something new. The tools offered weren't new, although the NCOs might not have known about them before. They stretched themselves in yoga and realized it was hard work, not just fluffy, hippie-speak stretching. They gradually applied themselves in creative ways and never complained.
Also, this amazing course developed Army leaders using "existing" tools and resources, things that are already funded -not programs that need to be created. This type of program could be offered at any installation using the synergy of the entire community, and reaping benefits because all Soldiers have the courage to try new things and the determination to become better leaders, Soldiers and spouses. These 44 demonstrated to me and the staff that they haven't given-up on the ideals that made them great Soldiers in the first place. The Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage drive them to continue to fight often overwhelming challenges to become better husbands, fathers, mentors, instructors, and warriors, while doing everything the Army asks, including multiple deployments to support the objective of winning the war. These Soldiers demonstrated they are willing to fight harder to maintain a healthy balance between self and Soldier-leader, and self and husband-spouse. They struggle to manage their time, talent and the difficult mission the Army has given them in Afghanistan. They are key to developing our junior enlisted, entrusted with America's younger and less-experienced Soldiers, affecting the next generation of Army leaders.
Finally, this was amazing because I'm sure the unit's G3 or S3 training NCO received a tasking for so many personnel to attend the course and selected NCOs who were available. The NCOs showed up not knowing what to expect, and with some selected at the last moment; however, their faith in the Army, instructors and themselves was beyond the military's "Operations Order." No "tasking-order" could guarantee such a diverse, in-depth interaction of human psyche, stamina and growth. These Soldiers were engaged, participative, assertive and powerful. They were nominated by their commanders to participate, but the information shared and level of interaction could not be ordered. It was genuine, real and raw in most cases. In fact, one Soldier said, "Nothing is constant except change." And that physics law, mixed with the courage and determination of these Soldiers demonstrated that the Soldier 360A,Ao alumni will become the change agents of tomorrow's Army, powerful leaders within the community and more successful at home with their families and after the military.
I learned Soldiers, civilians and family members are all struggling with mission-fatigue. The challenges were well-verbalized in the faces of the individuals I met during Soldier 360A,Ao. However, the resiliency of the person was demonstrated over and over again. Each morning the NCOs were excited to defeat that yoga position that had challenged them the day before, or had the courage to get up before the others and lead the group in a relaxation exercise. It was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. It was a week of self-doubt, self-discovery, self-love, acceptance and empowerment.
The Soldier 360A,Ao Leader Comprehensive Fitness Course is a franchise that can be hosted in any community Army-wide. For more information on the course, go to Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Soldier360, and click 'like' for a great source for general wellness and balance discussions, journaling posts, and new fitness findings.
To replicate this program at your home station to help the Soldiers in your community establish better-relationships with local service providers contact Mail.catc.tmb@eur.army.mil.
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