HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- “Personal development strengthens physical, mental, social, and spiritual resiliency in an effort to build well-rounded Airmen.”
These words on personal development are more than a mandate from Air Force Instruction 1-2, they are words each one of us should internalize to build ourselves into the type of Airman the nation needs.
Individually, each Airman is a complex marvel of Constitution-supporting and-defending awesomeness for America! You are a national asset of unmeasurable value. Our mission is to employ you to fly, fight, and win. But in order to win tomorrow’s battles, we must personally develop today.
The Air Force sees personal development being comprised of four “pillars” of resiliency: Mental, Physical, Social, and Spiritual. Studies show that developing these four pillars will allow you to be resilient in all aspects of work life and home life.
But we must develop these pillars in a balanced way.
Have you ever noticed a person who spends all of their time in the gym concentrating on upper body to the detriment of their pencil legs? Or met an Airman who couldn’t pass their Career Development Course? How about an Airman who was uncomfortable in the social setting of a family day picnic?
These examples are no different than a chair with one of its four legs cut off. It would be very difficult for that chair to balance.
I have seen a large number of Airmen who do a fine job of enhancing the first three legs of personal development at the expense of their spiritual pencil legs which results in losing their balance in a challenging situation.
They have friends and a good support system, they are physically fit and eat well, they are mentally strong in their personal and professional sphere—yet there is something missing. . . .
Spiritual resiliency must be equally developed in order to present the combatant commander with effective and lethal Combat Air Power and Agile Combat Support. Spiritual resiliency must also be developed for you!
Spiritual resiliency is developed through a deliberate process just like physical fitness. The goal is, however, somewhat more elusive or loosely defined rather than a concrete number like 482 push-ups in one minute.
The Air Force needs Airmen who can 1) perform their duties under pressure, 2) maintain their bearing when faced with the full force of adversity, and 3) support and defend even if they find themselves under-resourced and out-numbered.
Obtaining those ends with the aid of the spiritual aspects of life is achieved through different means just like physical fitness is obtained differently for football players than it is for track athletes.
Personally, the spiritual disciplines I practice as a part of my deliberate process for developing resiliency include: prayer, scripture reading, weekly church attendance, and occasional weekend conferences or retreats devoted specifically to spiritual strengthening.
Other examples of activities to enhance your Spiritual Pillar of Resiliency are: meditation, yoga, attending religious services, time with pets and nature—in essence an activity or experience that allows you to realize you are part of something bigger than yourself.
Just like having a workout partner at the gym helps some Airmen stick with a program, I also find that having others participate in those activities with me provides a needed layer of encouragement and accountability that keeps me from missing or slacking off from my workout regimen.
The Air Force is not in the business of telling you a religion to follow or even that you should follow one at all. It does, however, provide experts in the field of spirituality in the chaplain corps.
These individuals span a wide range of beliefs and practices in particular and possess a general knowledge across a broad spectrum enabling them to provide tailored workouts to Airmen of all persuasions. I encourage you to take advantage of the services and support they provide if you are unsure of where to start in your personal spiritual development or are just in need of a simple checkup to make sure your vital signs are healthy.
Anything shared with a chaplain is 100 percent confidential; they are here to help work out that Spiritual Resiliency Pillar for a better you, for a better wing, for a better America!