Commander's Call focuses communication, wellbeing Published July 13, 2015 By Maj. Brooke Cortez 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- During the July Unit Training Assembly, the 482nd Fighter Wing held a Commander's Call focused on ensuring information on opportunities for health and wellbeing were communicated to the wing. Chaplain (Capt.) Mario Millan, 482nd FW chaplain, discussed spiritual fitness. "The Air Force defines spiritual fitness as the ability to sustain an individual's sense of self being and purpose through a set of spiritual beliefs, principles or values," he explained. "If we are spiritually fit, then we also become spiritually strong, always keeping our focus on our self-worth, values beliefs and eventually the team that will accomplish the mission." Millan encouraged members to reach out to the Chapel anytime and communication to chaplains is 100 percent confidential. They can be reached through their first sergeant, command post at (786) 415-7023, and one of the chaplains will be available to talk. "Spiritual fitness is extremely important in difficult times to help keep things into perspective," he said. "Keeping touch with your core values and beliefs helps you keep spiritually fit." Lt. Col. Peter Smith, 482nd FW Safety chief, covered Quest for Zero summer safety tips for the wing. "Our mission collectively, in this wing, is to ensure the safest work environment possible amongst us and we need your help in our current fiscal environment," he said. "We're doing more with less and doing more with less causes stress." Quest for Zero summer safety tips included grilling safely, not driving while intoxicated, don't travel while tired or text and drive. Additional safety tips can be found at http://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123453228. "Stress causes unintended consequences and we want to mitigate that," Smith said. "The best tool that we have is the wingman concept, both on and off the jobsite. Follow your tech orders, back each other up and slow things down. Off the job, socialize, decompress and take a vacation." Veronica Sforza, 482nd FW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinator briefed her new office location in building 346 and her contact information (786) 415-7606 or (786) 415-7272. Mary Arnold, 482nd FW Psychological Health director, discussed tips on effective communication, specifically how the tone of an email can impact how the message is delivered. If the tone is negative, she discussed tactics to use to take a step back from the situation rather than immediately reacting. "When you get an email that's in all caps or a phone call from someone wanting you to meet them in their office, what do you do?" asked Arnold. "What you can do is stop, breathe in through your nose, hold it for five, and breathe out through your mouth for five. That should help get you to the second step to think about how you're going to respond because you can't take those words back." Arnold also suggested waiting to respond to really think over what to write. Psychological Health is also located in building 346 and Arnold can be reached at 786-415-8888. Col. Michael Hernandez, 482nd FW vice commander, was the final speaker of the day. He briefed the Fiscal Year 2016 UTA schedule is finalized and the wing won't have January or June UTAs. "Hopefully we'll be able to use that time as vacation and after the holidays break," he explained. "There's most likely going to be an airshow in November 2016. The base hasn't had one since 2012 and I know it'll be challenging, but previous airshows have had a great turnout." Hernandez cautioned against social media usage and advised members to ensure their social media page settings are set so that it keeps personal information viewable by only those who you wish to your share information. Hernandez encouraged members to evaluate what they accomplished after a UTA, to include if learning or teaching someone something. Mentorship is a continuous process of learning and teaching, he said. "When I first got into the Air Force a pretty smart person told me you're either learning something or teaching something," he explained. "This is really what the mentoring program is. Some of us in this room are probably struggling with some pretty tough issues, and there are people in this room who have dealt with the same issues and they can help you." He concluded with thanking members for attending the UTA and for volunteering for service. Commander's Call Briefer Contact Information: Chapel: 786-415-7093 Safety: 786-415-7333 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response is located in building 346 and can be reached at 786-415-7606 or 786-415-7272 Psychological Health is located in building 346 and can be reached at 786-415-8888 UTA FY2016 UTA Schedule: Oct. 3-4, 2015 Nov. 6-8, 2015 Dec. 5-6, 2015 Feb. 6-7, 2016 March 4-6, 2016 April 1-3, 2016 May 13-15, 2016 July 9-10, 2016 Aug. 6-7, 2016 Sept. 10-11, 2016