McLaughlin Air National Guard Base -- The Wing’s most valuable resource is its airmen, which have to prioritize readiness through a healthy lifestyle. This way of life is essential to sustaining readiness and increase mission effectiveness, permitting individuals to complete their duties to the best of their abilities. According to U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “It’s not enough to just meet the minimum standard, every day we have to train people to face the worst day of their life and get them better each day -- physically, mentally and emotionally.” We must create a climate and sustain a culture that permits adaptability to the ever-changing battlefield to assist with resilience. The significance of fostering resiliency is to be able to deal with a wide range of challenging events in one’s life.
Even as a Chief, I am no exception to the rule. I have had several difficult times throughout my lifetime. The top of my list was going through a divorce. I had lost everything important to me at that point in my life. I had lost all my possessions, and more valuable to me, time with my two small children. My life was crumbling right before my eyes. Then one day, I realized I had to get my life back in order and maintain a healthy balance. I had to make a conscious decision to incorporated the pillars of health into my daily routine. The components of health include: Social, Mental, Spiritual, Physical, and I would add Financial to that list. Socially, I reached out to my friends for support and fellowship. I made it a practice of getting at least seven hours of sleep every night. In my view, rest is crucial and essential to preserving stability in one’s life. If your lacking rest, the strength for everything else plunges, and the damaging effects multiply over time. Physically, I started to get a daily hour of cardiovascular and muscular endurance exercise to increase my energy levels. Lastly, I adjusted my spending habits to adapt to my new budget. These several small changes made a world of difference to my short and long-term health.
Today, I am married to my soulmate and best friend, and never been happier in my life. The pillars of health were essential to me overcoming my divorce. Without adapting and making the necessary changes to my life, I would have had a difficult time coping with the situation. There are numerous resources available to assist anyone going through challenging times. This month, the Wing is offering Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Military Class. The participants will experience positive behavior change, accountability, and support in debt cancelation. Individuals struggling with their physical fitness test or are inquiring about a healthy lifestyle have the West Virginia Fit Camp, and State Dietitian has accessible resources. Lastly, we have each other “wingman” to help each other when difficult times arise. Remember, you are not alone in this fight.