WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO -- The 445th Force Support Squadron conducted a Tactical Pause day Nov. 3, 2019, in an effort to strengthen resiliency and promote additional resources that are available to assist Airmen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
This training included exploring some less-than-traditional resource options such as board games which require skill and strategy, yoga to promote mind and body wellness, developing vision boards to creatively document goals, and meeting with representatives of the Miami Valley Pet Therapy Program.
Bailey, who is part beagle and part Great Dane, joined her handler Gerry Coen from the Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association in greeting the Airmen enthusiastically. Coen explained and demonstrated the purpose of a therapy pet.
“Service dogs are trained to offer medical support,” said Coen, smiling down at the wagging tail of her therapy dog. “Bailey won’t do that, but she is trained to offer love.”
Therapy dogs have to complete a seven-week training program, learn to tolerate different sounds without reacting and must pass a number of tests to show they can confidently interact with equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs.
Therapy dogs must also be at least one years old and have lived with their handler for more than a year.
“Bailey and I have been doing this for about eight years,” said Coen. “I was a service member myself and so the base holds a special place in my heart.”
Bailey works two to three days a week, for a few hours at a time, and spends most of her time at the base hospital.
“Having Gerry and Bailey come out today has been a great experience,” said Maj. Sabrina Ocampo, officer-in-charge for the military personnel flight at the 445th Airlift Wing. “It was really about letting our Airmen know about all the different kinds of resources available to them here should they need the support.”
In a video released Aug. 1, 2019, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright discussed the direction given by Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. David L. Goldfein to open a dialogue between Airmen, command teams and helping agencies in order to combat the rise of suicides within the Air Force.
“We won't tell you what to do; we won't tell you how to do it,” said Wright. “You know best what your teams need.”
Commanders were urged to use Air Force resources such as outreach programs, family counsellors, chaplains and any other organizations that could be of service.
The 445th AW discussed many of these resources at a commander’s call, where representatives from different agencies were given the opportunity to speak to the entire Wing, then in their smaller group training later that day FSS wanted to make sure their Airmen had as many avenues open to them as possible.
“This is just one more avenue that’s available to all of us here,” said Ocampo grinning. “It’s our tactical day of “paws!”