TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
The Comprehensive Airman Fitness initiative has been
around for a couple of years, but there are still some who may not know what
it’s all about.
More commonly referred to as CAF, the initiative is both a
lifestyle and culture in the Air Force. Its mission is to build and sustain a
thriving and resilient Air Force community that fosters mental, physical,
social and spiritual fitness. The result of a comprehensively fit Airman is a
highly performing Airman.
CAF is coming up on four years at Tinker with many new
initiatives introduced to the installation like Give Airmen/Sailors a Ride
stops, improving on where to find information about Tinker (“Life on Tinker” on
Tinker public page), merging mandatory training into supervisory courses to
give back time to the unit, providing human relation courses like “Time
Management” or “True Colors” facilitator training or just responding to focus
group needs of wanting a consolidated civilian education and training
website. Community Support Coordinator
Karen Blackwell also led the charge by introducing resilience skills courses
for the entire community (spouses, civilians and children at the youth center).
Tinker is one of the first bases to really incorporate civilians into the
training, which Ms. Blackwell said contributes to the enhancement of human
performance and wellness, while negating negative behaviors.
Tinker has a multitude of existing programs that help
Airmen and their families build upon their fitness and resilience across the
four pillars, mental, physical, social and spiritual. This information can be
found on Tinker’s Helping Agencies website (http://www.tinker.af.mil/AboutUs/TinkerHelps.aspx).
See below for some upcoming special events that promote CAF and improve quality
of life at Tinker.
• Doggy Fun Walk, conveniently held on National Dog
Day, Aug. 27, at 7:30 a.m. Anyone who has access to base can participate in the
mile and a half walk that will begin and end at the Tinker Exchange.
• 9/11 Memorial Resiliency Luncheon, noon to 1 p.m.
Sept. 8, in the Tinker Auditorium.
• Tinker 9/11 Memorial Run, Ruck and Remember, 7
a.m. Sept 9. Anyone who has access to the base can participate, but
pre-registration is required. For more information, call the base chapel at
734-2111.
• Tinker Sports Day (Resiliency Day & Music Fest),
starting at 7 a.m. Sept. 30. To sign up for sports events, visit
Tinkerliving.com/Sports
Laura Crowder, Health Promotion Manager and Community
Action Information Board co-chair, also a master certified health education
specialist, focuses on the physical pillar for CAF. Not only is the quality of
life important, but Ms. Crowder said the protective factors are also key tools
in the productivity and success in her role. She is able to reach out or
respond to individuals with options, either via agency assistance or provide
resources that can help Airmen and their families build upon the pillars of
CAF. While options or resources may be generated toward one particular element,
Ms. Crowder discussed, the other components are interconnected as well. But, as
CAF provides a lot of cross-functional educational resources, she said that the
other agencies are always collaborating.
“We ping ideas back and forth,” Ms. Crowder said, which
keeps the ideas and content fresh and up to date. Different areas of expertise
provide a well-rounded program.
“We hope to implement a social media message campaign in
September, which focus on each pillar of CAF,” Ms. Crowder discussed. “There
will be inspirational messages, helpful tips, and information on what resources
are available at Tinker.”
She said the messages would be a supplemental tool and
would not replace any current resources.
Ms. Crowder preached that the more they can do to increase
knowledge and awareness of what is available could be nothing but beneficial.
“It may not apply to someone directly the moment they see
a message, but it could perhaps, apply to them six months down the road,” she
said. “Or, they could relay a message on to someone who may be in more
immediate need, and not even realize it.”
A convenient and beneficial resource is the newly updated
Wingman’s Tool Kit App, which can be accessed via phone, tablet or website.
The app will serve as a refresher for inspiration,
implement resiliency skills, and allow the user access to different agencies.
Wingman’s Tool Kit provides interactive training, targeted content, social
connectivity, location-based resource finder, and emergency resource contact
information. Having outreach information readily available is critical, Ms.
Crowder said.
Additionally, the app features “on the go” resources such
as resilience and fitness trackers, workout reminders, meditative exercises,
wingman stories, tools to count your blessings, and 24/7 support.
“I’m hoping this can really raise awareness,” she said.
“We are working on improving the quality of life and increasing resiliency
skills.
The Wingman Toolkit
The Wingman Toolkit is an outreach and communication tool
developed with the total force in mind, to ensure our Airmen have quick and
easy access to the latest resources in maintaining their Comprehensive Airman
Fitness. The Toolkit is designed to empower Airmen and their families to live
healthier lifestyles and can assist in achieving and maintaining a balance
across the four domains. This helps strengthen their individual resilience as
well as their ability to assist others in need.
The
Wingman Toolkit includes dynamic resources to help build, sharpen and track
personal resiliency such as workout reminders, random motivational messages,
relaxation techniques, a circle of trust with your “real” Wingman contacts,
articles and more. There is also a vast collection of short videos of Airmen
sharing their amazing personal stories of how positive psychology helped them
balance their lives, overcome challenges and influence perspectives.
The
Wingman Toolkit clearly aligns with the perspectives of Air Force leadership as
well as the needs of the workforce. Even the best of us need help, and we need
to help each other.
The Wingman Toolkit can be accessed online at wingmantoolkit.org and through a free app at the Google Play Store for Android
and Apple Store for iOS (search for “Wingman Toolkit”).