EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A recent Helping Agency Team training session here offered focused resiliency, connectedness and primary prevention.
Kelly Ewert, Eglin’s community support coordinator, said the training took place as the military continues to look closely at prevention strategies, processes and structures.
“We’re seeing a lot or realigning, growth and process improvement,” she said. “All of this comes with its challenges, but it also comes with opportunities.”
The training included communication activities, focused on how communication relates to connectedness in the base community.
Ewert said one goal is to strengthen relationships between HAT and base leadership.
She said HAT shares base leadership’s desire to increase their effectiveness and enhance mission readiness. Efforts are also being made to improve teamwork, communication, transparency, and trust.
“We have the opportunity for buy-in and support at all levels,” she said. “We’re moving to more of shoulder-to-shoulder relationships and an action approach, vice a passive approach.
Dale Marks, 96th Test Wing vice-director, brought a leadership perspective to the training.
“We’re always challenged with giving our leaders the tools they need to be more effective,” he said. “We not only show them what is possible when they use the tools, we also ask for feedback to ensure those tools are effective.”
The training was also an opportunity for HAT to build relationships with each other, according to Ewert.
Ewert hopes HAT can help in strengthening resilience in the base community.
“We are ever-connecting,” she said. “We are working towards increasing community resilience, connecting the HAT team to other agencies, and creating opportunities for people who feel alone, to not feel alone.”