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The Adjutant General's Department

CONTACT:
Sharon Watson
Director, Public Affairs Office
Work: (785) 274-1192
Cell: (785) 806-4063
http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 27, 2009

No. 09-035

KANSAS ADJUTANT GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT DEBUTS RESILIENCY CENTER PROGRAM

Today the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department unveiled the Resiliency Center, a new training program to further strengthen Guard members and their families to better handle life’s challenges.

“The concept for the Resiliency Center is to better prepare Soldiers and Airmen, and disaster responders, for the challenges of a deployment well before they leave the comfort of home, and to ensure they and their families have the tools necessary to better manage stress as it arises,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas Adjutant General. 

This program will enhance the readiness of Guardsmen and their families by providing tools and techniques in advance of challenges. In addition, the training program will eventually support first responders who must respond to multiple disasters across our state and nation such as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and in Oklahoma City, as well as deadly natural disasters like the Greensburg tornado.

“The need for the program became evident as a result of the deployment challenges troops and their families have experienced since 2003, some of whom have gone through multiple deployments,” Bunting added. “We’ve also become aware of the psychological struggles that many emergency workers have had following their response to the Oklahoma City bombing, the Sept. 11 terrorist attack and Hurricane Katrina.”

The training was provided for the first time at the Kansas Guard’s 184th Intelligence Wing in Wichita on April 9.  This week’s course will train military leaders of Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas by teaching them how to assess, strengthen and transition themselves, their troops and their families through the difficulties that can accompany deployment or responding to traumatic events here at home.  

The Resiliency Center training will be provided to the National Guard in six other states this year.

“The impetus of the program is based on the resilient people of Kansas who have endured historic challenges ranging from the dust bowl of the 1930s to the Greensburg tornado, massive flooding and ice storms, all in 2007,” Bunting said. “Through the tough times, we’ve seen how strong Kansans are and how resilient they are despite incredible destruction and loss. We will build upon those qualities in this program and provide resources to make the tough times more manageable.”

The training has been developed by mental health clinicians in the U.S. who have worked with Kansas National Guard members following their deployments.  This training will prepare individuals to handle traumatic events well before they happen, as well as during the situation.

Dr. Rick Selig, director of Psychological Health for the Resiliency Center, who has spent many years working with veterans and mental health issues, assisted in the development of the program.

“We’re excited to bring this new training program to our Guardsmen and, eventually, to our disaster responders, to ensure we give them the best possible information, tools and support to do the difficult job they have before them,” Selig said.
Resiliency Center Program Managers Maj. Paul Gonzales and Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Rodina have both experienced the psychological stresses of deployment firsthand and observed it in the troops they served with and lead. This has helped them shape the program.

“In Iraq, my unit suffered the loss of two soldiers just a short time before we were to return home,” Gonzales said. “As a commander I had to assess the needs of my troops and deal with the losses myself. This experience helped me better understand what our soldiers and airmen need in a training program prior to deployment.”

“As a Vietnam veteran, I saw the effects of war up close, but back then there was an even greater stigma attached with getting help,” Rodina said. “Fortunately, I did seek out the support I needed and now I’m honored to have helped develop a program that will encourage others to get the help they need. We want to give our soldiers and airmen the tools they need to prevent stress injuries.”

The course incorporates training developed by Israeli military for their own troops as well as training designed by NATO officials.

Another unique feature of the Resiliency Center is a Web site featuring military members and resiliency issues, allowing service members and their families to present information to the site for review and posting.

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