Core Groups: Supplementing Comprehensive Airman Fitness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Quay Drawdy
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - --  Bringing members of the Air Force Global Strike Command team together to build camaraderie and character is taking on a new twist in the form of Core Groups.

Core Groups, which were formed by a team of Airmen, officers, civilians and dependents at Air Force Global Strike Command A9, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., will fulfill Wingman Day requirements, known more commonly at Dyess as Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, when paired with other morale and teambuilding events beginning in June 2016.

"The Core Groups program is small group discussions about topics for Air Force professionalism, camaraderie and core values that ultimately strengthen Comprehensive Airmen Fitness," said Robert "Bob" Sayer, 7th Bomb Wing community support coordinator. "This is a Global Strike initiative designed to enhance interpersonal connections within units and are going to be scheduled by unit commanders. It allows individuals within a unit to split into groups of five to 10, slow down and participate in a discussion on both a personal and professional level."

CAF is an Air Force-level initiative that provides resiliency training in the four pillars of fitness: physical, spiritual, social and mental. The program is designed to keep service members resilient to the diverse stressors they face in their daily lives and in conflict.

To ensure every Airmen remains well versed in the Pillars, a quarterly requirement was put into place.

There are two parts to a CAF credit: first is to receive a briefing from a Master Resilience Trainer or a Resilience Training Assistant in resilience skills. The second was to participate in a CAF Event, which varied depending on the Pillar being targeted; however, with the implementation of Core Groups, the event portion can be supplemented with the monthly small-group discussions provided by Core Groups.

"What we hope is that this will help Airmen feel more connected with not only the Air Force mission, but to the missions we do every day," Sayer said. "Oftentimes, we do our daily work and, particularly first-term Airmen, are so busy doing that work they don't always see where their contribution counts toward the big mission. These discussions will help them realize that they're valued, they're appreciated and what they do matters."