TOP STORY>>Team Little Rock action board shaping more resilient Airmen

By Lt. Amanda Porter
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Resiliency. Readiness. These terms have become a culture and way of life for today’s Airmen and their families.

The Community Action Information Board is a key player in the process and implementation of resiliency and readiness programs Air Force wide. The board supports the entire installation including Airmen, families, Air Force civilians, contractors and retirees. The Team Little Rock CAIB is a total force team made up of active duty, National Guard and Reserve members.

“The overall goal of the CAIB is to take a strategic, cross-functional look at quality of life, personal readiness, and community issues to formulate long-term solutions,” said Stephanie Wynn, community support coordinator and executive director for the CAIB.

“Our purpose is to provide what Airmen and families need, and if we don’t have it, find out how to get it,” said Frank Cope, alternate executive director for the CAIB. “Sometimes the law or AFI prevents a certain resolution, but at least you’ve answered the question.”

The CAIB works diligently to address each issue, which requires collaboration across helping agencies on the installation. This is where the Integrated Delivery System comes into play. The IDS is a team of all of the helping agencies on base, functioning as the action arm of the CAIB.

“The IDS implements the vision and direction of the CAIB, and then briefs the CAIB on a quarterly basis on trends, programs and community issues,” said Wynn.

“People want to be listened to, valued and get an honest answer,” said Cope. “The IDS can’t do everything; then we go to our CAIB and say, ‘You’re the decision-makers and control the funding. How can we do this?’”

The IDS also develops a comprehensive, coordinated plan for integrating and implementing community outreach and prevention programs (e.g., financial management; violence awareness; sexual assault prevention; suicide prevention; health promotion, etc.). At the heart of theseprograms are the four Comprehensive Airmen Fitness pillars (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual). The key to IDS success is collaborative partnerships and coordinated activities of the human service programs.

“In the last four years, I have seen tremendous improvement in the IDS and CAIB commitment and added value,” said Cope. “We at Little Rock Air Force Base are finally making it what it was intended to be—making agencies work together to improve the quality of our services and ensure people know other services are available.”

CAIB membership is determined by AFI, while the IDS is open to those working with helping agencies and those invited to provide input from the units. However, there are ways to make your voice heard.

“The Community Forum is a great place to participate, as well as participating in Caring for People forums,” said Wynn.

“We’ve seen some changes,” added Cope. “Caring for People and CAF all came back to IDS work. Now we’re seeing money come down as a response and giving us some answers.”

There are a couple projects on the horizon for the IDS at Little Rock AFB, one of the largest will be Leadership Pathways—a base-level incentivized education program. The goal is to build resiliency through attending classes that will be offered on base. Moreover, it will incentivize Airmen and family members to attend by recognition.

The program will offer a variety of classes in the four CAF pillars. Airmen and family members may attend the classes they feel they need the most help in.

“Leadership Pathways is not the eight-hour resilience training,” said Wynn. “But it can be follow-on training for that training, Wingman Days or any of the resilience surveys.”

“We’re trying to provide [our people] a comprehensive, accessible training venue for self-improvement,” said Cope. “In the past when people have come forward and said, ‘I need this in my personal, professional or academic life,’ we’ve sent them to the subject matter expert. This is a one-stop shop.”

Leadership Pathways is scheduled to start at Little Rock AFB in January 2013. It will be the focus the base’s next Wingman Day. Classes will be available to all active duty, Reservists, National Guard, spouses and civilians. A course catalog will be published and available with a listing of all classes in the near future.

“Leadership Pathways is a great way to expand your knowledge in areas that you may be weak in or areas that are needed at a particular time,” said Wynn. “It gives you, the individual, choices in what you learn and when you learn it.”

Those interested in getting involved with the CAIB or IDS or that have any questions about Leadership Pathways, contact Mrs. Wynn at stephanie.wynn@us.af.mil.