Editor’s Note: The “People First” section is compiled from information from the Air Force Personnel Center, TRICARE, 56th Force Support Squadron, Airman and Family Readiness Flight, Veterans Affairs, the civilian personnel office and armed forces news services. For the complete story, go to the web address listed at the end of the story.
Art therapy helps close wounds of vets
As a mortuary affairs Airman, retired Master Sgt. Justin Jordan handled dozens of bodies of service members, many of whom were killed downrange.
But one mission at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, finally made him crack. Jordan was called to a maintenance facility for a deceased male who had been fatally run over by a forklift. That male turned out to be a good friend.
“That was the tipping point for me,” he said. “Everything I had seen before started pouring into my mind.”
Jordan said he slipped into a deep depression, became irritable and disassociated, and drank heavily to drown the emotions. But, he said, he grew tired of taking bottles of medication to cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder. So, he focused on art.
Eight wounded warriors, four of whom are current or former Airmen, including Jordan, were recognized during a Defense Department Warrior Care healing arts event Nov. 12 at the Pentagon.
The group is among more than 1,100 wounded military members who’ve taken part in a healing arts program since late 2011, when the DOD partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts to offer art therapy to recovering troops.
Sharpen resume with purpose, relevance
Writing a resume for federal employment consideration doesn’t have to be daunting.
In fact, it’s about providing an applicant’s best qualities when it comes to showcasing workplace responsibilities, education and career accomplishments.
Keeping a current resume has a purpose and several benefits, from being able to respond and apply for an immediate job posting, to staying abreast of job duties and highlighting ongoing significant activities.
“A resume is relevant information to give an employer an understanding of your duties and experience gained over a number of years,” said Angelia Solomon, the staffing section chief for the Air Force Personnel Center’s operating location at Robins Air Force Base. “It’s very important that an applicant be clear and precise with information provided on a resume.”
When writing a resume, there are several key pieces of information that should be included when describing work experience and education. There’s not a particular desired layout.
Personal information should detail your full name, mailing address and day and evening telephone numbers with area codes.
Thousands converge for Kadena Special Olympics
Approximately 1,700 volunteers from different branches of the U.S. military and the local community helped with the 16th annual Kadena Special Olympic Games Nov. 7 at the Risner Fitness Center Sports Complex.
The games were held as an opportunity for more than 850 special needs athletes and their families within the Okinawan community to join Team Kadena in a day full of competitive sports and festivities.
The event was off to a loud start when hundreds of volunteers and spectators formed a human pathway to greet and cheer on the arriving athletes as they were shuttled to the fitness center.
The games kicked off with an opening ceremony where Brig. Gen. Barry Cornish, 18th Wing commander, and Masaru Machida, Okinawa Prefectural Government Executive Office of the Governor director general, shared words of encouragement to the athletes.
During the ceremony, Cornish led the crowd in taking the “athlete’s oath,” a tradition that was once repeated by Greek warriors before going into battle, with the common goal to compete with their best efforts and push themselves to new heights.
Facebook official discusses Lean-In Circles with cadets
A leading Facebook official recently encouraged U.S. Air Force Academy cadets to break through their personal gender and cultural bias and understand the importance of equality Nov. 6.
Sheryl Sandberg, the social media giant’s chief operating officer, spoke from the stage in Arnold Hall to promote Lean-In Circles, a peer networking program she created that has been co-opted by the Defense Department.
Studies show men’s abilities are overestimated, women’s abilities are underestimated, men get promoted based on potential, and women are promoted based on their accomplishments, she said. Overall, Sandberg told the cadets, women and minorities are “systematically underestimated” in any organization.
“If you look at progress in society, the military has often led, like you did with desegregation,” she said. “Equality doesn’t just benefit society or the military as a whole — it benefits you.”
