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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story by Capt. Ryan Hubbs, Kentucky National Guard Resilience Coordinator
Multiple deployments can take their toll on our citizen soldiers and their families, which in turn degrades readiness. Resilience training offers tools and resources to combat the negative affects incurred during mobilization. (Photo by Sgt. Alexa Becerra, 2/138th PA)
GREENVILLE, Ky. — What makes a person be able to bounce back from adversity? Why do some people seem to thrive under pressure, while others can barely cope with the stresses of everyday life? Is it something you were born with, or is it a skill that can be learned?
For answers to these questions, the U.S. Army teamed up with the University of Pennsylvania and prominent psychologists to see what it was that makes an individual “resilient.”
Resilience is defined as the ability of an object to spring back into shape, or more specifically (when dealing with Soldiers) the ability of a person to recover quickly from adversity. Although originally, psychologist believed that resiliency was a trait individuals were born with, they have now discovered that resiliency is a skill that can be learned by anyone.
Kentucky Guardsmen participate in a group discussion as part of their Master Resiliency Trainer Course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Jan. 20, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Mike Moynahan)
It is no secret that today our men and women who serve in the National Guard face many situations which bring about stress. Juggling deployments, annual training, and drill weekends with a civilian job and family relationships can be extremely difficult, even for the most resilient individuals. It is because of this recognized stress that the Kentucky Army National Guard has seen fit to get as many Master Resilience Trainers as possible to teach these skills in their units, in order to make our Guard stronger.
From Jan. 12-23, leaders from a variety of units of the Kentucky Army Guard attended the Master Resilience Trainer Course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville. Lead by Abbey Bradshaw, a resilience specialist from Fort Knox, the Resilience Team from the Michigan National Guard’s Great Lakes Resilience Center and some help from the Army Reserves, Soldiers from across Kentucky were immersed in the optimistic world of resiliency.
The graduating class of the Kentucky National Guard’s Master Resiliency Trainer Course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Jan. 23, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Mike Moynahan)
The two-week course teaches Soldiers a variety of skills dealing with how to become more self-aware of counterproductive thoughts and emotions and how to regulate them. The course focuses on optimistic thinking and gives Soldiers the tools be cool and confident in any situation. The course even teaches skills such as active constructive responding that help to foster better relationships with friends, family, and coworkers alike.
The course is with not without its critics though. The Army has been trying to eliminate the perception that it is “not okay” to share feelings.
“I was concerned about having to sit in a drum circle and talk about feelings,” said Master Sgt. Chuck Shuff with the 20th Special Forces Group when he first learned he was going to attend the course. “I was relieved when that turned out not to be the case at all. These are practical skills that Soldiers need to have.”
It is not uncommon for those who enter the course to be a little leery at first. However, by the end, almost all who complete the course say they come away with invaluable skills that not only help them become better Soldiers, but also better people.
Kentucky Guardsmen attend a Master Resiliency Trainer Course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Jan. 15, 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Mike Moynahan)
In an effort to spread the resiliency program, it is important to get buy-in from leaders at the top and whom Soldiers respect.
Capt. Mike Moynahan, a Ranger qualified Infantry company commander said, “The skills taught during the course are proven and effective, but it takes practice to become good at them. Mandatory training requirements can be overwhelming at times, but these skills will pay dividends while deployed for soldiers and their families.”
Overall, the 32 Soldiers who participated in the training had overwhelmingly positive things to say about the course. In addition, the Kentucky Army Guard is now at 96% strength for units that require an MRT. Facts that keep leadership optimistic for the future of resiliency in the military.
“The positive response for the program here in Kentucky has been encouraging,” said Maj. John Harvey who oversees the program. “With more than 125 MRTs trained and more classes scheduled, the Kentucky Guard is quickly becoming one of the most resilient states in the Nation.”
For more details on how you can receive resilience training or become involved in the state resilience program, please contact your unit MRT or State Resilience Coordinator.
Story and Photos By: 1st Lt. Mark Slaughter, Kentucky Yellow Ribbon Program
Additional photos provided by Bruce Herrick Secretary of Derby City QDMA.
- The children of deployed troops spent a fun weekend enjoying the great outdoors thanks to the generosity of the Quality Deer Management Association and other volunteers. Youth from Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, the Naval Readiness Center, and the Kentucky National Guard completed their hunter certification before going on the hunt of lifetime. (Photo by Bruce Herrick, Secretary of Derby City QDMA)
Brandenburg, Ky. — If you have ever been around a group of kids all weekend, chances are good you probably heard more than a few times, “I am bored.” Well, that’s what didn’t happen the weekend the Derby City Quality Deer Management Association’s hosted their first military youth hunt.
Soldiers from Fort Knox and Fort Campbell registering their kids for the Derby City Quality Deer Management Association’s (QDMA) Military Youth Hunt. The four day event took place October 7th-10th at YMCA, Camp Piomingo (Photo by Bruce Herrick, Secretary of Derby City QDMA)
The four day event started October 7th and ran through the 10th at YMCA Camp Piomingo at the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. More than 30 young hunters and their mentors spent four-days enjoying the great outdoors, all thanks to some volunteers from the Derby City Branch QDMA and the Bourbon Trail Branch QDMA.
The children were provided everything they needed at no cost to the families, all thanks to sponsors like BAE Systems, Bass Pro Shops, Plano, Cabelas, Society of Military Engineers, WMMG Radio, Raytheon, League of Kentucky Sportsmen, Bluegrass Game Calls, Hunters for the Hungry, YMCA, Camp Piomingo, Walmart, KDFWR and others.
QDMA members of the Quality Deer Management Association raised almost $20,000 for the hunt. It was such a success plans are already in the works for another event next year, and the kids can’t wait.
The QDMA, by the way, is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable future for deer hunting. Founded in 1988, the QDMA currently has more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries including many deer management professionals.
By partnering with state wildlife agencies, timber companies, hunting groups, and product manufacturers they work to achieve their goals of safe and ethical hunting. The overall focus of the group is a strict adherence to wildlife and trespass laws promoting involvement in education and management for the hunters and non-hunters toward a better understanding of wildlife management. QDMA members strive to maintain a stewardship and appreciation for all wildlife in the hopes of passing these values on to future hunters, and there is no doubt that the weekend’s event did just that.
Matthew Robinson, son of Master Sgt. (retired) Shawn Robinson, going through shotgun familiarization training at Knob Creek Gun Range, in Bullitt County, Kentucky, under the watchful eye of members from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. (Photo by 1st LT Mark Slaughter, Kentucky Yellow Ribbon)
Committee member of the Derby City Chapter of QDMA, and Chairman of the Military Youth Hunt, Joe Shreves worked hard to organize the event that brought kids in from almost every branch of service and from all over the Commonwealth.
Like all good hunting stories, the program came about during a discussion while sitting around a campfire.
“Naturally, we wanted the most deserving
kids and that is when we decided to give
consideration to children whose parents
were deployed overseas defending our
freedoms,” said Shreves. “The idea came up to go to Fort Knox and take some military kids.”
The idea grew and eventually 30 youth participated, 17 from Fort Campbell, six from Fort Knox, two from the Navy, and four are children of members in the Kentucky National Guard.
Before the youth hunt began the young people took part in the hunter education course and every one of them received a completion card, which is required to hold a Kentucky hunting license. Department of Fish and Wildlife Employees were on hand to help the kids complete the hunter education. This includes training, testing and range work with .22 rifles and 20 gauge shotguns.
On the range Matthew Robinson, son of retired Master Sgt. Shawn Robinson from the Murray State College ROTC program was impressed.
“This is awesome!” he declared as he finished the shotgun familiarization portion of the program.
Education was the first phase of the camp. Before the kids could hunt they had to learn about important topics like firearm safety, archery, wilderness survival techniques, conservation, and ethical hunting before heading into the field. After completing the classes the young hunters were provided a rifle donated by local hunters and sent to the range where they zeroed their sights.
On the zero range Kaytlin Nestor got some help from her father, Staff Sgt. David Nestor from the 101st Airborne Division Fort Campbell. The father-daughter team worked quickly with expertise, accurately setting up her rifle. Kaytlin has had a lifetime of shooting experience, but this weekend was special because it gave her some precious with her father, who has been deployed in support of the Global War on Terror.
“I am really looking forward to Saturday morning when the hunt begins,” said Kaytlin.
Navy Corpsman HM2 Brian Minton from the Naval Operation Support Center Louisville provided medical support over the weekend. (Photo by 1st LT Mark Slaughter, Kentucky Yellow Ribbon)
Hunting began before the sun came up Saturday morning, when the hunters and their mentors were taken to designated hunting positions. Throughout the weekend the number one goal was safety and every precaution was taken to insure the safety of the kids and volunteers. Hunting procedures were prepared and rehearsed well in advance.
Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Brian Minton was on duty from the Naval Operation Support Center Louisville. Minton provided medical support over the weekend and was on the scene ready for action in the event of any misstep.
Shreves had high praise for his medical support. “HM2 Minton was a valuable asset, and his presence brought great credit to himself and the US Navy.”
Minton, by the way, works as an EMT in the civilian world, and had just returned from a deployment in Afghanistan where he served as a corpsman for the United States Marine Corps.
“The weekend was great, and it was good to see so many kids and families enjoying themselves,” said Minton.
With their training complete early Saturday morning the kids were taken to designated hunting areas.
“We mainly hunted on two properties, Grand View Hunt Club, which is a private hunt club that I manage, and we hunted the Hardin County Landfill,” said Shreves.
Besides hunting skills the younger hunters learned something many of the seasoned mentors already knew. Hunting is a great sport but it is not just about connecting with nature, it is about making friends, and having a hunting buddy that life long memories are made with is priceless.
Ben Hutchinson and mentor Donnie Dattilo pose with Ben’s first deer. Ben’s mother took the processed meat to Camp Atterbury, Ind. where his father was preparing to for an upcoming deployment (Photo by Bruce Herrick, Secretary of Derby City QDMA)
A lot of the kids had early success in the hunt but more than that many of them connected with one another on a personal level. Having a parent deployed is tough, and it is good to have a friend to help you through that time, someone who knows what it is like when a Mom or Dad is away.
That is exactly what Brandon Jeffcoat and Ben Hutchinson experienced. Over the weekend whenever you saw Brandon, Ben would not be far away. The two of them made a great pair. When Ben tagged his deer on Sunday Brandon was there to celebrate. Ben’s mom made the drive in with his two younger brothers to pick up the deer and take it to his dad who was at Camp Atterbury, Indiana preparing to deploy.
Ben’s proud Mother said “You have shown me the side of my son that I have never seen.”
Ben’s mentor Donnie Dattilo also had a great time saying, “I could shoot a 200 class deer this year, and not have as good a time as I did with Ben.”
Jessica Slater and her mentor, Jennifer Shannonhouse posed with a deer harvested at the Derby City Quality Deer Management Association’s Military Youth Hunt. Jessica proudly declared that she would process the entire thing into jerky and send it to her father, 1st Lt. Greg Slater, in Iraq. (Photo by Bruce Herrick, Secretary of Derby City QDMA)
Jessica Slater comes from a military family. She has two brothers in the military — one just left for basic training — and her father, 1st Lt. Greg Slater is deployed with the 1204th Aviation Support Battalion.
Both Jessica and her mentor, Jennifer Shannonhouse, had a great experience during the hunt. Jessica proudly declared that she was going to send venison jerky to her father in Iraq. The first step, of course, was getting a dear. Shannonhouse was a little worried at first when she saw how small Jessica was and how big the rifle was, but her fears soon faded.
“After her first 4 shots she had hit the target 3 times,” said Shannonhouse. “I was not concerned anymore. She was a lot of fun and was so incredibly excited about getting her deer. I am glad she has decided to process the meat for her dad. He will never forget that and neither will she.”
The youth hunters also donated their meat to Hunters for the Hungry making a difference in the local community. It is programs like these have brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of venison to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks, that help feed those in need.
Shreves was pleased with the final result, saying “It was our goal to provide a quality hunting experience for the children of our deserving service members. From the looks of the children that participated, we were successful at making that happen, but we can do so much more. Imagine what a dozen chapters in Kentucky could accomplish. With the two chapters that participated in this hunt, Derby City and Bourbon Trail, we were able to host 30 children. There are hundreds that need our support!”
For more information on next year’s event please contact Derby City QDMA president, Pete Blandford, (502) 231-2625; Joe Shreves, (502) 377-5333, email joseph.shreves@insightbb.com; or Bruce Herrick, (502) 239-8388, email bherrick@bellsouth.net or visit www.derbycityqdma.com to volunteer, donate or sign up.
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Mark Grant and David Orange are responsible for the creation of the Survivor's of American Heroes quilt.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A unique quilt honors the memory of fallen Kentucky troops and pays tribute to their Families.
The “Survivors of American Heroes” quilt was commissioned by the Kentucky National Guard’s Survivor’s Outreach Services as a symbol of the Guard’s dedication to the families of Soldiers and Airmen who have died in service to our nation.
Retired Chief Master Sgt. David Orange works with the SOS program. He is also responsible for the quilt’s design
“We wanted something that honored the fallen members of all our armed forces,” said Orange. “The idea of a quilt has been very popular with military families, so it seemed natural to combine the two.”
The prototype quilt was put together by Quilters Alley of Paducah, Ky. and measures four by six feet. The design includes an American flag background with a ribbon bar depicting the service stars associated with the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Embroidered words proclaiming “Survivors of American Heroes” and “Because Someone Cared” send a clear message of gratitude.
“It’s made in Kentucky by Kentuckians for Kentuckians,” said Orange.
“That quilt is very impressive,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. Mark Grant, who works with Orange in the SOS program. “We think it’s going to attract a lot of positive attention and give our survivor families some comfort when they attend our events.”
The first Survivors of American Heroes Quilt was "made in Kentucky by Kentuckians for Kentuckians."
The new quilt will make its formal debut this weekend in Louisville when Churchill Downs and Humana Military hosts the second annual Survivors Day at the Races, a gathering of more than 350 surviving family members of fallen Kentucky uniformed service members.
For more information about the quilt’s design and manufacturing as well as Survivor’s Outreach Services, please contact David Orange at 502-607-1099 or e-mail him at david.orange@us.army.mil.
ACH
By John Cheves/Lexington Herald Leader
Photos by Mark Ashley
Volunteers worked Sunday in a hangar at Kentucky National Guard headquarters in Frankfort to finish some of the 545 beds that were made during a 24-hour Build-A-Bed blitz sponsored by Kentucky's AmeriCorps programs. The event served the national kickoff of AmeriCorps Week.
FRANKFORT, Ky.(May 10, 2010)-Nearly 1,000 volunteers came together in Frankfort for a 24-hour blitz that ended Sunday at noon to build beds for needy school-age children.
When the sawdust settled at the AmeriCorps Build-A-Bed project, about 545 beds were ready to be donated across Kentucky, said project spokesman David Bachert. an AmeriCorps remedial reading teacher.
Every bed and mattress will be accompanied by a care package that includes a set of sheets, a handmade quilt, a night light, books, a stuffed toy and toiletries, Bachert said.
This was the second year for Build-A-Bed. Last year, volunteers assembled a total of 50 beds at five locations around the state. This year, for greater efficiency, they centralized their work in a hangar at the Kentucky National Guard headquarters in the capital.
Volunteers want to help low-income children get the good night’s sleep that other people might take for granted, Bachert said. Sleep deprivation can lead to health problems in children, he said.
“There are a lot of kids in Kentucky who have to share beds,” Bachert said. “Or they maybe don’t have a real bed, they sleep on the floor on an air mattress. Or they lost their bed to bed bugs or in a fire or something like the flooding we saw last week.”
Volunteers participate in the "Build-a-bed" project in Frankfort, on Sunday, May 9, 2010. Participants worked in shifts Saturday and Sunday to build 500 beds for children in need.
AmeriCorps will truck the beds to 18 drop-off locations across Kentucky, where additional volunteers can deliver them to local families.
Bachert said children were selected for the program based on referrals from the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Red Cross and other agencies.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/09/1258339/545-beds-for-children-built-during.html#ixzz0nXlLfp8i
Frankfort, Ky. (March 5, 2010) — Kentucky Army National Guard aviation Soldiers from Detachment 11, Operational Support Airlift, returned home Tuesday with much fanfare following their tour of duty in Iraq.
KY Adjutant General awards KY Medal for Valor
Kentucky Medal of Valor recipient Sgt. Michael Clary stands with Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain and Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky Adjutant General, after an award ceremony Oct. 9, at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center. Clary received the Medal of Valor after assisting with the rescue of four Daviess County teenagers stranded on top of a vehicle in an icy water-filled ravine during the Ice Storm of 2009.
