By Airman 1st Class Erin Baxter, 15th Wing Public Affairs / Published November 20, 2019
Dr. Jill Antonishak guides a seminar on resilient thinking on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov. 19, 2019. She taught three seminars relating to resilience, preventing burnout, and strengthening relationships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Erin Baxter)
The U.S. Pacific Air Forces Integrated Resilience Team hosted “Resiliency – Finish 2019 Strong” at the Binnicker Professional Military Education Center here Nov. 19-20.
Guest speaker Dr. Jill Antonishak, a development psychologist with Techwerks, led the discussion for the seminars, kick-starting the event with a Resilient Thinking seminar.
This seminar specifically focused on how to strengthen mental toughness. The discussion covered different types of thinkers, and how resiliency effects different types of people.
“Resilience is having a sense of well-being and a personal mission or purpose,” said Antonishak.
“My goal is to add more tools to my toolbox,” said Senior Master Sgt. Antwon Parker, U.S. Pacific Air Forces headquarters requirement manager. “I hope to gain more tools to cope with life stressors in multiple environments and I think resilient thinking is the foundation to that.”
Antonishak has worked in military mental health for many years and is aware of the patterns that exist among military members and their resilience.
“There is a disconnect between the Air Force big mission and personal mission,” Antonishak said. “The goal is to connect your personal mission with what you do every day at your job.”
Resiliency keeps Air Force personnel mission-ready and capable. Antonishak and the Integrated Resilience Team hope to make strides toward developing more mentally tough Airmen.