Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Post

If we train our bodies for peak performance, why don't we train our minds the same way? There is no debate about the importance of mental health...but what about mental performance? There is a subtle, yet important distinction to be made. At O2X Human Performance, our Mental Performance Specialists play a crucial role in helping individuals and teams optimize psychological well-being and enhance performance. They deeply understand the unique challenges and demands of their teams, and assist in developing critical skills to enhance mental focus, quick thinking, and stress management. Check out the video below to learn more... #firstresponders #lawenforcement #firefighterwellness #thinredline #thinblueline #mentalperformance #1percentbetter

Now the experimentation begins. 

The USS Miami, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, has a tragic story highlighting waste and security issues within the US Navy. Built in 1986, the Miami caught #fire in 2013 while docked for maintenance at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The blaze, started by civilian contractor Casey James Fury who was struggling with mental health issues, caused over $400 million in damage. Despite the submarine's potential for refurbishment or sale, the Navy opted to scrap it. Investigations revealed that #shipyard firefighters and Navy crews were unprepared for such a large-scale fire, having focused on smaller incidents in their drills. Complacency and assumptions about the proximity of #firefighting assets led to organizational reluctance in preparing for worst-case scenarios. The incident raises concerns about base security and the vulnerability of critical assets, emphasizing the need for better mental health assessments, improved fire response preparedness, and strategic asset management within the U.S. Navy. A lesson not learned Apparently the Navy didn't learn its lesson, or this had all been forgotten by the Navy in #SanDiego only 7 years later. A Navy report concluded there were sweeping failures by commanders, crew members and others that fueled the July 2020 arson fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard, calling the massive five-day blaze in San Diego preventable and unacceptable. While one sailor has been charged with setting the fire [later found not guilty], the more than 400-page report, lists three dozen officers and sailors whose failings either directly led to the ship’s loss or contributed to it. The findings detailed widespread lapses in training, coordination, communication, fire preparedness, equipment maintenance and overall command and control.

Physical readiness is crucial for each airman and for the overarching mission of the Air National Guard. A service member in jeopardy of not meeting the physical requirements of the Air National Guard places stress on the airman, the unit, and the guard as a whole. Physical readiness is crucial for career mobility and quality of life, both on and off the job. It is essential for the Air National Guard to reduce injury rates, which are often caused by poor conditioning and overweight. Musculoskeletal injuries cost the Air Force over $557 million in acute patient care each year, impacting operational effectiveness and financial resources. Overweight airmen are more prone to these injuries, increasing attrition rates and affecting the mission. Command support pointed this airman to the support services of our H2F program. With the in-person and app-based support of our #PerformanceDietitian and #StrengthandConditioningCoach they were able to make the lifestyle and training adjustments needed for career longevity and quality of life. #OHWS #H2F #PhysicalReadiness #SiteWellSolutions

There is a reason why military barracks, family housing, and other facilities (such as professional military education) have been discovered to be in substandard condition and are potential health and safety risks. Many of these buildings are old and were slated to be refurbished or replaced with new construction. So why weren’t these budgeted for and funded? Turns out that after 9/11 (September 11, 2001) the budgetary priorities shifted to Afghanistan, then Iraq, and other hotspots. You can only defer things for so long before they cause significant problems. We are at that point now. This is where it affects troop morale, reenlistment, and even recruitment because the word filters back home in Anytown, USA. #military #infrastructure #barracks #mold #housing #repairandmaintenance #newconstruction #budgets #war #costs #priorities #defense #soldiers #sailors #airmen #marines #morale #reenlistment #retention #recruiting #humancapital #health #safety https://lnkd.in/dpGJtewe

Great article and agree that warfare coordinator qualifications should come with points toward a junior officers (JO) detail journey. On my first ship, JOs didn’t stand CICWO (combat information center watch officer) and instead we were standing SUWC (surface warfare coordinator) or AAWC (anti-air warfare coordinator) and this benefitted us greatly while serving in 7th fleet. I learned way more standing SUWC than standing CICWO, interfacing with TAO (tactical action officer) , learning C&D (command and decisions) and ADS (Aegis display system) vabology vice just Mako chat, diving in to more tactical references and reporting off ship to the Sea Combat Commander watchstander. I proposed this concept at other commands I joined but most weren’t interested, especially since the focus for most JO’s are finishing up EOOW and managing bridge watchstander proficiency (45 days). But that can be easily fixed with alternating watches to maintain bridge proficiency (standing OOD on even days and CIC watch on even days, while another JO has the opposite). Not to mention a lot of JO’s struggle with rapidly getting OOD, CICWO and then hopefully their EOOW on their first tour. All in all, standing a warfare coordinator spot, even if it comes in your second tour, should be the goal for all JO’s. Additionally, I think it’s a huge mistake removing ATTWO from the overall SWO qualification process and like the idea of adding it here as an incentive. It’s a disadvantage for junior officers and their progression as warfighters. It also negatively affects the ship for watchbill writing purposes and maintaining a healthy 6 section duty (if you can obtain that with all other requirements of writing an import duty section watchbill).

As a former Fire Control Officer on Mighty Monterey CG 61, I can attest to the importance of tactical qualifications for junior officers. The TAO and subsequent warfare coordinators are entrusted by the CO to keep the ship safe in a fight, and recent events only reinforce the need for competent warfighters. This article sheds light on how we can provide better incentives to enhance the tactical skills of officers. While WTI is filling some gaps, we need to do more to make our officers deadlier warfighters. Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/eDFYHMpV.

How exactly is a stretched-thin Navy doing anyhow?: With conflicts in the Middle East, and having to keep tabs on affairs in the Pacific, the Navy has a hefty to-do list. How is it coping? To find out, Federal News Network’s Eric White… The post How exactly is a stretched-thin Navy doing anyhow? first appeared on Federal News Network. #FedearlNewsRadio #News

https://lnkd.in/gSgBupRP Ok - I can appreciate we need to look forward but there is always a base commander, who has a duty to their fellow Marines to maintain proper health and welfare standards. Maybe those base commanders did register the housing shortfalls- and maybe someone in G8 and the Building decided their MILCON budgets were better used to build extra special hangars OCONUS for delicate systems easily damaged during actual combat operations... Marines in CAMPEN were dealing with mold in their housing in the 90's...it didn't get better as the years rolled on... I have faith CMC will do what he can now with the limited budget provided, which frankly isn't enough to properly support the USMC as it struggles with the 5P's, given the current global wars which will continue to escalate. What we can do is support and shape the appropriate leaders to put our Nation first, and ALWAYS Fight to Win with extreme speed and violence.

Good morning and welcome 2024! New Year’s resolutions are on my mind today, but I am approaching it differently. In the past, I would think of all of these wild and brilliant ideas and then either fall flat on my face or shrug it off within a month’s time. The realization of not succeeding irked me. Today, my thought process of coming up with my New Year’s resolution or resolutions will be different. After my list of items are written, I will ask the big question “Is this attainable?”. Is is so common for us to come up with New Year’s resolutions like jumping over a cliff into water 50 feet below. They are generally emotional decisions. We start, realize we can’t keep up the momentum, and then quit. Then self-defeat is felt. The beautiful thing about New Year’s resolutions is that you own them. In addition, they are malable rather than set in stone. For example, you may want to start working out again. Rather than claiming you will work out 5 days per week, set your goal for 1 or 2 days per week. Once you have consistently achieved it and you know more days per week is attainable, adjust your goal. Not only will you be meeting your goal, you will also adjust for more success rather than giving up. Small moves have great impact. I watched the video below and loved what Ray said about making decisions that will make a positive impact on our life. Remember, you are not being selfish. Those around us are positively impacted as well.