Photo By Staff Sgt. Ashley Gardner | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alejandro Serna, 20th Fighter Wing NCOIC of program support,...... read more read more
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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - The airmen hiked through the woods and talked about being prepared for whatever life could throw at them. They also had the opportunity to raft the Nantahala River, going eight miles downriver in the 50 degree F water.
Back at the campsite airmen participated in a resiliency lesson taught by Capt. Randy Croft, the 20th Fighter Wing’s newest chaplain.
Croft’s lesson focused on the deadly attack on the Aurora, Colo., movie theater. A lone gunman opened fire in a packed movie theater on the night of a midnight premiere. Croft was stationed at Buckley AFB, in Aurora when the shooting occurred he counseled multiple airmen who were at the theater that night.
“We try to help build resiliency,” Croft said. “(We) help build those relationships that are often pivotal when people go through difficult times.”
Despite the downpour that occurred Saturday evening, the airmen practiced resiliency in the form of a trust fall.
Senior Airmen Allan Rodriguez, a Medical Logistician with the 20th Medical Support Squadron, told a story about an Airman who trusted him.
Rodriguez said that he met an airman back when he still lived in the dorms. He noticed that she seemed sad, so he talked to her. After initially shrugging him off, he tried again. She opened up to him and they became friends.
Time passed and she told Rodriguez that had he not spoken with her and cared enough to take the time to see how she was doing, that she would have begun considering suicide. This Airman is alive and well because of Rodriguez’s simple act of empathy.
Croft and Rodriguez both said that activities like this trip are a good way for airmen to get to know the people they live and work with.
The Chapel hosts both spiritual and non-spiritual trips open to airmen and soldiers. Croft said their goal is to do events twice a month.
Visit www.shawchapel.org for more details about future events.
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2013 10:01 |
| Story ID: | 110697 |
| Location: | SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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