'Focus Week' takes on Airmen resiliency

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard kicked off focus Oct. 4 in with the objective of instilling a sense of resiliency in Airmen.

Events took place throughout the week to increase awareness and morale readiness.

Capt. Kristin Swenson, 82nd Training Wing chaplain, addressed Airmen at the Solid Rock Café on base to speak on spirituality, hardship and their role in resiliency.

As the day went on, Swenson organized an exercise where Airmen had to walk through a floor full miniature sized balls blind-folded, with only the voice of their wingman to guide them.
Although the exercise itself was a game, she had a bigger lesson she wanted to drive home.

"We have one another to guide us," she said. "It makes us stronger."

In the afternoon, as Airmen were freshly coming back from lunch, they were treated to something else that made their stomach's grumble; laughter.

Bernie McGrenahan, a stand-up comedian whose performed at more than 100 military bases, and worked with the likes of Jay Leno and Luther Vandross, hit the base stage to a captive audience of Airmen.

His performance hit upon the good virtues of resiliency and more specifically alcohol, drug and sexual assault prevention.

In order to drive that very point home, McGrenahan spoke on his own life struggles with alcohol abuse.

"I love our men and women in uniform," he said. "I use my life story to give back to the Air Force."

As the day's activities winded down, audience member's left the theater with a new perspective on resiliency and what it means to be a United States Airmen.