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480th ISRW ART inspire United States Space Force strategy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ashley L. Gardner
  • 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. --  Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, United States Space Force senior enlisted advisor and Ms. Patricia Mulcahy, Senior Executive Service deputy chief of space operations for personnel virtually visited 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) Airmen at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 11, 2021.

The teleconference began with Mulcahy being introduced to 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing leaders, where she witnessed the innovative concept of the wing’s Airmen Resiliency Team and the holistic approach the 480th ISRW is executing.

The ART consist of chaplains, mental health and physical health technicians who have the appropriate security clearance to speak with and provide direct support to ISR Airmen.

As a prior 480th ISRW command chief and co-founder of the ART, Towberman gave his insight on the background and functionality of the team and how it can benefit the USSF Guardians.

“I really appreciate the team and the work they are doing,” said Towberman. “These are the little actions [that when] all done together make a big difference. We will continue to see this broad approach with no stone left unturned.”

The team was created after operational health stress studies, conducted by the 480th ISRW and others, showed there was a need.

“Embedded teams help identify risk factors in our units early,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sonia Pons, 480th ISRW psychologist. “In the past two years we have not had a single suicide.”

The team went on to explain how important Airman Resiliency is and how it has a positive effect on the individuals throughout the Wing during the teleconference.
“It’s our job to take care of the Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col.Jason Massignan, 480th ISRW surgeon. “At some point in time there have been people who fall through the cracks and it’s our job to help them and get in contact with the right sources.”

The USSF is looking into adopting some of the tools that have been founded in the intel community, one of them being the capabilities that the ART provide for Airmen.

“The maturity and depth of your ART program is impressive and will greatly assist our USSF team in standing up similar programs to care for our Guardians and their families,” said Mulcahy. “Our Guardians are amazing, and we ask much from them. It is imperative to make sure that we are taking care of them by providing the best support we can.”