CMSAF Kaleth Wright poses for a photo while holding a note identifying himself and the logitical details of his "Ask Me Anything" Q&A on Reddit — a standard practice to ensure that the Reddit user hosting each so-called AMA forum is, in fact, who they claim to be. Imgur photo.
The Air Force is testing out new ways to improve airman resilience, including increasing the availability of mental health professionals to continue to combat the rise of suicide and other mental health issues in its ranks.
CMSAF Kaleth Wright, in a wide-ranging “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit, said the Air Force’s resilience leaders are working with medical and mental health communities and commands to improve communication, since regulations and privacy restrictions can limit information between airmen and commanders.
Additionally, the Air Force has beta tests of Task Force True North teams at Minot AFB, N.D.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; and JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; where the service is embedding mental health professionals, chaplains, and other agencies directly in units to improve resilience, Wright said.
“I think what we really need is more engaged leadership at the unit level to really help with this,” Wright wrote. “Supervisors who are more engaged and care about their people can really assist us with this issue more than any program or process.”