Media

Feb. 25, 2022
Seeing Past Tomorrow: Senior Airman Trent Smith’s Road to Recovery from Sexual Assault

Airman Smith will live on in the periphery of society for the rest of his life,” a doctor reported. At that time, SrA Trent Smith (Ret.) had been living with an invisible wound for many years. Even Smith disregarded his own trauma, which was later diagnosed as PTSD. But Smith’s ending was not what
Aug. 10, 2021
Better Than the Last: Tech. Sgt. Matthew Sigmon’s Journey of Faith and Recovery from PTSD and Moral Injury

Sleep did not come easily in the wake of his first deployment, as the whistling of a mortar shell would often stir Tech. Sgt. Matthew Sigmon in the quietest hours of the night. It was a persistent trauma from an unfinished chapter in his life and a lingering, unseen scar that he bore both in his
May 7, 2021
Through Good Days & Bad: A Caregiver’s Account for Supporting His Wife’s Recovery from Invisible Wounds

There are many roles a person will play in a lifetime. For military families, these roles often cross the threshold of personal and professional life. As an active-duty security forces training instructor at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Technical Sgt. Justin Goad can list Airman, father, husband,
Feb. 4, 2021
Shift Back to Normal: How Master Sgt. Michael Myers Found Resilience through Humility and Helping Others

After fighting for a decade with his invisible wounds, Master Sergeant Michael Myers recognizes the need for Airmen to seek treatment at an early stage. Now, as a Superintendent for the Office of the Warrior Advocate (OWA) and an Ambassador for the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) program, Myers has
Dec. 14, 2020
A Medic’s Experience Unpacking Treatment for Invisible Wounds

Seeking treatment can provide Airmen with the tools, coping methods, and support they need to address invisible wounds. Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Sharpe, an experienced medic, recognizes first-hand the importance of encouraging other Airmen to seek help for their invisible wounds.As a
Sept. 25, 2019
Tech. Sgt. Brewer speaks at B-52 resiliency tactical pause

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein recently said in a note to commanders that suicide is an adversary killing more Airmen than any enemy on the planet.In order to address rising suicide rates in the Air Force, a resiliency tactical pause was ordered with each wing at liberty to handle
Sept. 23, 2019
Wounded Warrior speaks so others can

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – As Air Force suicides trend upward, Wounded Warriors like retired Master Sgt. Adam Boccher are pleading with Airmen through their own stories to share the burden of breaking barriers before barriers break them.“I thought that if I asked for help, I would look
Sept. 12, 2019
I Almost Became A Statistic

I almost became a statistic. I had always prided myself on my resilience, even before resilience was a commonly spoken term. But it seemed like life had kicked me in the gut a few times and I wasn’t getting back up any more.
Sept. 12, 2019
A Journey to Recovery: An Invisible Wounds Story

Every Airman’s deployment experience is different. For some, deployments are exhilarating, while for others they can be stressful and traumatic.For Tech. Sgt. Graeme Clouden, an electrician with the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron, it’s been a mix of excitement and distress. Having been deployed five
Sept. 11, 2019
The person, the Airman, the wounded warrior

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Master Sgt. Sharina Elrod, with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Inspector General’s office, and an Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) Ambassador, said she couldn’t wait to join the Air Force, serving her country and seeing the world. In 1998, the