Build relationships for a better Air National Guard

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ben Garland
  • 140th Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AFB, Colo. --  Twenty Air National Guard chaplains, spouses and Airmen and Family Readiness coordinators from all over the country, including Guam, attended Strong Bonds Instructor Training at Buckley Air Force Base March 17-21, according to Lt. Col. (ret) Anthony Landry, Active Relationships Center Master Trainer.

"The goal of the Strong Bonds Instructor Training is to train the instructors for the Strong Bond retreats; chaplains can pick up new tools, and build resiliency and family closeness," said Lt. Col. Paul Franz, head chaplain, 140th Wing.

What is Strong Bonds? "Strong Bonds is a wonderful tool to empower our members to build stronger relationships. With stronger relationships and better family support, members will perform better in their mission," said Maj. Sung Lee, chaplain, 171st Air Refueling Wing.

The program has been successfully training individuals for years. "I attended this event as a participant when I was a major; it took my marriage to another level," said Landry. "The only person you can improve is yourself; it's all about personal accountability; it all starts with the chaplain."

Self-improvement seemed to be a common theme among the participants. "This training can help in my personal life, my own family as well as my Guard family," said Master Sgt. David Yarborough, chaplain assistant, 175th Wing, Baltimore, Maryland.

Another important benefit from this program is it "allows participants the ability to cross talk and share best practices and allows participants to develop networking they can call on in the future for help and ideas," Landry said.

The goal is to make the Air National Guard better and "the biggest force multiplier is to build strong relationships and Strong Bonds builds relationships; it is a hope for success," said Franz.