Resiliency: How to Shape Today’s Sailors for the Fight

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex Corona – Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Deployment. Family. Relationships. Advancement. Stress. These are everyday challenges that Sailors today face in the fight to build resiliency.

Faced with long deployments, time away from family, friends, and loved ones and job-related stress, each Sailor embarks on a daily crusade. Each day underway, in port, or on shore duty the myriad challenges seem to multiply. According to Capt. Tara Smith, force mental health advisor at Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, there’s sometimes a stigma attached with seeking mental health help, a lack of privacy, trust in leadership and presumed military reporting requirements.

“All of us face challenges and learn that we can overcome most,” said Smith. “Becoming resilient means knowing your limits, who you can turn to for help and being humble enough to let others help you.”

Smith pointed out steps Sailors can take to build their resilience and how important those steps are in keeping the right mindset.

“Basic preventive maintenance is a must for all of our men and women in uniform,” said Smith. “Our Sailors need to eat well as often as they can, try to exercise regularly, get adequate sleep, and build a social support structure. If you are lacking in one area make sure you support it with strength in another. Pump yourself up and be your own biggest supporter.”

Smith does not want the more experienced generation of Sailors to think that resiliency only applies to junior Sailors.

“Resiliency isn’t just a buzzword for millennials,” said Smith. “In my 21 years of service I was rarely fully prepared for each new tour and the challenges it presented. In each command, it’s important to seek out new mentors, regardless of rank, and for leadership to be strong, humble and care for their junior Sailors.”

Smith remembers an interaction she had with chief aircrew survival equipmentman Jeremy Kelsey, who is now known Navy-wide for sharing his story of overcoming a chaotic childhood only to attempt to take his own life.

“I used to travel with chief Kelsey who told his personal stories to thousands of Sailors during resiliency summits,” said Smith. “When Kelsey was a child he was horribly abused by his stepfather. He kept it to himself his entire life, and when he joined the Navy it was the first time in his life that things were normal.”

Smith said Kelsey didn’t know how to handle a life without chaos, so he created his own. As a young second class petty officer, he was spiraling out of control and he tried to take his own life, but fortunately there was someone around the corner to stop him.

“He was miraculously found by a fellow Sailor who came to drop off something he had borrowed,” said Smith. “His chain of command didn’t give up on him and ensured he got all the resources he needed to cope with his new life. His negative behaviors were learned as a way to cope with the abuse. He wasn’t a bad person and no one was hurting him anymore. He could finally stop hurting himself. This is the power of engaged, caring, and resilient leadership.”

The power of this story and others is shared throughout the various programs the Navy offers to help Sailors in need. Chaplains, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions, Friends of Bill, Deployed Resiliency Counselors, Embedded Mental Health professionals, Military and

Family Life Consultants, Fleet and Family Support Centers, Military One Source, and many others are all out there to help the modern Sailor.

“All of these programs greatly contribute to resiliency of our Sailors, but it is truly the people who run these programs that can make the difference” said Capt. John Hakanson, force chaplain of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Hakanson said resiliency and the state of someone’s mental health go hand-in-hand with individuals and leadership.

“People don’t realize mental health is work,” said Hakanson. “Coaching by strong Sailors produces the ability to withstand greater stressors for those who are struggling with the day-to-day grind of military life. It is up to leaders to break down the barriers of the stigma attached to seeking mental health professionals.” health status you won’t return to active duty. This simply isn’t true.”

According to the Navy’s Suicide Prevention Office, .0029 percent of all security clearances are revoked for psychological reasons.

According to Smith, 28 percent of Surface Force Sailors have sought some type of mental health treatment, and the vast majority return to work with no disruption to their careers.

“Sailors have to play out the worst-case scenarios in their heads and ask themselves, how would I respond?” said Hakanson. “From a death in the family to a missile hitting their ship, it’s important for them to think about these things. That way, if it does ever happen they are better prepared.”

Hakanson feels that it is important for Sailors to take the time to imagine the kinds of difficult scenarios they may face in the military and in the real world.

“The best part of my job is the privilege of Sailors trusting me with their stories and allowing me to help them at the most vulnerable points in their lives,” said Smith. “When they recover and bounce back, it makes me love my career choice. I think there is a misconception that because of a mental would rather try to solve their own problems.” From the newest Sailor at the command to the admiral in charge of the strike group, the struggle for resiliency, the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, is ongoing. The stigma attached to seeking help is becoming less prevalent, but Sailors need to be their own biggest advocate.

When these types of devasting situations happen in a Sailor’s life, it is important they are able to bounce back and stay in the fight.

“Navy culture is changing and more Sailors are seeking help and returning to work stronger than before,” said Smith. “Unfortunately, barriers remain. Sailors are primarily too proud to ask for help and

Sailors demonstrate their strength daily basis completing the command’s mission and being there for one another regardless of the personal sacrifice. Although the workdays can be long and the rewards minimal, each Sailor has an unparalleled tenacity that they must never forget. *

“Becoming resilient means knowing your limits, who you can turn to for help and being humble enough to let others help you.”