One foot forward: Resilience redefined

Published June 25, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Jovan Banks
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Members of Team Whiteman had the opportunity to meet and interact with Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, founder of the nonprofit organization The Mission Continues, May 19 at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
His work with wounded veterans has changed the way people view disabled prior service members.
Greitens hosted a resiliency brief engaging with more than 100 Airmen from Whiteman, speaking on living with and overcoming adverse circumstances through strength and compassion.
Resiliency for some may be the potential to bounce back from a situation but for Greitens that logic is flawed.
"You won't be the 19-year-old you were before. You won't be the same entrepreneur you were before," said Greitens. "You cannot go back into the past, so you cannot bounce back."
Resiliency is the ability to take on hardships and continue to move forward was a key point Greitens focused on, adding two stories of prior-service members overcoming individual hardships and serving as an inspiration for others.
"I feel like most of all of that stuff about resiliency I've heard before, but his point about finding your purpose in life stuck with me," said Airman 1st Class Sarah Smallwood, a medical logistics technician from the 509th Medical Support Squadron. "I like knowing we are able to get involved with The Mission Continues to help the veterans."
For more information on how to become a part of The Mission Continues you may contact them at (314)588-8805.