Page 8 - Scout 5-22-15

8A The Scout FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015

DOD: New peer-to-peer service aims to provide counseling support

By Terri Moon Cronk reserve Service members, their families and veterans who are within 180 days of
their military separation, Williams said.
DOD News, Defense Media Activity
A client can talk to a peer-to-peer counselor via Military OneSource and, if is-
WASHINGTON — Starting this summer, the Defense Department will offer sues necessitate, clients can receive a warm handoff to obtain up to 12 sessions with
an additional counseling service to help military Service members, transitioning a clinical counselor, per issue, per person, Williams added.
troops and family members deal with a host of issues before they become crises.
The proof of peer-to-peer support as an evidence-based approach to helping oth-
Peer-to-peer support, which will be available through Military OneSource, will ers has been well documented. Intuitively, it also makes sense, when people seek
offer assistance from counselors who have at least a master’s degree in the social out a friend to talk to who’s had a similar experience, because it can alleviate stress-
or psychology field as well as military experience to help with a host of issues, ful circumstances, explained Dr. Keita Franklin, director of the Defense Suicide
Rosemary Freitas Williams, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military com- Prevention Office.
munity and family policy, said Tuesday.
“The peer-to-peer approach gets after the issue at the earliest possible point of
With that level of education and experience, Williams said, peer support coun- intervention, so folks who get help early get better quicker,” Franklin said, not-
selors can chat confidentially with clients and assist with any underlying issues that ing the importance of getting Service members and families peer support before a
might be associated with someone’s need to chat, online or by phone. problem escalates.

“For example, a military spouse might call in and request to speak to a military For transitioning Service members who will soon re-enter the civilian sector,
spouse [counselor] because [he or she] is at wits’ end over relocating,” she said. peer-to-peer counselors will offer their expertise during what might be a turbulent
During the conversation, the counselor might recognize underlying issues” that can and life-changing time, Franklin said.
range from finances to relationship or employment problems, she added.
“Whether someone is getting out as a young person or is retiring after 20-plus
And because Military OneSource is the central one-stop service that offers mili- years, [transitioning] can be a stressful time,” she said. “So, for six months veterans
tary families a host of direct services as well as information on a vast array of re- can phone Military OneSource and get help.”
sources, it made efficient and effective sense to add peer-to-Peer support to its list
of services, Williams said. While peer-to-peer support is not a crisis counseling service, Military OneSource
works with other organizations such as the Military Crisis Line or the Veterans Cri-
Such counseling services are not a new concept for DOD. Vets4Warriors cur- sis Line as necessary, Franklin noted.
rently provides peer-to-peer support, and its contract runs out in August.
Through peer-to-peer support, “Military OneSource wants to help people avoid
Peer-to-peer counseling will be available for active duty, National Guard and a crisis,” Williams said. “We want [to] help now to avert it.”

Air Force:F-35 pilot training begins at Luke

Story and photo by Squadron will train on the flying piece,” “Initially the training will be focused stand how that interface works between
Senior Airman James Hensley said Lt. Col. Matt Hayden, the 56th Train- on understanding the airplane: how to the pilot and the airplane.”
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ing Squadron director of operations. “It’s take off, land, fly formation and how to
a buildup approach training, where we interact with all the sensors on the air- The training in total, from academ-
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — start with academics, move to hands-on craft,” Hayden said. “As the training pro- ics to simulators to flightline, takes ap-
The first ever F-35 Lightning II pilot training with the simulators, and finally gresses we look at a tactical approach, as proximately three months. This first class
training class was held at Luke Air Force to the aircraft. The F-35 is built in a way far as how to employ the airplane air-to- is training to become flight ready with
Base, Phoenix, May 4. to introduce students to the basic overall air, air-to-ground, what the capabilities the F-35, but to also become instructors
aircraft handling of its systems and what and limitations of the aircraft are, and upon completion of the course.
Two F-16 Fighting Falcon instructor makes up the F-35.” how to communicate.
pilots and two A-10 Warthog instructor “The pilots going through the train-
pilots were selected for the class, mak- The students will learn various sys- “The tools in the ATC are set up to help ing right now are going to be staying
ing them the first students to learn how to tems throughout the aircraft and how immerse the students in the aircraft envi- here at Luke to be instructors,” Hayden
operate the fifth-generation fighter. they work together. Hydraulics, electri- ronment in an academic way,” Hayden said. “When they graduate they may very
cal, engine and flight controls are sys- said. “The student stations in each of the well turn around in a matter of days to
“Luke’s Academic Training Cen- tems every pilot must understand prior to classrooms have large monitors and a instructing students in what they just
ter (ATC) focuses on the academic and taking their first flight. stick and throttle. In addition to that, the learned, which is why we chose previous
simulator training and the 61st Fighter instructor at the front of the classroom fighter pilot instructors to be in the first
has a couple of projectors which enable class to have that tactical experience.”
7UDYLV %\URP D /RFNKHHG 0DUWLQ LQVWUXFWRU SLORW EULHIV VWXGHQWV LQ WKH ¿UVW ) /LJKWQLQJ ,, him to bring up a console, or any of the
training class May 5 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Upon completion of training, the students will students’ consoles, to talk about what the The students have many challenges
assume the role of instructor to teach future classes of F-35 students. student sees on the displays.” ahead of them to become F-35 pilots, as
well as become knowledgeable enough
The displays are a panoramic touch to lead and instruct future classes.
screen and can be customized to every
scenario. “It’s exciting to be the first class at
Luke,” said Maj. Eric Puels, a 944th Op-
“The displays can also be manipulated erations Group Detachment 2 student.
using the stick and throttle which gives “A couple of us have been part of this
students a way to familiarize themselves program since 2008 and we’re looking
with the glass display and build comfort forward to hitting the ground running.
with the ‘switch-ology’ of the aircraft,” It was extremely competitive to apply
Hayden said. “We want to get the stu- to become an F-35 pilot, let alone to be
dents familiarized with all of these things accepted. My father was a fighter pilot
long before they get into the aircraft or — he flew F-4 Phantoms — so I always
even the simulator. It helps them under- wanted to fly the best fighters and the
F-35 is the best.”