Page 2 - March ARB Beacon 12-18-15

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2 What Does DPH stand for? What,December 18, 2015
THE
BEACON
Volume 80, Number 49
452 AMW Public Affairs
14560 2nd Street, Bldg. 2640
March ARB, CA 92518-1852
DPZSDZRUNÀRZ#XVDIPLO Psychological Health (DPH), 163rd At- people navigate through the process?
fax: 951-655-7070
phone: 951-655-4138
COMMANDER
Brig. Gen. Russell A. Muncy
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Capt. Perry Covington
EDITOR
Ms. Linda Welz
452 AMW EDITORIAL STAFF
Senior Master Sgt. David Smith
Master Sgt. Megan Crusher
Staff Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley
Senior Airman Callie McNary
Senior Airman Kevin Mitterholzer
Senior Airman Joseph Dangidang
Senior Airman Russell McMillan
The Beacon is published by
Aerotech News and Review. Aero-
WHFKLVDSULYDWH¿UPLQQRZD\FRQ- In the following interview, Cunningham
nected with the U.S. Air Force, un-
der exclusive written contract with
the 452nd Air Mobility Wing. This
civilian enterprise Air Force news-
paper is an authorized publication
for employees and members of
U.S. military services, retirees and
family members. Contents are not
QHFHVVDULO\ WKH RI¿FLDO YLHZV RI it doesn’t mean it has to be debilitating. People
or endorsed by, the U.S. Govern-
ment, the Department of Defense
or the Department of the Air Force.
The appearance of advertis-
ing in this newspaper, including
inserts or supplements, does not
constitute endorsement of the
products or services by the De-
partment of Defense, the Depart-
ment of the Air Force or Aerotech
News and Review, Inc.
Everything advertised in this
newspaper shall be made avail-
able for purchase, use or patron-
age without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age,
marital status, physical handicap,
SROLWLFDO DI¿OLDWLRQ RU DQ\ RWKHU March Airmen represent at the 84th
non-merit factor of the purchaser,
user or patron.
Editorial content is edited, pre-
pared and provided by the staff
of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing
3XEOLF$IIDLUV RI¿FH DW 0DUFK$LU carpet, alongside a young pilot, in a mini F-16 aircraft, from the Air
Reserve Base. All photographs
in the Beacon are Air Force pho-
tos unless otherwise stated. For
advertising, contact Aerotech di-
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www.aerotechnews.com
facebook.com/TeamMarch
and who, is the DPH at March ARB?
Story and Photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey spouse through divorce. Loss of relationships is you for assistance?
an example of what causes depression. Cunningham: I can have some pretty intense
Meet David Cunningham, Director of Avey: What are some of the ways you help conversations, but usually they are trying to get
me enough info to where I can get them the right
tack Wing, California Air National Guard, Cunningham: My goal is to get them the re- resource. Sometimes they just need to vent.
March Air Reserve Base. He has filled this sources they need to be successful in their work Avey: Why did you take this position
position since May 2014, yet there are many and with their families. It could be just having a with the 163rd Attack Wing?
who don’t know what he does or what he conversation and pointing them in the right direc-
can provide in the way of mental health. tion for resources, providing feedback or coach- Cunningham: For me it is an opportuni-
ing on meditation and breathing techniques. It ty to work with the military and their fami-
With a bachelor’s degree in psychology may be connecting them with a therapist on the lies again. People say they feel they have a
and a master’s degree in social work this U.S. outside so they can have more in-depth care. In calling. I would like to say for myself this is
Army Veteran served as a captain and clinical my role I do not provide in-depth counseling. what I enjoy doing and I have worked with
social worker. Cunningham has more than As the DPH, I will assist with short-term prob- Veterans or active duty for a huge part of my
25 years of experience in the psychological lem solving and resolutions. My goal is to find life. Being at the 163rd gives me the oppor-
health field, and has worked in both private resources locally either through their insurance, tunity to work with the population I really
practice and for Veteran’s Affairs free [such as Military OneSource] or income- want to work with, but at the same time I
based services. My goal is to help Airmen re- feel like my skill-set is a match. I feel like it
You can find him and Jax, his German Shep- main functional and operational with whatever works both ways.
herd-in-therapy dog-training, making the rounds they are dealing with. I can also help people find
through various work centers at the 163 ATKW. resources for their families, such as tutoring or Avey: How did you get started in this field?
He hands out candy and granola bars on a regu- helping them navigate resources if there are be- Cunningham: I started in the psychologi-
lar basis to build and maintain relationships with havioral issues with their kids. I maintain confi- cal health field in 1990 when I was in college
wing members and make sure they know he is dentiality and do not share what is discussed. and became a psych tech in the local hospital
available any time they need his help. in a psychiatric unit. It was just a job at the
Avey: Do you feel there is a stigma con- time, but I never knew it was going to end up
nected to mental health? What do you feel being what I did. I ended up changing ma-
explains psychological health and how the about this stigma? jors, getting my degree in psychology, and
DPH supports the wing. later my master’s in social work. It is pretty
Cunningham: Mental health has a signifi- much what I have been doing ever since.
Avey: Since starting your career, what cant stigma in the military. The reality is, when The 163rd Attack Wing DPH is available
do you find is a common need? doing self-reporting, it reflects positively upon 24/7 and he can be reached at 951-208-3125.
you. You are not going to risk things and try to
Cunningham: You can find depression and
anxiety in any population and someone having
deal with it every day. It’s developing the skills to cover it up. When I was in theArmy, I saw where A DPH is available in each Air National
get you through it that is most important. Some- the stigma prevented help sometimes. I have Guard wing. There is also a DPH assigned to
times it may be very short-lived, or it could be not had that happen here. The experience here the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, who is avail-
something that is going to be there for a while. is overwhelming support from leadership. Their able to all Team March members and their
Either way, you need to learn coping skills. If immediate response is, ‘What do I need to do to families. Her name is Elaine Valentine and
warranted, you may also, at times, need to access help?’ That has not always been the mentality she can be reached at 951-655-5097 or at
clinical care. It could be a grief-related issue if that ourAirmen may have dealt with, so I under- olga.valentine@us.af.mil, BLDG 317, week-
you have had a spouse or family member that stand why the stigma has been there. days from 6:30-16:30 and UTA weekends
has passed away.You can even grieve a loss of a Avey: What is it like when Airmen come to upon request.
Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Crusher
Senior Airman Astin Coleman, ceremonial guardsman, March
Field Blue Eagles Total Force Honor Guard, whiz’s down the red
Force Sergeant’s Mini Jet Team, during the 84th Annual Hollywood
Christmas Parade, in Los Angeles, Nov. 29. The Honor Guard has
been participating in the parade since 2009. Participation this year,
by members from March Air Reserve Base and Edwards Air Force
Base, included walking in the parade, assisting young drivers pilot
the mini jets, and providing a color guard. The color guard led the
way, followed by Navy reservists from the Navy Operational Sup-
port Center, Los Angeles, and the mini-jets followed. Other Air Force
reservists from March ARB also marched in the parade alongside
active duty members from Los Angeles AFB holding up a huge toy
soldier balloon. The parade next airs Dec. 20th at 4 p.m. on KTLA
5, Dec. 21st at 4 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel and Dec. 23rd at 3
p.m. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.