Resiliency; coming back full circle

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Dancing in a sea of foam, the plastic bottle washes back and forth, crashing into the concrete pillars protecting the Saemangum Seawall. It bobbles at the will of the waves, which washes over it, resets and repeat over again.

With the seawall stretching off into the horizon and water off to the sides, this scenic view provided the perfect backdrop for resiliency training, which the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the 8th Fighter Wing Chapel took advantage of.

They provided a free Bike Retreat Resiliency Workshop to 15 first term Airmen, June 28, 2013. The clinic included a 20 mile ride from the base to the seawall and back and at 21 miles in length, the seawall is considered the world's longest dyke.

Along the way, the group stopped at the Gunsan Free Economic Zone building to learn more about the current developments and future of the city's industrial complex. At the midway point, the riders cooled down at a local seafood restaurant, where they tried many different Korean delicacies from shell fish, live octopus, sliced raw fish and steamed crab legs.

While consuming raw and live seafood is an acquired taste, many of the participants built up the courage, held back their gag reflexes and took the plunge. Albeit there were plenty of funny faces being made, this experience was something many can check off of their to-do list.

The AFRC and Chapel staff also took time to speak with Wolf Pack members about the programs available to them. They also talked about how to stay resilient and where to look for help or counseling if discretion is needed.

After some free time to explore the docks and ride along the seawall, it was time to return to base. As we pedaled past the seemingly endless fields of rice patties with a full stomach and the cool wind to our backs, I felt recharged.

While it is tough being in a foreign country and communicating with local nationals due to the language barriers, keep in mind that many others are also experiencing the same hardships.

Part of being resilient and keeping oneself healthy requires you to be able to bounce back from any situation. Getting away from the base and trying new things is one of many ways to do it.

As we continue to pedal, I couldn't stop feeling like the bottle in the ocean. The brief moment away from work has allowed me to come back full circle.