AUSTIN, Texas –
“Let’s have a conversation, not training” was the theme of the Operational Stress Control class held during the annual district training meeting of Navy Recruiting District San Antonio at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Austin Dec. 19.
More than 250 recruiters, support personnel and their spouses attended the training given by facilitators of the Navy’s 21st Century Sailor office, located in Norfolk, Va.
The 21st Century Sailor office provides Sailors and families with the support network, programs, resources, training, and skills needed to overcome adversity and thrive.
The command was divided into four peer groups consisting of officers and chief petty officers, first class petty officers and civilians, second class petty officers and spouses.
According to Petty Officer 1st Class Nichols Steelman, a warrior challenge scout assigned to NRD San Antonio, the training was information and very necessary in the high-paced environment of a recruiter.
“This was my second time attending the training,” said Steelman, who has been recruiting for six years. “This helps me with stress control for it provides an opportunity to hear from others and learn how they deal with stress.”
This was the first opportunity for spouses to benefit from the district training meeting.
“The purpose of including spouses was that they endure stress as well and the Navy wanted to provide them some tools and resources to control stress,” said Robert Searles, a 21st Century Sailor facilitator.
Lt. Amy Zabel, a Navy nurse, NRD district training meeting coordinator and NRD San Antonio medical programs recruiter, said it was important for the command to provide Sailors with operational stress control training.
“This is great for our Sailors for we are under stress to complete our monthly recruiting and shipping mission,” Zabel said. “We wanted to include our spouses for they are definitely part of our team. We work their Sailors long hours and we want spouses to be taken care of and ensure they have a voice.”
The program promotes the understanding of stress, awareness of support resources, and provides practical stress navigation tools to help build resilience of Sailors, families and commands.