AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates -- The mission of Coalition for Awareness, Response and Empowerment Team, also known as the C.A.R.E. Team, is to provide multiple ways for Airmen to improve themselves.
This group of focuses on the four pillars within Comprehensive Airmen Fitness: mental, physical, social and spiritual wellness– for Airmen to feel well-balanced while juggling the many aspects of life.
“All people will break down at one point or another,” said Maj. Peter Landers, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Chaplain and C.A.R.E. Team member. “Returning people to work and effectiveness, along with self-improvement is the purpose of the C.A.R.E. Team, and it saves lives, money, and ensures the mission’s prosperity. Realizing that deployment can be difficult, the C.A.R.E. teams seeks to strengthen and support ADAB by wing-, unit-, and squadron-focused outreaches and programs, educational opportunities and providing guidance and solutions to leadership.”
The team is comprised of 11 personnel spanning from the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group Mental Health flight, the 380th AEW Chapel, Equal Opportunity and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response teams.
Together this team provides services such as the weekly C.A.R.E. Team Personal Improvement Seminar.
“The improvement topics cover a wide range of education, such as leadership and mentorship, mental health, emotional strength and spiritual resiliency,” Landers said.
Within each agency, services can be more geared toward each agency’s purpose.
“As for EO, I provide resources on the complaint process, team-building exercises and options for out and about visits,” said Tech. Sgt. Erin Bradley, 380th AEW Equal Opportunity director and C.A.R.E. Team member. “It also gives me the opportunity to put my face out there so individuals know who their EO Director is and if they need my assistance with an issue, it helps to foster a more comfortable experience for them.”
The meaning behind these teams coming together plays a huge part in the upkeep of Airmen’s mental health.
“We each bring something unique to the C.A.R.E. Team mission,” said Maj. James Rutland, 380th EMDG Clinical Psychologist and C.A.R.E. Team member. “For example, Mental Health brings the awesome! More practically, we are the only entities assigned at ADAB whose sole focus is the ‘intangibles’ of remaining mission ready. By working as an integrated team, our individual efforts are multiplied. Our main influence comes from being woven into the culture and community at ADAB, which allows us to help shape an ongoing conversation to help people keep their minds, hearts, spirits, and behaviors focused in positive directions, so that we can all continue to accomplish our missions well.”
Recently, the 380th AEW legal team and first sergeants council were added into the mix.
“We enjoy getting together, learning about each other's programs, and strengthening our relationships to better serve the Airmen of ADAB,” said Capt. Ayesha Dunham, 380th AEW Sexual Assault Response coordinator and C.A.R.E. Team member.
This team is always looking for ways to improve all aspects of lives for the Airmen downrange.