Team Little Rock strengthened its approach to community resilience Dec. 15-18, by adding safeTALK suicide prevention training to the Resilience Trainer Assistance (RTA) course, providing Airmen with additional tools to recognize and respond when someone may be struggling.

The course brought together Airmen from the 19th and 314th Airlift Wing, along with a military spouse from the 913th Operations Support Squadron, reflecting a deliberate effort to strengthen peer-level support and early intervention across Herk Nation.

“This course update was driven by a desire to better equip Total Force Resilience Leaders with practical, evidence-based tools,” said Joshua Barry, 19th Airlift Wing integrated prevention chief. “It provides prevention peer-support team members with the skills to recognize when someone is in distress and respond appropriately.”

The safeTALK component introduces participants to strategies for noticing and responding to invitations for help, practicing open and direct conversations about suicide, and building confidence to connect individuals with support. The training also explores how personal attitudes and beliefs can influence an individual’s ability to recognize risk and offer assistance.

“Expanding access to this training helps ensure more Airmen and families feel prepared to step-in, start conversations and connect others to support,” Barry said. “The more people who have these skills, the stronger our peer-level support network becomes.”

The Integrated Resilience Office has set a goal of training five percent of Team Little Rock in safeTALK to further strengthen peer-level awareness and early intervention. The next safeTALK-integrated RTA course is scheduled for Jan. 15, and Airmen interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Integrated Resilience Office at 987-1772 for additional information.