JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Brig. Gen. Caroline M. Miller, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, launched a new video campaign series that allows JBSA members to tell their individual stories of resilience.
The campaign, appropriately titled “The Things We Carry,” or TTWC, attests to the life experiences that we carry with us which have shaped who we are today.
Examples of stories the campaign may highlight are dealing with loss, financial difficulties, domestic violence, divorce, deployments, substance abuse or dependency, professional struggles, suicide, and sexual assault survivors, to name a few.
Col. David Trotter, 502nd ABW and JBSA vice commander, introduces the campaign in a 7-minute story of losing his brother to suicide, as well as two members of his deployed unit during humanitarian aid missions overseas.
Trotter describes how the losses affected him and how every year as November approaches, he is reminded of his fallen comrades. He also discusses how coworkers, and even his chaplain at the time, told him he needed to see someone for his anger issues. He fought through, despite such tragedies, and shares just how he did it.
“The things we carry are not always visible to others. It’s not always as apparent as a scar,” Miller said as she moved her hair slightly to show her scar from cancer removal two years ago. “Some scars we carry within us, and they have changed the way we operate.
“That’s why this campaign is so great,” she continued. “It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before and gives people the chance to tell their story, share their experience, and offer hope to those dealing with similar situations.”
During the campaign, one JBSA member’s story will be shared each month. If you would like to participate, email jbsapublicaffairs@gmail.com using the subject line “The Things We Carry.”
This campaign is open to any and all participants, including civilians, family members, retirees, and active duty, Reserve or National Guard members, and others with base access. It will require a minimum of two hours of in-studio recording time.
The videos will be posted at https://www.jbsa.mil/Resources/Resiliency/ under the TTWC logo and may also be used for training purposes. The videos will also be shared on the JBSA Facebook page accompanied by links to the local supporting resources the interviewee utilized.
Sharing of the TTWC links and information is encouraged to help spread these important messages of resilience not only with JBSA members but throughout the community.