Historic 51 days ends with picnic bash

Published June 5, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Jake Barreiro
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Even though the axiom states all good things must come to an end, the Mustangs and team at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, made it a memorable one, throwing a picnic bash celebrating the culmination of the base's first 51 Days of Resiliency campaign, which lasted April 10 - May 31.

The picnic, which served as an opportunity for Team Osan to assemble in a recreational environment, was attended by U.S. and ROK service members as well as their families. Events at the bash included a one pitch softball tournament, corn hole, kickball, tug-o-war, a bouncy castle, a face painting station, cotton candy, and games in the defender pool.

As the end cap to the 51 days of resiliency, the picnic gave Team Osan a chance to reflect on their honed resilience and accomplishments over the past month and a half. Beginning on April 10, the base embarked on an unprecedented journey with daily nods toward the skills necessary to sharpen mental, social, emotional, and spiritual resiliency. Events included an installation-wide morale run on April 10, where service members, their families, and their pets took a lap around the base and got a chance to learn more about resiliency-honing agencies like the chapel or Airman and Family Readiness Center. Other signature events included Wingman Day May 22, where the 51st Fighter Wing and team marched to the flight line for SAPR training and other wingman skills. Throughout the days there were multiple fitness challenges, competitions, and opportunities organized for Airmen to earn points in all four categories of resiliency.

On top of being a revolutionary program, the 51 days of resiliency also served as a competition for every unit on base, giving each a chance to prove indisputably that they're the most resilient. While the entirety of Team Osan used the time to become more resilient, the single winner of the competition, and recipient of a Commander-gifted down day, was the 51st Aerospace Medical Squadron. The 51st FW Wing Staff Agency placed third in the competition, and the 51st Communications Squadron came in second.

"This is a great ending to something that doesn't end, resiliency," said Col. Brook Leonard, 51st FW commander. "51 days was a long time ago. Hopefully over these days of resiliency we've seen that resiliency is a habit forming pattern. It's about taking care of the person to your left."

Leonard said the ultimate lesson of the 51 days was to encourage everyone to work as a team.

"Resilient Airmen raise their hand when they need help," he said. "Resilient Airmen also reach out and know one another, and ask those tough questions. That's how we're going to continue the incredible teamwork we have here at Team Osan."

Looking ahead, Team Osan plans to build on the legacy of the 51 days of resiliency. Improvement and development are important for the installation, which is tasked with guarding the freedom of 51 million people. The base accomplishes this lofty tasking through daily commitment to staying ready to defend the base, executing combat operations, and sustaining the force. These commitments are in turn manifested in reality through the commander's priorities of building fight tonight readiness, strengthening the base and team, growing leadership and professionalism, and driving innovative solutions. It's through the 12 key tasks, including leadership development, however, that Team Osan is able to get after these priorities. The 51 days of resiliency accomplished that by challenging, and motivating, Airmen to improve themselves while serving others. It's an important task, said Leonard.

"There's folks counting on you whether you know it or not," said Leonard. "Reach out to them. Help them. And continue this great thing we have going on, that's Team Osan."