WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- 1st Sgt. Heather Chua is the new Resiliency First Sergeant for the Patriot Wing.
Q: Name and where you live/are from:
A: Heather Chua - I will be in base housing here in Chicopee. I am originally from Spartanburg, SC. I spent the last 14 years stuck at Eglin AFB, Fla. between active duty and in the Reserves.
Q: Describe your job at Westover.
A: I am the Resiliency First Sergeant and the AGR 1st Sergeant for the Wing Staff. Additionally, I am the resilience integrator. This means I am a focal point between the HQ AFRC, Wing and members regarding all resilience matters. I team with the Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce office, the Director of Psychological Health, Military & Family Readiness and the Chaplains to do outreach and provide resources and guidance where needed. I am an advocate for the needs of Reserve Airmen and our base members. As a member of the Community Action Board and Community Action Network), we will coordinate and collaborate with functional agencies to improve and integrate resilience programs and activities into units base wide. I have a special focus on military members, specifically to help them see their place in the big picture and focus on the warfighter and their resilience when looking towards the future fight. I’d love to come out and see what each unit does and see how they are training to get ready for that future fight. I am also available to help Traditional Reserve 1st Sergeants if they need anything during the month.
A: How did you get started in this career field, when did you arrive at Westover, how long have you worked for the Air Force?
A: The resilience part of my job started within me from a very young child. I didn’t know it then, but I have always been a resilient person. Doing things from counting my blessing and reframing to mindful thinking. I don’t know how I figured those skills out when I was a child, but doing it shaped the person I am, and probably wouldn’t be where I am, had I not been resilient. When I went to resilience training assistant training back in 2019, I realized then that I had been doing that for nearly 30 years, even though I didn’t know what it was called. I knew then I had found my place! I wanted to be a First Sergeant for as long as I can remember. When I first joined the Air Force, I never had the support of my supervisors or even felt my leadership cared about my wellbeing. Early on I had some difficulties in my personal life and needed someone to have my back and help me out.. I didn’t have that, and I had to navigate my issues on my own as most of us tend to do. So, when I learned what a first sergeant was, I knew that I wanted to be one to help someone like me. I didn’t get an opportunity to be a first sergeant until I was in the Reserves. Although I knew what they did, I was in awe of the comradery and support from the other first sergeants. The best part is when you get to be there for the huge or even tiny events in one of your unit members lives; it’s incredible. I love being able to help people celebrate their lives and to listen when they aren’t going so great. Again, I found my place! I love teaching and sharing my experiences with others and being a Resiliency Integrator and a First Sergeant is like hitting the job jackpot. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I arrived at Westover on 21 Jun 24. I have been in the Air Force since April 20, 2003. I was in Active Duty for the first 11 years and then took a year of inactive ready reserve and then came back into the participating Reserves.
A: What are your professional goals for your program here at Westover?
A: Resiliency is a continuous effort, so goal one is to enhance resiliency programs for effectiveness and identify and modify areas where we can improve. Secondly, I want to promote mental health awareness; reducing the stigma associated with asking for help. Another goal is to help foster a supportive environment and encourage peer-to-peer support networks. Also, to help build strong partnerships through the units and the helping agencies; so that we can work together to coordinate resources and support services for members and their families. Lastly, my goal is to improve the sight picture the military member has on their place in the mission. I’d like to put together a database of Westover Warfighters and what they do, whether it be videos or editorials - I think this will help improve the WHY question that sometimes come up.
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
A: I was once coined 64 times in one deployment😊 I worked as Flight Line Protocol NCOIC in Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, it was awesome! I met a lot of amazing people there.