25.2 Readiness State of Mind (AFH-1 Section 22E)
Key Takeaways
- Section 22E is ADTC B for both Staff Sergeant and Technical Sergeant (B B C C C from SSgt through CMSgt).
- Psychological first aid reduces stress through adaptive coping; AFH 1 names adequate sleep, a balanced diet, rest and relaxation, and positive stress-management skills.
- Stress reactions appear in four categories—cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical—and individual management starts with knowing what feels normal so you can act early.
- The Ask, Care, and Escort model requires a direct suicide question, no promise of secrecy, listening without trying to talk the person out of it, and never leaving a person in distress alone.
- Comprehensive Airman Fitness has four domains—mental, physical, social, and spiritual—each with four tenets; the Wingman concept is a core element.
ADTC and Mental Preparedness (22.26–22.27)
AFH 1, Airman (15 February 2025), Section 22E—Readiness State of Mind, is ADTC B for Staff Sergeant and Technical Sergeant (the table reads B B C C C from SSgt through CMSgt). This section is mental readiness, not 22A–22C fitness scoring.
"One of the telltale signs of a military professional is preparation." Experience is gained by accepting opportunities even when conditions are not perfect, building confidence, judgment, courage, and integrity. The USAF fields support for Airmen and families, but mission demand can still raise stressors that affect well-being and resiliency.
Psychological first aid is a way of reducing initial and ongoing stress by developing adaptive coping and recovery skills. Airmen who get adequate sleep, eat a balanced diet, and make time for rest and relaxation, plus positive stress-management skills, can reduce actual and perceived stress. Whether deployed or in garrison, everyone needs a reset. AFH 1's coping list: a physically and emotionally safe place to recuperate; someone who understands, listens, and is compassionate; connection at the gym, dining facility, or local events; coping skills that help others return to a normal state; religious affairs, first sergeants, or mental health; and Military and Family Life Counselors.
Stress Reactions and Individual Management (22.28–22.30)
Everyone meets stressors (challenges) and distress (negative feelings from them). Stress can hurt performance, organizational effectiveness, and mission accomplishment, and prolonged stress harms health and quality of life.
| Category | How AFH 1 says it manifests |
|---|---|
| Cognitive | Memory problems, inability to concentrate, poor judgment, seeing only the negative, racing thoughts, constant worrying |
| Emotional | Apathy, anxiety, depression, irritability, job dissatisfaction, memory problems, mental fatigue |
| Behavioral | Appetite changes, increased arguments, increased smoking, neglecting self-care, social withdrawal, substance abuse, violence |
| Physical | Frequent illness, headaches, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, physical exhaustion, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss |
Usual traps: social withdrawal is behavioral; irritability is emotional; sleep disturbance is physical.
The key is knowing what feels normal so you notice when something is off. AFH 1's plan: Make Adjustments (spot stressors before they hit—if crowds stress you, change the plan), Time Management, Overload Avoidance (cut busy work, delegate, say no, negotiate bad deadlines), Relaxation (meditation, reading, music), Exercise and Nutrition, Social Support, and Prioritize at work.
PTSD and Psychological Services (22.31–22.33)
PTSD can follow war-related combat, sexual or physical assault, or a natural or man-made disaster. The USAF strongly encourages early treatment so symptoms do not become disabling and chronic.
Seeking care for a mental health problem is a sign of strength, not weakness. Early help raises the chance of recovery. More than 12 percent of USAF personnel voluntarily seek mental health services each year. That willingness is good self-awareness and judgment. Seeking help appropriately often does not have a long-term negative career impact and can save a career.
Under DoDI 6490.08, providers must disclose safety issues (suicidal or violent thoughts or self-injurious behavior) and fitness-for-duty issues to commanders; all other information is confidential. The Limited Privilege Suicide Prevention Program (AFI 44-172) protects Airmen under investigation, who are at significantly elevated suicide risk.
Suicide Prevention and ACE (22.34–22.36)
Suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility, and leadership action at every level is critical. Anyone can become suicidal, even people who previously handled stress well. Friends, coworkers, and immediate supervisors are most likely to see the change. Take comments about suicide seriously.
The Ask, Care, and Escort (ACE) Model is the intervention when an Airman is in stress, distress, or challenge. AFH 1 lists risk factors, protective factors, and ACE as one working set:
| Item | What AFH 1 lists |
|---|---|
| Risk factors | Relationship difficulties, problems at work, legal and financial problems, mental health diagnosis, substance misuse, and previous suicide attempts |
| Protective factors | Social support, connectedness, sense of belonging, sense of purpose, effective individual coping skills, and cultural norms that promote and protect responsible help-seeking behavior |
| Ask | If safety is uncertain, calmly and directly: "Are you thinking of killing/hurting yourself?" Asking gives permission to talk. Do not promise to keep thoughts of suicide a secret |
| Care | Listen. Do not judge, immediately solve, or try to talk them out of suicide. Ask whether they have a plan and secure means if you can without putting yourself in harm's way. Time and space from firearms and medications reduce risk |
| Escort | Escort to command or professional support. Do not leave the person in distress alone. If they will not go: chain of command, emergency services, 911, emergency room or mental health clinic, or Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255) |
Comprehensive Airman Fitness (22.37)
Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF) is a holistic approach to a resilient USAF community through four domains. The Wingman concept is a core element. It equips Airmen and families to assess and adjust to military life.
| Domain | Definition | Four tenets |
|---|---|---|
| Mental | Cope with unique mental stressors and challenges needed for mission readiness | Awareness, adaptability, positive thinking, decision-making |
| Physical | Adopt and sustain healthy behaviors that enhance health and wellness | Endurance, strength, nutrition, recovery |
| Social | Engage in healthy social networks that promote well-being and performance | Connectedness, teamwork, social support, communication |
| Spiritual | Strengthen beliefs, principles, or values that sustain well-being and purpose | Purpose, core values, perseverance, perspective |
Do not swap social and spiritual: core values is spiritual; connectedness is social. CAF tools sit on the DAF Resilience site; AFH 1 also lists Military One Source (1-800-342-9647) and the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1; text 838255).
Which four domains make up Comprehensive Airman Fitness, and which set is the tenets of the spiritual domain?
Under the Ask, Care, and Escort model, what does AFH 1 direct when warning signs or risk factors are present and you are uncertain about someone's safety?
An Airman shows social withdrawal, increased arguments, and neglect of self-care. Which category of stress reaction does AFH 1 place these in?
What does AFH 1 say about sleep in psychological first aid, and what is the Escort rule when an Airman is in distress?