Operational Support Team merges with True North
The merge aims to optimize performance throughout the wing, with a focus on providing tailored support for high-risk units that experience specific mental and physical stressors.
The OST consists of a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker and a team specialist to evaluate human performance factors, engage with unit members to improve resilience and facilitate medical and mental health when needed.
True North is an Air Force resilience program that integrates mental health professionals and religious support teams directly into individual squadrons to provide accessible care to units.
“True North has strengths and the OST has strengths that work well together,” said Chase White, OST strength and conditioning coach. “Mental and physical health are closely tied together and I encourage people to take it seriously. We need to be in shape to be successful downrange and to be successful in life.”
True North+ will now combine all support entities into a more adaptable and resourceful unit.
“The focus on putting the two units together is to be able to deploy resources in a more flexible realm,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Jamie Briske, OST commander. “Our mission will remain the same - providing support to high-risk individuals, whether that be musculoskeletal profiles, mental health profiles or guidance on how to improve their readiness and reduce physical or mental injury in the work field to complete the mission.”
The purpose of the OST is to directly optimize Air and Space Force members' performance and operational effectiveness by using a rotational embedment model. Within that scope, McConnell previously introduced a 10-week multidisciplinary initiative known as Cohort.
Cohort combined a physical fitness routine, nutritional education classes and mental and behavioral health strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
True North+ bridges the OST’s lessons learned in Cohort with True North’s speciality in mental and spiritual resilience, to streamline efficiency within unit integration capabilities and quality of life within the Air Force.
“Having True North+ as a collaborative and multidisciplinary team will be critical to meeting mission demands now and in the future,” said Briske. “We are looking forward to this new chapter. It’s going to open a lot of doors that allow more flexibility when deploying resources as they’re needed.”
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