JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 960th Cyberspace Wing hosted the 5th Annual Mental Health & Resiliency in-person and virtually at the Bob Hope Performing Arts Center here on May 4, 2025.
This year’s event featured Retired US Army Master Sergeant Tom Spooner, co-founder of Warriors Heart, as the guest speaker. Before Spooner divulged the story of the hardships he encountered in his early life, military career, and retirement, he called upon the audience to consider his story in relation to their experiences in order to bridge their connectedness and mitigate social stigmas associated with seeking help.
“Don’t look at the physical experiences,” Spooner said. “See where you can relate to the emotional, mental, and human experiences because one of the biggest things that I’ve seen between myself and other military members is we always minimize our trauma; we minimize our bad days.”
Spooner delivered a somber account of a difficult upbringing and how his formative experiences, good and bad, shaped his perspective entering the military. Spooner's discussions with mental health professionals about treatment options for a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) and related symptoms helped him develop a motivated plan for recovery.
Col. Silas Darden, commander of 960th CW, underscored the importance of mental health resource accessibility to Airmen and their families during the opening remarks of the event.
After Spooner’s visit, Frances Martinez, 960th CW director of psychological health, welcomed in-person attendees to participate in the resource fair at Arnold Hall, where several mental health community organizations set up resource stands to share information about their missions and services.
Following the fair, a mental health walk was held to promote both physical and mental wellness while also providing educational mental health trivia.