New base project to provide HOPE Published June 17, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Kelly Ogden 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 1st Special Operations Wing is in the midst of implementing an initiative to aid Airmen and their families throughout all phases of the deployment process. Project HOPE SOS!, which stands for Helping Our People Excel/Endure Special Operations Sustainment, is a holistic helping concept created to allow all helping agencies to come together under one umbrella with the sole purpose of providing assistance to those affected by the high operations tempo at Hurlburt Field. "The main thrust of Project HOPE SOS! is to get the cart before the horse," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Tinnon, 1st SOW wing chaplain. "Presently, the Air Force focuses the majority of its programming efforts on post-deployment and reintegration, which is good, but the real issues we're seeing in special operations and the Air Force suggest that the basic family unit is fragmented, splintered and falling apart in the pre-deployment and deployment phases. "The time to fix, repair and initiate help is before our Airmen deploy and while they're deployed, versus waiting until they come home," he added. The program will be executed by four to six teams of Helping Agency Group professionals from organizations such as legal, safety, chapel, the Airman & Family Readiness Center and life skills. All of these helping agency groups will be used to assess the profile of 1st SOW and tenant squadrons. The profile the group creates will be used to design a wellness program that addresses the unique needs of Hurlburt Airmen and their families. "The vision for this program is simply ... a cutting-edge initiative to help Air Commandos and family members cope and excel during protracted periods of high operations tempo and constant deployment cycles," Chaplain Tinnon said. Being cutting edge in an ever-changing Air Force is important, which is why the creators of Project HOPE SOS! were intent on producing an initiative that isn't "cookie-cutter," but rather a hands-on program tailored to fit each individual squadron. "If we've discovered anything, it's that cookie-cutter programming does not work," Chaplain Tinnon said. "What works in the Army may not work for the Air Force and vice versa." The Helping Agency Groups just held a think tank meeting to gather data and think of ways to pull the program off without a hitch. The goal is to officially kick off the initiative in September. "Look out Air Force -- Project HOPE SOS! will help save the day," Chaplain Tinnon said.