Chapel teaches Radical Resilience for 'gnarly' life Published Oct. 23, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Ryan J. Sonnier 11th Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The 11th Wing Chapel on Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, implemented a new dorm ministry called Radical Resilience, led by Chaplain Capt. Greg DuBow. DuBow, an 11th Wing Protestant chaplain, is a Unitarian Universalist. He graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, which is a UU seminary. "I feel like I have been very fortunate in my life and I wanted to bring those gifts and my ministry to people in the most honorable way I know," DuBow said in regards to joining the Air Force."[Serving people and my country] is the best of both worlds." For DuBow, Radical Resilience is an effort derived from his personal life experience, but draped in a late '80s skater nostalgia. The challenge for the dorms, he said, is finding out what will speak to them. "I think the junior Airmen are just finding their way in life, and as a chaplain, I can help guide them in the decision-making process as it relates to their life," DuBow said. "I'm excited to walk alongside them and provide mentorship on how to be the best they can be." From the subculture of the '80s skater vibe, he brings the message of "life is gnarly." "Life can be tough when someone chooses to put on the uniform, putting themself in harms way," DuBow said. "With the concept of 'life is gnarly' understood, how do we build spiritual base to respond to it?" Derron King, an 89th Communications Squadron network defense technician, recently experienced the first lesson of Radical Resilience. "The program presents an amazing way to teach about resiliency with real life situations instead of the typical formal setting," King said. "I learned that to actually encompass all aspects of being resilient, you also have to be able to help other get there with you. The ministry effort's main focus is "be cool." Its push is to help people understand that, yes life is gnarly, but one has to stay cool under pressure. "Being cool isn't about being hip," DuBow said. "It's having self-confidence and learning to live in the present." Being cool doesn't just happen, explained DuBow, one has to work towards being able to stay cool when life gets harsh. "The way to be cool, is to be tough; if you're tough and cool, it is your responsibility to be excellent to yourself and others," he said. "This ministry provides the spiritual tools that could help save your life." Radical Resilience has a winter retreat to Wisp Resort in McHenry, Maryland, for skiing and snowboarding slated for Dec. 9-11. For more information on Radical Resilience or the next retreat, contact Chapel 1 at 301-981-2111.