178th Wing hosts “A Circle of Women” retreat

The 178th Wing Comprehensive Airman Fitness Center hosted a “Circle of Women” retreat at the Prairies Chapel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, April 21.

More than 30 military women attended the workshop, which aimed to provide women with skills to take care of themselves before taking care of others.

“The purpose of the retreat was to give women another way to understand that they can be empowered,” said Jane L. Esprit, 178th Wing Airman and Family Readiness Manager. “This was a process of having women looking from the inside, learning who they are and learning who they can be.”

Esprit said women can be empowered by building bonds together and learning about each other.

“This bond helps women to renew, learn, and inspire each other to be stronger women,” said Esprit.

The retreat focused on strengthening the spiritual and mental pillars of the four Comprehensive Airman Fitness pillars.

“Those are the elements of the four pillars that I feel get overlooked,” said Esprit. “If we focus on those, then we have a well-rounded person.”
Senior Master Sgt. Tabatha King, the 178th Mission Support Group, said the retreat was “amazing.”
“I thought the retreat was much more than just about empowering women,” said King. “I learned about the other women I work with and the struggles that other people go through. It created a connection that makes you feel you are not alone.”

King said the retreat was so helpful that she already signed up for a second retreat on different topics.

Esprit attributed the success of the retreat to the support it received from more than ten members of the retreat volunteer support staff .

To find out about the next retreat, please contact the 178th Wing Comprehensive Airman Fitness Center.