TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Well-being and mental health are significant players in what makes a person whole, content, and full of zest. Though often ruts in the pavement do appear during a person’s travels along the road of life, a minor tune up may be required.
Getting back up on the pavement is the aim, just as this one man’s journey up and onward prepared him to do. It led him to counseling Reserve Citizen Airmen who support and defend the United States of America.
“I have an open-door policy here,” said Fredrick Moore, director of psychological health, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, CA. “As a civilian providing mental health services for our reservists assigned to the wing, I do not feel like these men and women should fear their careers could be in jeopardy,” said Moore. “I know I am going to have to break through some of those stigmas.”
The 349th AMW recently welcomed Moore as the new DPH early this year. He is planning the wing’s roadmap to support and empower Airmen and their families.
Moore explained confidentiality is to be taken seriously. However, in extreme cases, prevention and intervention are implemented. If one of these top three conditions exist, such as certain elements of violence and abuse of children, domestic spousal abuse in a marriage or relationship, and demonstration of homicidal or suicidal tendencies; they are reportable.
“I have to report homicidal ideation if there is a victim in order to protect them”, said Moore. “There are some limitations with remaining confidential. We can implement safety plans for someone that might be at a moderate risk for suicide. Anxiety or depression is not considered a safety threat. Although, it is a risk factor.”
Moore begins a new counseling session with a formal introduction and a one hour visit to establish a rapport, and to begin moving the member through the process to solve issues first at the front line.
As the wing’s DPH, Moore has been through the field of weeds to get where he is today, holding a license as an independent social worker, a graduate degree in social work, and stockpile of experience.
Moore was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. After four years of service, he worked as a psychiatric attendant. Moore realized this occupation was difficult for him, so he ended up working in a factory.
“When I was in high school, I worked in a factory before joining the Air Force,” said Moore. “The factory went out of business, so I went to work in a kitchen cabinetry factory, where I worked for 17 years.”
It was during this period, Moore said,” I saw that my life was kind of spinning out of control. So, I decided to take a leap of faith and go back to school. At the time, I was 44 years old.”
Moore reflected on his journey and how his internal voice told him he had to make changes, or he was going to end up not being a productive member in society. He did not want to experience a relapse after coming so far.
“I’ve been clean and sober for approximately two years before it took me 18 months to build up the courage to go back to school,” Moore said thoughtfully. “That’s my past, but I still wear it, and I don’t look at it as a negative thing. I think I’ll look at it as something that made me who I am today.”
Moore put his foot to the pedal and earned his degree in human services and general studies. Counselors at the college put him on a good path forward. He transferred to Indiana University East in Richmond, Indiana after he received his associates degree from Ivy Technical Community College, located in the vicinity, less than a mile away.
Holding steady at the speed limit, Moore completed his bachelor’s from the university in 2010. A few years and miles later, he graduated after earning his master’s in 2013 from Arizona State University located in the city of Tempe.
Moore soon found himself heading west down the highway to accept a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He gained valuable experience doing a barrage of services in outpatient mental health as medical support assistance. After just four months of employment, Moore was promoted as an emergency room social worker.
Now that Moore parked himself in the DPH spot at the 349th AMW, he is open for business.
“I will serve the 349th Wing and its reserve population, including spouses and children,” said Moore. “I will be here for drill weekends once a month, too.”
Mr. Moore’s office is in the 349th AMW headquarters building upstairs in Room 218. His normal duty hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. To schedule a time, call 707.424.1676.
“It gives me honor to have the opportunity to serve our Constitution by helping Airmen and their families to be resilient whenever a life stressor may present itself,” said Moore.