Difficult Conversation Simulation Story

Official Statements

• 4th Fighter Wing, November 10: “SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — Having a tough conversation isn’t something that comes easy to everyone. By practicing it, people can gain the confidence needed to face it head on. Airmen and employees at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base are using an interactive avatar-based training program to practice handling difficult conversations in a realistic environment.

  The Military and Family Readiness Center offers the training through the Emotional Intelligence Institute. User's responses shape how each conversation develops. The program places participants in real-life scenarios without real-world consequences.

  "It is a human avatar that is fed a scenario and there is a live person on the other side acting out the scenario," said Fareiza Blunt, prevention specialist. "It provides natural emotions just as we have natural emotions because we want to mimic that live conversation."

  It’s difficult to teach this through PowerPoint slides alone. The program gives its users a chance to try different approaches and see how the conversation changes based on their responses. No two conversations are the same, giving participants another tool to prepare for difficult encounters they may encounter.

  “During the simulation there was a time where I felt a sense of tension or pressure,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Laura Carbajal-Nedog, intelligence analyst. “But with the simulation there are times where myself or other people who aren’t trained tend to think there is only one right thing to say.”

  Although the training leans more toward current and future leaders, civilian employees can also participate as many non military members interact with service members and their families. This training program encompasses discussions regarding suicide, reintegration and hardship.

  “Experiencing multiple training sessions where I was an observer and then a participant, I feel more prepared now and able to approach different spouses on their situations,” said Taylor Berberich, Transition Assistance Program data entry clerk. “It brings out personal things that I’ve experienced and it’s good to connect with other spouses with the same experiences.”

  The simulations give participants room to make mistakes and learn from their responses in a controlled environment. The training helps build confidence and communication skills they can carry into real-world conversations.

  The Emotional Intelligence Institute's training provides the Air Force with a meaningful investment in its people by preparing counselors and future leaders to navigate the most challenging conversations with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.

  “This tool is good to create emotional intelligence, to create self-awareness that we might be lacking or that we don’t know that we are missing,” said Blunt. “Especially as leaders because we all have room for growth and self-improvement.”

  If you would like to participate in this program, reach out to the Integrated Resilience Office at (919) 722-8469 to learn more.”