# @af_academy on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CVBaGDahH1U
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8951363-af-academy-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/4489b9815f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-10-14T20:12:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** U.S. Air Force Academy (@af_academy) — https://gondola.cc/af_academy

## Caption

Ask any cadet...and they'll tell you things get can pretty stressful here.  One group of cadets stands ready to help their classmates through tough times.
“We have a team here that understands the physical, academic and emotional strain of attending a service academy,” said Maj. Kristene Harris, Personal Ethics and Education Representative (PEER) program manager. “We all work together to provide a broad spectrum of services to address whatever life throws in the way.”
Harris, a clinical social worker, said due to their proximity within squadrons, PEERs are uniquely poised to notice behavioral changes.
“They’re the first line of defense,” Harris said. “They have rapport to share burdens, commiserate about cadet life and are able to provide reliable information about mental health support.”
The Academy trained 167 cadets as PEERs to assist cadets with a wide range of stressors. The PEERs complete 16 hours of initial training before earning a handmade blue rope, which qualified cadets began wearing last month. 
Need a helping hand or someone to talk to?  Just look for the blue rope.
#wingmen #youracademy

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,801
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 20

## Tags

youracademy, wingmen

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