Guest Speaker Corey Jones Addresses Stress Management at 514th AMW Annual Award Banquet Published Feb. 2, 2025 By Tech. Sergeant Sean Evans 514th Air Mobility Wing JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Guest Speaker Corey Jones Addresses Stress Management at 514th AMW Annual Award Banquet JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — At the 514th Air Mobility Wing’s Annual Award Banquet on Feb. 1, 2025, service members and their families gathered to celebrate achievements and honor excellence. The event featured a motivational keynote address by guest speaker Mr. Corey Jones, who outlined practical strategies for managing stress in a military environment.Jones brings over 25 years of law enforcement experience, including 15 years with the Mt. Laurel Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team. As a Sergeant, he conducted advanced training, managed critical incidents, and served as incident commander during emergencies—experiences that have informed how he responds to challenging or difficult situations..After transitioning to the civilian sector, Jones founded Safetyman Consulting, where he provides instruction in conflict avoidance, tactical communications, and safety measures. His work with multi-billion-dollar companies and diverse training programs for law enforcement and civilians has further refined his expertise. Today, he offers actionable techniques to help individuals effectively assess and manage stress and build their resilience.Before his keynote address, Jones spoke with event organizers about the role of leadership during challenging times."Leadership during challenging times has taught me to know your people, to understand where their strengths are and where their struggles lie, and to set your people up for success," Jones said. "If you have a job or mission that requires a certain skill set and you know someone on your team excels in that area, put him or her in that position. If you have a job that almost anyone can do, build your junior personnel by giving them experience and publicly rewarding them for a job well done to foster both gratitude and motivation."During his speech, Jones outlined a method for managing stress by challenging automatic reactions.“Every activating event leaves a mark on us—like a Sharpie on the inside of your brain. I want you to dispute that automatic reaction, to challenge your belief system and change the consequence,” Jones said. “It might not work perfectly the first time, but with practice, you’ll learn to respond thoughtfully rather than with a knee-jerk reaction.”Jones also discussed the relevance of crisis management principles in shaping effective leadership."If you know what your mission is, have done your homework, and your knowledge, skills, and abilities are up to par—if you're confident and competent in what you're going to do—then do it decisively," Jones explained. "Don't succumb to paralysis by analysis. As General Patton said, I'm a big believer in a good plan executed now with boldness, rather than a better plan executed too late."Jones concluded his remarks with a call for the practical application of these stress management strategies in daily life.“We all carry stress with us, but the key is learning how to manage it. It takes time and practice, but it can be done,” Jones said. “That’s the message I want you to take away—respond thoughtfully, not react. When you do, you’ll carry that stress in a way that doesn’t weigh you down. That’s how we come together stronger, as leaders and as a community.”The banquet recognized 11 Freedom Wing members for their individual achievements while providing actionable strategies for all wing to more effectively meet the challenges of military life.