Guard events aim to build resilient military families, promote strength through adversity

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brett Miller | A group of North Dakota National Guard children attempt to build a tower made out of marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti during a teambuilding exercise with facilitators from the Project Y.E.S! Program March 8 at the North Dakota National Guard Youth Symposium in Fargo, N.D. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters)  

FARGO, ND, UNITED STATES

03.09.2014

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

FARGO, N.D. - The inclusive North Dakota National Guard family - soldiers, airmen, families and volunteers - shared a weekend of networking and learning during the North Dakota National Guard Volunteer Symposium and Youth Symposium March 8-9 at the Ramada Plaza and Suites in Fargo.

The events were designed by the Guard's Service Member and Family Support (SMFS) division with the goal of generating awareness about the multitude of services and resources available to service members and families statewide. The weekend also was a chance to focus on building resiliency and fortifying strength within Guard families to contend with the challenges that can arise during military service.

The events were infused with a western motif, which presenters used to draw parallels between resiliency traits required for military life and characteristics embodied by the heroic American cowboy figure and its "Code of the West." Speakers covered topics that included developing methods for maintaining spiritual, emotional and physical fitness, battling through adversity to bounce back stronger and strengthening personal relationships to acquire solid support systems to rely upon while facing life obstacles.

Connie Sprynczynatyk, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, or CASA, and wife of North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, opened the Volunteer Symposium by reminding attendees about North Dakota's affection for its military members. She noted that North Dakota Guardsmen and their families' service during statewide flood events over the past four years had not gone unnoticed.

"You are loved in this state," she said. "Everyone remembers the sacrifices that all of you made to support your communities when they needed you, including those of you who served beside those who wear the uniform. Remember that we all are in this together, and we all can help each other build resiliency for the missions ahead, minute by minute and day by day."

The Volunteer Symposium also was a chance for the North Dakota Guard to thank its devoted group of volunteers, who play a critical role in supporting National Guard service members and families. Rob Keller, SMFS director, said that across the country's states and territories, there are about 45,000 to 60,000 volunteers that serve National Guard members nation-wide. These volunteers serve in various positions, including family readiness group leaders, secretaries and treasurers and key spouse volunteers. Additionally, there also are two to three gratuitous volunteers per unit that support "Family Day" activities and "Welcome Home" and holiday events.

"I hope that you have had the opportunity to learn some new things over the weekend, meet some friends and add a couple of tools to your toolkit as you help me carry out my No. 1 job, which is taking care of soldiers, airmen and family members," Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk said during the closing of the Volunteer Symposium. "We are able to do this thanks to your contributions of time and talents. The strength of our organization is a direct result of your support and allows us to continue to serve our communities, state and nation. Thank you all for everything you do for us in the North Dakota National Guard."

Attendees also had the opportunity to visit with a number of vendors who had set up booths advertising various resources and tools that can be helpful to military families and veterans. Representatives from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Military OneSource and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs all were on-hand to assist, as well as specialists from the North Dakota National Guard's Military Service Centers in Bismarck, N.D., and Fargo.

The Military Service Centers are unique concepts that serve military service members, veterans and military families from all service branches and eras of service. Some of the facilities' services include Military Outreach Services to connect veterans with resources and benefits, information on TRICARE health insurance, life insurance and military records requests. Additionally, a military family life counselor, a personal financial counselor, transition assistance, the help of licensed social workers and chaplains, and members trained in assisting with sexual assault response and suicide prevention can be accessed through the MSC.

"Our Service Member and Family Support team are experts in their respective areas," Keller said. "Just when I think that we cannot find a resource or assistance for a specific issue or concern, one of our team members will make a call and find an answer. We never give up and are relentless in assisting our military members in North Dakota."

The coinciding Youth Symposium brought together military children for a weekend of teambuilding and leadership development. Guard members' children, ages eight through 17, were able to interact with college students interning through a national program, called Project Y.E.S!. The program's facilitators and their mentors helped Youth Symposium attendees explore leadership development and learn new life skills. National Guard youth also learned resilience skills that were taught to meet the needs of military families impacted by deployments and other military-related absences and obstacles.

"It's obvious that this weekend has been very successful and rewarding," Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk said. "Connie and I both had the opportunity to visit with our North Dakota National Guard youth this weekend. For all you parents, you can be very proud of your children, because they are proud of you. They let me know that they think the world of our National Guard and are happy to be a part of what we all do. "

Guard children also were introduced to the "Real Colors" program. Through the training, they gained new perspectives about themselves and the things that are important to them. They learned how to better communicate with others and also recognized the method of communication that works best for them. At the closing of the Volunteer Symposium, the youths shared what they had learned with the audience by showing a video presentation they had produced over the weekend.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2014
• Date Posted: 03.10.2014 20:07
• Story ID: 121797
• Location: FARGO, ND, US