Returning Warrior Workshop in San Diego

News: Returning Warrior Workshop in San Diego

Marine Corps Mobilization Command

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Story by Staff Sgt. Amy Forsythe Follow This Journalist

Ensign Amy Forsythe

Attendees were honored with Certificates of Appreciation and each was given a handmade quilt during the Banquet of Honor at the Westin Hotel in San Diego, Calif., Feb. 26-28.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - More than 75 Marines and Sailors who recently returned from an overseas deployment attended a 2-day transition workshop at the Westin Hotel in San Diego, Feb. 26-28.

The Returning Warrior Workshop was designed to provide resources and guidance and honor reserve service members who were called to active duty. Most of the attendees brought their spouses and a few brought a parent or close relative to be a part of the weekend event.

Attendees, who traveled from across the states, were treated to an all-expense paid trip in order to provide them with meaningful seminar classes and an evening banquet to honor their service as 'citizen soldiers.' Seminar topics included communication techniques, reintegration methods and stress management tools.

Most of the attendees were in the Individual Ready Reserves when they received mobilization orders to report for duty and had to put their civilian careers or education on hold while they deployed to a combat zone. Many have recently separated from the military but are still in the Individual Ready Reserves.

The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine conducts about 25 weekend workshops a year for Navy personnel. It was only recently that the U.S. Marine Corps became involved. This event was the third RWW held exclusively for Marines and coordinated by Mobilization Command based in Kansas City, Mo., said Col. Patrick McCarthy, commander of MOBCOM.

Several Veterans Affairs representatives were also on-hand to answer questions and solve problems for troops who might have lingering medical issues or who might need help applying for G.I. Bill benefits. Representatives from other civilian agencies such as: Troops to Teachers and Helmets to Hardhats were on hand to offer information about jobs and training.

One of the featured speakers, U.S. Marine Col. Drew Doolin, spoke about his own struggles with lingering effects of combat and provided a historical look at the Warrior Codes to help attendees understand the emotional connections of patriotic service. Doolin also hosted a small group session for those who wonder, "Why I want to go back?" It's a lingering desire for many who want to return to a combat zone, said Doolin, who served two tours as a logistics battalion commander in Al Anbar province, Iraq, during the height of the insurgency.

All participants received a certificate of appreciation for their service and as a special surprise each service member was presented with a hand-made quilt at the end of the Banquet of Honor. The quilts were made by volunteers throughout the country and have been a symbol of gratitude and thanks.

"We didn't get a chance to reconnect with each other before he went straight back to work," said Audrey Patton, a Marine wife from Dallas, Texas. Patton and her husband were excited to take in the classes offered because they didn't get any post-deployment or transition assistance as they were geographically too far away to participate. "We came with open hearts and open minds."

Returning Warrior Workshops are the premiere reintegration program among the services and are regularly held across the nation to welcome service members back from mobilization and help them reintegrate into life at home.