Photo By Sgt. Angel Turner | Chaplain (Maj.) Richard West, family life chaplain for the 1st Cavalry Division,...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – Civilian clothes, free food and games, all in the name of training — not the typical duty day for 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers.
A bit different from normal day-to-day training, Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Cav. Div., spent their Friday learning how to pick the right spouse during a Single Soldier's Retreat in Temple, Texas, Jan. 30.
The retreat, coordinated through the division's chaplain office, was part of the Army’s Strong Bonds program, which is intended to increase individual Soldier and family member readiness through relationship, education and skills training.
Maj. Richard West, the division's family life chaplain, led the class and stressed the importance of taking one’s time to get to know a person and not rush into marriage.
"The purpose of the retreat is to equip single Soldiers with the ability to identify suitable marriage partners,” said West, a native of San Diego, California. “That will then increase Soldiers’ marriage satisfaction, which will ultimately increase Soldier and Family readiness.”
During the three hours of training, Soldiers learned the five dynamics of a relationship using the relationship attachment model: know, trust, rely, commit and touch.
West said it is important for Soldiers to go through the steps in order, from ‘know’ to ‘touch,’ to ensure the most success in their relationship.
Soldiers shared some of their personal experiences and discussed how they related to the class.
It’s important to “pick the right one,” said Sgt. Tristan Brown, a single father. He said that is the case not only for him, but more importantly, for his daughter.
“Once a Soldier is ready to get to that point in marriage and have a family, they can apply what they’re learning here,” said Brown, who is the division's deputy commandant assigned to Headquarters Support Company, HHBn.
Brown, a Killeen, Texas native, said the class helped teach Soldiers the do's and don’ts of dating, and how to better their relationship.
Events such as the retreat are conducted quarterly. This quarter the division as a whole has 30 retreats planned. Although this retreat was for single Soldiers, the 1st Cavalry Division also has retreats for couples.
“This is pretty outstanding,” said Sgt. Craig Lumsden, the training room noncommissioned officer in charge for Operations Company, HHBn.
Previously divorced, Lumsden had his own opinions on marriage going into the training. As the training continued, he admitted he found the retreat to be beneficial.
He said life, and relationships, can be fast paced. “This is like hitting the brakes and giving people a chance to see their decisions,” Lumsden said. “This may help Soldiers make better choices and inevitably have stronger relationships. It’s good for the Army as well — Soldiers with healthy relationships have better work performance.”
West, the Family life chaplain, said the training stemmed from research by Dr. John Van Epp, whose curriculums are used throughout the military.
“If Soldiers apply what they learn, it will significantly mitigate problems they are experiencing in their marriages,” West said.
As the class drew to an end, West drilled a familiar point into the single Soldiers heads.
Take your time dating.
“Not all facets of a Soldier’s life ought to be dictated by the operational tempo of the Army,” West said.
“Just because you're going to deploy or go on a rotation to Korea, doesn't mean you have to get married tomorrow,” he said, addressing the group of Soldiers. “You can wait.”
After lunch, the days training was complete and Soldiers spent the rest of the afternoon taking part in the centers amenities to include playing arcade games and bowling.
For more information about upcoming retreats, contact your unit chaplain or chaplain assistant.
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2015 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 153676 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Retreat equips Cav troops for marriage, by SGT Angel Turner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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