Photo By Bernhard Lashleyleidner | Chaplain (Capt.) Timothy Kim (left), spiritual leader, 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt., and...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT RILEY, Kan. - Chaplains, religious affairs specialists and medical providers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, took time out of their schedules to participate in the brigade’s Care for the Caregiver event Aug. 14 at the Whitside Fitness Center.
Attendees spent the morning participating in activities like climbing the fitness center’s indoor rock wall and playing bubble soccer.
Chaplain (Maj.) Michael McDonald, spiritual leader, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., said the event provides brigade medical personnel and unit ministry teams, who assist Soldiers and their families on a daily basis, a way to manage stress and help them remember to take time out for themselves and their families
“It’s normal for chaplains and medical providers to care for others,” McDonald said. “Who will care for the caregivers if they don’t care for themselves?”
McDonald, a native of San Angelo, Texas, said the event was an opportunity for the staff to relax and learn how to manage stress
in positive ways.
He said leaders try to equip personnel with the tools to deal with stress and thrive in stressful environments.
“Today was all about having fun,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Timothy Kim,
spiritual leader, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. “As caregivers, we often forget to take care of ourselves.”
Pfc. Nickie Owens, a native of Collins, Mississippi, and a religious affairs specialist with 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div.,
said she enjoyed participating in the bubble soccer event.
During the activity, Soldiers put inflatable balls on their shoulders, covering their entire upper body.
“This was great PT,” Owens said. “I am new to the unit and the Army, so being able to network with my fellow unit ministry teams and learn more about what we do and how to assist Soldiers is wonderful.”
Kim, a native of Burke, Virginia, said the event was a good reminder for caregivers to come together and encourage one another as they engaged in different types of physical activities.
“This was an amazing day,” said Pvt. Damona Barnard, a religious
affairs specialist with 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div.
Barnard, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, said the event allowed unit ministry team Soldiers to create new bonds and connections with other
caregivers within the brigade, which built trust and loyalty and enhanced the entire team.
This was the brigade’s first Care for the Caregiver event this year.
“Prior to the deployment, we tried to take time out for the unit ministry teams and medical providers once a quarter,” McDonald said. “Holding
events like this (is) very important because they preventburnout.”
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2015 16:28 |
| Story ID: | 180208 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Hometown: | BURKE, VA, US |
| Hometown: | COLLINS, MS, US |
| Hometown: | SAN ANGELO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 'Devil' providers recharge during caregivers event, by Bernhard Lashleyleidner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT