Photo By Elizabeth Gerhart | Tom Quaintance, director of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront speaks to Command...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – As Soldiers from the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) filled the seats of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville, North Carolina, they were in for an experience that would forever change the way they view military life.
The First Team visited the theatre March 2 to watch a performance of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, an original play written specifically for the Fort Bragg community focused on the experiences of five different military spouses and the impact deployments have on military families.
“This project aims to change the way we reach out to the region’s vast military population by putting the military at the center of the art-making experience,” said Tom Quaintance, director of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront. “We’ve been looking for years for a way to honor these spouses who’s service is so often overlooked, and this play in an attempt to ‘get it.’”
The messages brought forth in the play hit home for many of the Soldiers.
“The biggest thing I took away from the play is just how hard it is for my wife,” said Knoxville, Tennessee native Sgt. Terry DeBusk Jr., schools noncommissioned officer, Special Troops Battalion, 1st TSC. “It made me realize how tough it can be for her to adapt to different environments and to make new friends.”
The stories featured in the play do not just leave an impact on the Soldiers and family members in the audience. For some of the actors, the stories are very personal and come from years of living the military lifestyle.
“I am Shayla,” said Nicki Hart, a 20-year retired military spouse and actress who plays the character Shayla on stage. “That is my personal story, so essentially, I am playing myself.”
Hart, a Saint Leon, Indiana native said, she hopes her story and the play will give the military and the CFRT an opportunity to unite though the arts and use the play as a platform to connect.
For the 1st TSC the play was an opportunity to show Soldiers the importance of resiliency and enjoy the arts in the Fayetteville community.
“One MRT [Master Resiliency Training] skill that can be applied to this play is Active Constructive Responding,” said Sgt. 1st Class Warren Beasley, Master Resiliency trainer, 1st TSC. “This skill revolves around how communication can enhance or deter a relationship. The messages and the spoken truth in this play are important for Soldiers, civilians and military family members to enrich communication and understanding about events Soldiers and their families face.”
The importance of communication was a key theme throughout the play.
“From the play, I understand a little more how important communication is between spouses,” said DeBusk. “It is never a good idea to assume what each other means when they speak in vague terms. It is important to be direct and to the point when communicating about certain subjects.”
After the play Soldiers had the opportunity to have an open conversation with the cast of the play. Many Soldiers left the theater reflecting on their own personal interactions and relationships with their spouses.
“I already have a great appreciation for everything my wife does when I am home or deployed,” said DeBusk. “But this play absolutely made me appreciate her that much more.”
Written by North Carolina playwright Mike Wiley, Downrange: Voices form the Homefront runs until March 20th and includes military spouse appreciation nights on March 11 and 18.
For more information visit cfrt.org.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2016 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 191114 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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