NECC Conducts Family Readiness and Resiliency Workshop

VIRGINIA BEACH , VA, UNITED STATES

06.02.2016

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lauren Booher 

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) Family Readiness Team conducted a Family Readiness and Resiliency Workshop May 24-25.

Family Readiness promotes education and resources for Sailors and their families who are preparing for deployments, and minimizes the difficulties faced in their absences.

In support of this mission, the workshop NECC's Family Readiness team hosted brought together NECC senior leadership and Fleet and Family Support Center representatives to discuss issues confronting the force.

"We put together this training so we could pass on valuable information to our expeditionary families," said Cmdr. David Little, NECC Family Readiness officer. "Many of them may not know what resources are available to them. It's important for them to know what they are entitled to so they can use them as needed."

Along with valuable resources, this year's workshop was different because it focused on how Sailors are more than just service members.

"When you look at your Sailors, do you see the whole person?" asked May Jacobs, FORCE Family Readiness director. "When a personal crisis occurs for the Sailor, it can affect the Sailor's job performance, their availability, their level of energy or interest, attitude toward their work, and the list goes on. At the same time, work issues can affect their relationships or lack of finances, education, and social commitments. There is another side that keeps them grounded, gives their life purpose, and when the uniform comes off for good, will continue to support them. It is important to take care of both sides of our Sailors."

Guest speakers spoke about these two sides of every Sailor in topics such as the impact of military lifestyle on families, family readiness impact on mission readiness, strengthening the Sailor's family team, among others.

At the end of the symposium, attendees seemed to walk away with a better understanding of the resources available needed to help their Sailors and their families while on deployment. Additionally, they had the opportunity to establish stronger communication and support within NECC.

"I saw good and effective communication, team-building, and networking among the various groups from our forces," said NECC Force Master Chief Lance Kitchens. "Experiences and ideas shared at the workshop can now be incorporated into training and get dispersed to the lowest level possible."

NECC is an enduring warfighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations that is focused on delivering combat effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2016
• Date Posted: 06.03.2016 12:28
• Story ID: 199873
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH , VA, US