Manchus hold family readiness training

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

04.08.2018

Story by 2nd Lt. Caitlin Carrington 

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Capt. Guido Gonzalez, 4-9 Inf. Regt. Battalion Chaplin led the event. The event was held this past weekend from the evening of Friday, April 6th, until Sunday afternoon, April 8th.
The purpose behind retreats and events like this one is to provide families an opportunity to connect with one another and strengthen the bonds of their relationships prior to deployment. Deployments can be extremely stressful for Service Members, but their families also grapple with significant anxiety, apprehension, and worry about being separated from their Soldier for such long periods of time. This is especially true when Soldiers are deploying to combat or active war zones. For many couples, this may be the first time that they are experiencing this degree of separation from one another. It is vital that Service Members and their spouses or significant others develop solid foundations in their relationship to help each of them remain strong throughout the course of the deployment, when regular communication may be challenging and sparse. The Manchus, and the Army as a whole, have a vested interest in ensuring that Soldiers and their families are mentally, spiritually, and logistically prepared for the deployment as possible.
Throughout the weekend, formal blocks of instruction including topics such as healthy and effective communication strategies, companionship, parenting tips, establishing a “family mission”, managing intimacy during the period of separation, and managing the specifics on how finances, maintenance, and resources will be handled during the deployment. These topics provided a comprehensive “toolbox” for families to visualize their family units in a holistic sense and ensure that every aspect of their relationship was addressed. Developing a plan and discussing potential issues before they arise helps both Service Members and their families feel more secure in their relationships and is very important for maintaining a healthy and positive outlook throughout the deployment.
The retreat also included ample time for the families to get some quality relaxation and recreation time in with each other. Some of the non-structured activities included horseback riding and archery. Due to the rather large turn-out, there was also a lot of opportunities for families to form connections with one another, which can really help keep feelings of loneliness and isolation at bay in spouses remaining at Fort Carson for the duration of the deployment. The weekend concluded with a Sunday worship service led by Gonzalez. This event had a wonderful turn-out and was a great way for Soldiers and their family members to strengthen their relationships and gain some valuable knowledge about dealing with separation during the upcoming deployment.
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• Date Taken: 04.08.2018
• Date Posted: 04.17.2018 20:33
• Story ID: 273441
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US