10th Group HPW Spouse Connect

Photo By Sgt. Claudia Seal | The Human Performance and Wellness program, specific to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), holds a monthly Spouse Connection event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dec. 12, 2021. December’s event was Coffee and Conversation, which focused on building connections amongst 10th SFG(A) spouses. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Claudia Calloway)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

02.01.2022

Story by Sgt. Claudia Seal 

10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The average military spouse moves 8 to 12 times over the course of a 20-year military career. Starting over in a new place can be difficult in terms of making new friends, finding employment and finding a sense of community. For that reason, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Human Performance and Wellness (HPW) program hosts Spouse Connect events that focus on personal, professional and supportive networking for 10th SFG(A) spouses. Recently, spouses met for Coffee and Conversation on Dec. 11, 2021, at the Soul Community Planet Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Held monthly, each of the Spouse Connect events cover different topics, to include things like connecting with 10th SFG(A) Community Resources and Organizations, Healthy Habits for the Holidays (Mindfulness & Nutrition), and Coffee and Conversation events. The Coffee and Conversation events tend to be a less formal but still have a supportive structured discussion element that facilitates dialogue about military and Special Forces lifestyles.
” The goal of the spouse events is to help spouses who may experience challenges or questions and highlight the supportive professionals and organizations that are out there to assist them,” said Rhonda Owings, Community Programs and Peer Network Coordinator for HPW.
Spouses that attend the events are provided with resources they may not otherwise be aware of. It also allows them to meet others who are in similar situations and can easily relate to.
“Whether a spouse is new to the community or a more seasoned spouse, they can find solace in talking and supporting one another with others who have been there,” says Owings. “Spouses have the opportunity to provide guidance, lessons learned and mentorship for each other.”
Owings also spoke on how peer networking and supporting spouses overall physical, social and emotional health is an important part of the HPW Spouse Connect events.
For attendees with children, HPW provides free onsite childcare during the duration of the event.
“I’m not normally very social on my own so these events allow me to get out of my comfort zone,” said a 10th SFG(A) spouse at the Coffee and Conversation event. “Moving a lot can make it hard to establish a support system, so I’m glad I can meet people at these events.”
10th SFG(A)’s Human Performance and Wellness team plans to continue these events monthly, covering different topics and providing resources to spouses. Future topics and events will include financial fitness, rock climbing, suicide awareness and training, growing professionally as a military spouse, hiking trips and yoga.
The Spouse Connect events are open for all 10th Group community spouses and significant others to attend.
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• Date Taken: 02.01.2022
• Date Posted: 02.04.2022 11:14
• Story ID: 413793
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US