TUCSON, Ariz. — Readiness begins long before a Soldier steps into a formation or logs onto a network. For the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, readiness also means ensuring Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians and their families have the tools and relationships necessary to withstand the demands of military life.
NETCOM’s Command Chaplain’s Office hosted a Building Strong and Ready Teams, or BSRT, Marriage Enrichment Training event Aug. 28-30 at the Embassy Suites Paloma Village in Tucson, bringing service members and their families together for a weekend focused on trust, communication, self-awareness and healthy relationship habits.
Led by Maj. (Chaplain) Anthony “Tony” Hunley and Sgt. 1st Class William Rogers, the event provided participants with practical tools designed to strengthen relationships and help families navigate challenges associated with military service, including relocations, extended separations, deployments and the pressures of daily life.
“The strength of our Army is ultimately found in its people,” Hunley said. “When our Soldiers and families have healthy relationships and the tools to communicate effectively, we strengthen the foundation of the force.”
The weekend combined structured training with opportunities for participants to step away from the demands of their normal routines and concentrate on their relationships.
The training opened Friday with an introduction to the program and a session examining “The Case for Trust in Marriage.” Saturday’s sessions focused on understanding temperament through “The Four Lenses” and developing personal credibility, with an emphasis on trusting oneself and becoming someone, others can trust.
Participants also had opportunities to share meals, participate in hotel activities and spend time with their families in a relaxed environment.
The approach reflects a central principle of BSRT: relationship readiness is an important component of overall military readiness.
Formerly associated with the Army’s Strong Bonds program, BSRT provides relationship education and skills training designed to help service members and their families navigate the unique challenges of military life. While many events emphasize marriage and family relationships, the broader program also supports healthy relationships, communication and camaraderie among Soldiers.
Although chaplains lead BSRT events, the program is designed to welcome Soldiers and families regardless of their religious background.
For military families, frequent moves, changing assignments, deployments and long periods apart can place additional stress on relationships. BSRT addresses those challenges by giving participants practical methods for communicating, managing conflict and understanding how individuals respond differently to stress.
“Readiness is not simply a number on a readiness report,” Rogers said. “It is also about whether our people and families have the resilience, trust and support they need when the Army asks them to meet a challenge.”
The weekend also reinforced NETCOM’s broader commitment to building readiness within its ranks. As the Army’s global network enterprise command, NETCOM depends on Soldiers, civilians and industry partners who can perform in complex and demanding environments around the world.
That mission requires technical expertise and operational readiness, but it also depends upon people who are supported and prepared to manage the personal demands that accompany military service.
For NETCOM leaders, investing in relationships is therefore an investment in the force itself.
Strong relationships can provide service members with a stable foundation during periods of uncertainty, while effective communication and conflict-management skills can help families navigate the inevitable pressures of military life.
The Tucson event concluded Sunday with a voluntary non-denominational worship service, giving participants an opportunity to reflect on the training and consider how they could apply the lessons within their own relationships and families.
The event demonstrated that readiness is built at multiple levels, from the enterprise network connecting Army formations around the world to the relationships that support the people operating that network.
By providing Soldiers, civilians and families opportunities to strengthen communication, develop trust and build healthier relationships, NETCOM’s Command Chaplain’s Office continues to contribute to a more resilient and ready force.
For NETCOM, building strong and ready teams means recognizing that the Army’s readiness ultimately depends on the readiness of its people and the families and relationships that stand behind them.
| Date Taken: |
08.29.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
08.29.2026 15:13 |
| Story ID: |
573523 |
| Location: |
ARIZONA, US |
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This work, NETCOM invests in readiness through relationship education, family resilience, by Gabriel Archer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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