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SAN DIEGO - Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command held a Returning Warrior Workshop in San Diego with 150 post-deployment Reserve and active-duty sailors, Marines and family members at The Westin San Diego, Jan. 27-29, 2012.
Funded by the Department of Defense's Yellow Ribbon program, the RWW session offers a venue for returning warriors and their invited guests or family members to share and speak about experiences while forward deployed. While a majority of participants are Navy Reservists, active duty and reserve members of all services are invited. The program is designed to aid in the reintegration into family and community life through the use of workshops and presentations by subject matter experts.
"After listening to what some of the speakers had to say, it made talking about things a little easier," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Panado, officer-in-charge, Cargo Afloat Rig Team with Navy Operational Support Center San Diego. "You’re the warrior, holding it in by yourself, but here you can share it with your spouse or your significant other, and bring them into the experience."
Participants are divided up into table groups with a RWW table facilitator to help guide workshop activities, such as breakout sessions, which are designed for smaller group discussions. In one of these sessions titled, "Telling Your Story," service and family members are encouraged to talk about what they experienced during the mobilization process in a safe environment. While participants aren’t required to share personal stories, more often than not, the service members and guests sitting at the table share similar stories.
"On this particular mission, I missed an important moment in my youngest daughter’s life," said Panado. He found out during the "Telling Your Story" discussion that another servicemember at his table also had to deal with a similar experience.
"We sometimes miss cherished moments that we all would like to be there for, but as service members, we put the mission first," Panado said.
RWWs have three key priorities: to inform, to empower and to thank. They inform attendees by exposing them to the substantial network of resources available to them. Representatives from support organizations, such as Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, Military One Source, TRICARE/Triwest Healthcare Alliance, Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Plus were available to answer questions. In addition, a psychological health outreach team was on hand throughout the weekend for attendees interested in additional assistance.
RWW empowers attendees through a series of presentations on topics that include dealing with stress, operational stress, couples reconnecting and getting specific with families issues. From these presentations, service members are empowered with tools to better cope with post-deployment and subsequent deployment situations. Some of the tools include recognizing stress-related illnesses as they manifest and what to expect from a returning loved one.
"In the past when he'd (Panado) return from a deployment, any changes, I would just ignore it and keep on going," said Geraldine Panado, Lt. Cmdr. Michael Panado's wife. "After hearing what they had to say at the workshop, the message I took away was, be accepting of each others changes."
RWWs show thanks to the warriors and their spouses at an appreciation banquet that is considered to be the cornerstone of the weekend. Attendees and their guests enter the banquet hall to a standing ovation by appreciative event organizers, table facilitators, and presenters.
"Whether you were on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Iraq, or the battlefields of 326 Main St. in Reno, Nev. - with four kids wondering where mom or dad was, while trying to juggle, soccer, school, wherever you were, it was important that you did your job, and you did it well, so that those who were on the battlefield could focus on what they were doing. So we're here to honor everyone's contributions," said Capt. Marcus Cromartie, commanding officer of Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command.
Following a four-star meal, attendees were addressed by guest speaker, Rear Adm. Peter A. Gumataotao, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, Commander, USS Nimitz Strike Group. Gumataotao thanked both service and family members for their sacrifices and continued his remarks, explaining how honorable it is to serving one's country.
"All of you stand for something, something that's really noble. You stand for something that every American out there looks up to as role models. They don't say 'thank you' because you wear nice uniforms, or fly fancy jets. No, they say 'thank you,' to you and your families because of your sacrifice, and because some of our shipmates and Marines don't come back. And they know that," said Gumataotao. "Most importantly, they say 'thank you' to you, the way I say thank you, because you allow them to have, life, liberty and be able to pursue happiness."
Cromartie provided closing remarks on Sunday at the conclusion of the workshop: "We started this ride about 32 hours ago. You have been exposed to lot of information. You know how to reach, where to reach and who you can count on when you need to discuss something. Your Navy family has grown, you made lifelong friends this weekend. Feel free to lean on your new family members for support in the future."
RWWs are held quarterly in various locations throughout the United States.
Sailors can review the fiscal year 2012 RWW schedule and reserve a seat at one of the next RWWs in their region at www.ia.navy.mil and contact the regional coordinator.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2012 17:40 |
| Story ID: | 83089 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Workshop welcomes San Diego warriors home, by CPO Ernesto Bonilla, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
