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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Holding an event for families while their squadron is deployed seems odd, but is crucial.
Deployments are stressful for Marines, but families also have to learn to function differently without one member present for a long period of time.
“We want to make sure that we’re taking care of our spouses and family members, especially during times of deployment,” said Jennifer Costello, family readiness officer for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, also known as the checkerboards, has scheduled a pumpkin patch for Oct. 14 at Lowcountry Produce. The squadron will pay for children who are pre-registered guests to receive a hot dog lunch and a pumpkin, while adults will need to pay a small fee. Participants can also take pony rides, explore a hay maze and feel their way through a petting zoo.
The squadron recognizes that connecting with other families help spouses form a network of support. Reaching out through morale events gives spouses people to call in case of a sticky situation like a flat tire or helping with a sick child, said Costello.
“The way that you find those people to call is through morale events like these,” said Costello.
One technique to take care of the families of deployed Marines is to connect them with other families within Marine Aircraft Group 31.
Marine Aircraft Group 31 encompasses the Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons aboard the Air Station and ensures that a squadron is well equipped and trained for deployments. MAG-31 also steps in as needed to assist families during a squadron’s deployment.
“During deployments we sort of adopt the squadrons. Our Marines are still here helping change that flat tire, helping set up that Christmas party or the big picnic in the summer,” said Ted Crandall, the family readiness officer for MAG-31. “There are a lot of man hours involved and their Marines are deployed, so we invite them to our events.”
The family oriented events help families grow closer to their squadron and provide support groups.
“When the squadron gets deployed [spouses] need each other even more,” said Becky Cederholm, command team advisor for MAG-31. “We need each other when we have our Marines at home, but even more so when they’re not at home.
“You don’t want to try and form those relationships when you’re in a crisis. You want to form those relationships way before a crisis. And then when something goes wrong, you have those relationships in place so that you can draw on that.”
Family events and morale days help spouses network with each other, but also help kids meet other kids.
“When you can alleviate some of the fear and the stress and anxiety with deployments, you’re directly helping kids,” said Costello. “They get around a peer group of other kids that are all in the same boat, the spouses are all together, and some of that tension starts to dissipate.”
For more information on squadron morale events, contact the family readiness officer for your squadron or call Ted Crandall at 228-7230.
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2012 09:40 |
| Story ID: | 96180 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Patch Morale one Seed at a Time, by Cpl Sarah Cherry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
