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Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, with a little bit of help from her eight and a half month-old daughter, Emma. The sergeant is supporting the 2nd Marine Air Wing in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Photo by: Cpl. J.R. Stence
Posted on 07/07/2005 4:36:01 PM PDT by SandRat
MCAS CHERRY POINT, N.C. (July 6, 2005) -- “All that she knows is that daddy is fighting the bad guys. She wants to go and fight the bad guys so daddy can come home. To hear a four-year old say that is enough to break your heart.”
Carley’s daughter, Isabela, has been without her father, Staff Sgt. Robert Jacobson, since he deployed to Iraq with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 approximately six months ago. And, six days before he left, his wife bore his firstborn son, Xander. The Jacobsons’ occupy a rare place in American society, but within the Marine Corps subculture, they are one of many households bearing up under the pressure of long deployments and a stateside lifestyle that limits family time.
Marine Corps Family Teambuilding teaches spouses and children how to respond to these stresses through events such as the Returning Reunion, which took place at the Cherry Tree House here, June 21.
The program was recently modified to facilitate more discussion and include pre-school and elementary-school aged children. There is now a discussion group for adults and three different activity groups tailored to children of three different age groups.
Before the changes were made, the reunion mostly consisted of briefs. According to several members of the program staff and many of the spouses who attended the reunion, the changes make the reunion a more interesting and relevant event to families.
“It was pretty informative,” Carley said of the revised program for the adults. “I was surprised.”
“It worked out well because a lot of the kids have concerns and anxieties that are not addressed,” added Maj. Brian N. Pinckard, the Marine Corps Family Teambuilding director. “It alleviates some of the concerns they may not be expressing.”
Brenda Slaughter, a home visitor with the New Parent Support Program, helped lead the adult group.
“In some respects, we’re just facilitating (discussion) for the spouses,” she said. Slaughter, whose husband retired from military service after more than 20 years in the Navy, said the adult session involved the more seasoned military spouses sharing their experiences with the younger ones.
In addition to sharing experiences, those who attended the reunion got the chance to meet new people. Two of the younger spouses at the event, Jamie Willoughby and Aimee Zatlin, struck up a friendship in the discussion group.
“You don’t know anyone,” said Jamie, in describing the social scenario for spouses who have just relocated to their Marines’ installations. “You have no reason to get of bed besides to go shopping.”
Because most people at the event were from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 or VMAQ-4, the reunion helped out with unit camaraderie, said Pinckard.
While the adults talked, the children made cards for their deployed parents, watched a children’s program about separation anxiety and expressed their feelings about their parents’ deployments in a teacher-led discussion.
The children’s program featured a hairy blue villain, with horns and baggy eyes, named Mr. Grumpy. During the show, Mr. Grumpy tried to make children worry about the conditions their parents live under during deployment. The children were able to counter his fibs with the truth, and the show ended with Mr. Grumpy conceding, “You kids are too smart for me!” before sauntering off stage.
The reunion ended with a banner-making activity for the deployed Marines’ return. Children and parents teamed up to make the banners, which Pinckard said will be displayed at the units and next to a convenience store on the Air Station.
Teambuilders or other organizations aimed at helping dependents and spouses adjust to the trials of their Marines deploying overseas are available at all Marine Corps installations. Anyone interested in learning more about these programs can contact his unit information officer.
Isn't she a real cutie! The baby,...the Baby!
Little chubbie cheeks is precious.
Nice! Thank you.
Thanks for the ping! God bless the military families who have to wait and wonder while their loved ones are fighting monsters around the world. They are so brave and the troops need their support more than anyone else's! It sustains them.
Oh, what an adorable baby!
I'm glad the Marine Corps is doing this for the families. My father was in the Navy 32 years, so I know what these people are going through. My husband was in the Air Force. Anything that helps to hold the parents together and makes things easier for the children is good.
Thanks for the ping!
BTTT!!!!!!!
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