Posts Tagged Deployment Issues
Taking Stress Out of Reintegration
Posted by ldaniel in Uncategorized on July 2, 2012
By Lisa Daniel
The Defense Department is working to “fundamentally transform” the nation’s understanding of the invisible wounds of war, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has said, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological and Traumatic Brain Injury.
DCoE is out in front on recognizing psychological problems among service members and recently began reaching out to military members and their families through social networking.
One event, now common in military family life — that also can be largely misunderstood — is a service member’s redeployment home. Public Health Service Lt. Cmdr. Dana Lee, a licensed clinical social worker in reintegration and deployment health at DCoE in Silver Spring, Md., recently took part in a Facebook chat with families about how to give service members a smooth transition back into their home life.
People often have unrealistic views of how a redeployment will be, Lee told me in a follow-up interview. “A lot of people think of it as a series of positive events,” she said. “You’re reunited with your family and friends, you’re going back to your favorite restaurants and activities.”
But returning to the routine of home life after war also can be a “period of extended stressors,” she added. “There are expectations that come with coming back. When you’re deployed, you’re focused on mission completion. There are different routines at home.”
A lot of things happen in the months that a service member is away, Lee explained. The kids have grown and changed, maybe the house is different, there may be a new car, and the couple’s relationship may have changed. Read the rest of this entry »
Spouse Combats Army Husband’s PTSD
Posted by in Family Matters on December 2, 2011
By Elaine Sanchez
Dec. 1, 2011
Army Sgt. John Tomsich and his wife, Catrina, talk about the emotional journey they made as a couple following Tomsich's injuries and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
I met an Army wife a few weeks ago who truly embodies the marriage vow “for better or for worse.”
Catrina Tomsich stuck by her soldier husband through a war injury, severe post-combat stress and emotional abuse — not because she condoned the behavior, but because she had an unwavering belief that with time and care, he could find emotional healing.
“I believe you should never give up,” she told me while I was visiting with her at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio. “No matter what we’re given in life, we can choose how we deal with it.”
Army Sgt. John Tomsich had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since his first deployment in 2005. Catrina encouraged him to get help, but he refused. He believed at the time that discussing issues such as anger or depression would be a sign of weakness to the soldiers serving under him. Instead, he told me, “You try and fight it and not tell anyone you have problems.”
While he maintained a stoic front on duty, he couldn’t contain his rage at home. “For five years I heard, ‘I hate you; I don’t love you anymore’ every day,” Catrina said. “That can definitely take an emotional toll on someone.”
Tomsich deployed again in 2009, this time in Iraq. About six months in, he suffered a spinal injury to his neck that caused him to lose the use of his right arm. He was flown to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment, and Catrina drove down on weekends to see him. But when he developed a stomach illness that required surgery, she knew he’d need a full-time caregiver.
It was with trepidation that Catrina left her life in Houston behind to take on that role. She shut down her financial education business, left behind a network of friends and uprooted their then-5-year-old son.
Tomsich’s physical injuries were under control – in time, he regained the use of his arm with medication — but the abuse worsened. After a particularly bad episode one weekend, Catrina decided enough was enough.
“He had so much anger and rage,” she said, “and that weekend our son saw it, and was crying and scared of Daddy.
I wasn’t about to let that happen anymore. I put my foot down.”
Catrina marched into a trailer where she knew behavioral health specialists worked and demanded to speak to a counselor. A week later, Tomsich was placed in counseling for severe PTSD.
With medication and counseling, her husband has come a long way, she said. He’s still not where he was when they got married, she added, but “he’s 100 times better than in 2005.”
Given Tomsich’s initial reluctance to seek help, I was surprised they had decided to go public with their story. But it’s their hope, they told me, that their story will encourage others to seek the help they need.
Catrina said she’s seen enough marriages break under the pressure of a spouse’s physical and emotional wounds. “Women come and tell me, ‘He’s not the man he used to be.’ I tell them, ‘Never give up.’ If I had, we wouldn’t be here together now.”
If you are struggling with PTSD or other issues or know someone who is, the Defense Department offers a host of resources to help. Here are just a few:
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Afterdeployment.org
Real Warriors
Military OneSource
Keeping Military Marriages Strong
Posted by in Family Matters on October 27, 2011
By Elaine Sanchez
Elaine.sanchez@dma.mil
Oct. 27, 2011
I spoke to a spouse last year about dealing with deployments and keeping military marriages strong. Her husband had just returned from a yearlong deployment in Iraq.
She cited an example of the types of issues that can arise when communication falls to the wayside. As the primary disciplinarian while her husband was gone, she adopted a “three strikes and you’re out” rule for their 3-year-old son. Her husband, however, was more of a “one strike” kind of guy, and reinstituted his stricter ways upon his return.
Upset at being usurped from her disciplinarian role so quickly, his wife got angry. “At first I yelled at him a lot,” she said. “I’d correct him more than I’d correct my child.”
In time, she learned to bite her tongue and to discuss the situation with her husband behind closed doors.
Marriage is tough enough without tossing in the additional stressors of military life — frequent deployments, reintegrations, separations and moves, to name a few. But even the toughest military challenges can be weathered with some advance planning and healthy communication skills. And in the process, marriages can grow even stronger.
My Husband’s Reintegration
Posted by in Family Matters on August 29, 2011
Aug. 29, 2011
In this post, Sheri Hall answers questions about how she supported her family while her husband, Army Maj. Jeff Hall, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after his second tour in Iraq, and shares how she encouraged him to seek help through the Deployment Health Clinical Center’s specialized care program. The center is part of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, and offers care for those experiencing PTSD and reintegration concerns.
Q. What was your reaction when your husband returned home?
A. I noticed he had a deep, dark, hollow look in his eyes. I asked him if he needed to talk to someone. I let him know that I was supportive but he wasn’t receptive at the time. I think he felt he needed to be the “macho” soldier.
Q. What was the impact of his post-combat stress on you?
A. I was never fearful for Jeff’s life while he was in combat, since I knew that he trained himself well. When Jeff returned and was having suicidal thoughts, I couldn’t sleep. I was so worried I would sit in bed and watch him. I feared he would just leave. I lost 15 pounds in two weeks. When I’d take the kids to school, I would race home to make sure Jeff was where I last saw him.
Q. How did you try to communicate with your husband during this time?
A. I told him that while I didn’t know the effects of combat, I knew that something was wrong. It was hard because he kind of pushed me and the girls away. Finally, I sat down with him and said, “If you kill yourself, how do I explain it to your daughters, your mother and father, and my family?” It was like a light bulb went on, and that’s when we looked into the DHCC program.
Q. What would you tell military parents about how to communicate with their children?
A. Encourage children to be vocal; tell us what’s bothering you. I put on a big front when Jeff was experiencing PTSD and never told the girls about my sleepless nights. If I had, we could have communicated better.
Q. What advice would you give a military spouse experiencing similar challenges?
A. I tell military wives to keep that line of communication as open as possible. Then, if something is wrong, a spouse will immediately know. I wish I had stood firmer with Jeff and said, “No, you’re going to get help” when he resisted. Don’t just let things be.
Hall recommends people dealing with reintegration check out the free resources offered through the Real Warriors Campaign and the Defense Centers of Excellence, such as the Outreach Center’s live chat. The feature instantly connects users with trained health resource consultants who can help with psychological health concerns.
Click here to view the Real Warriors and Families video profile featuring the Hall family.
(This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence blog.)
My Discovery of Mild TBI
Posted by in Family Matters on July 28, 2011
By Heather Marsh
Defense Centers of Excellence Strategic Communications
July 28, 2011
The phrase, “can’t see the forest through the trees” seems to describe a bout of cluelessness I recently experienced. Or perhaps, the more common “if it was a snake, it would have bit me” is truly the best fit.
Either way, the fact is I work at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury with top subject matter experts in the field of traumatic brain injury, and I couldn’t even recognize that the weird symptoms I had, after a recent good bump to the head, were symptoms of a concussion. How’s that for irony?
Put a name to the pain
In March, I spent about 10 days of feeling a little disoriented and helpless — having no clue as to what was going on with me. After a few conversations with a variety of military health care providers, to include an emergency room resident and former chief of neurology, I finally was able to “put a name to the pain.” It turns out I had sustained a mild TBI as a result of a recent fall — hardwood floor, meet Heather’s face. It wasn’t a pleasant introduction and resulted in five stitches and a severely bruised ego.
With a huge sigh of relief and several deep breaths later, I began my recovery process by talking to friends and family, and combing through resources and facts. The first tidbit that jumped off one fact sheet — courtesy of Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — was that falls are the leading cause of a traumatic brain injury.
I know much more about mild TBI now, like the fact that you should give yourself a little slack and let your brain heal, which can take one to three months in most cases. But, as my neurologist insists, that doesn’t mean you should stop doing routine tasks, like reading. He reminded me how amazing the brain is and it’s important to keep working it because, in time, it will learn new tricks to help self-correct.
Gratitude
I also have a newfound appreciation for deployed service members who have sustained not one, but multiple concussions, and yet they still continue to put themselves in harm’s way when they’ve recovered. This gratitude was even more apparent during a recent commute.
I was driving home from work one day, not too long after my diagnosis, taking my usual route along a scenic parkway. I drove along my curvy path and watched the sunlight flicker through the trees and shimmer off the flanking river crests — this sounds like a tranquil moment until I mention that the flickering light quickly caused my brain to hiccup and feel overloaded — like someone pushed the pause button. I felt a sudden rush of panic as if I was intoxicated; I felt disoriented and blinded all at once. Luckily, I was able to pull over to the side of the road — thank goodness for a nearby outlet — and regroup.
Almost as quickly as I thought that maybe I shouldn’t be driving, my thoughts shifted to our nation’s warriors. As a patriot and veteran, I feel a connection to our service members and their families frequently. I’ve lived the life and still do as a military spouse. I had visions of uniformed service members and wondered what it must be like to have the responsibilities they have down range. I imagined them walking around on patrol, on high alert, charged with keeping their unit, local civilians and themselves safe in the middle of an unfamiliar, wartorn city, catching glimpses of sparkling metal or debris that just seem “off.”
Sound like an intense scenario? Let’s make it more realistic by mentioning that the group of service members experienced a jarring blast from an improvised explosive device during a convoy to deliver supplies a few days prior. Oh, and it’s the third blast this month. Wow.
So, I’m pulled over on the side of a picturesque road worried about driving impaired while there are men and women, with guns, fighting to keep my family safe who may be experiencing the symptoms I have right at this moment? Again, wow. Another TBI fact: In the military, the leading causes of TBI are bullets, fragments and blasts.
Lessons learned
Fortunately, my story has a happy ending, and I learned some stuff too. I made it home safely that day and as I write this, almost all of my concussion symptoms are gone. I learned that people use different words to describe the way they feel, so it’s important to talk to someone who can help decipher when a response or feeling is normal and when it’s not. I also know a lot more about the human brain than I ever thought I would, which is pretty cool.
I’ve found among all that I have learned, the two things I want to share from my experience are:
1) I discovered simply knowing what was wrong with me offered relief and comfort — proof that it’s crucial to talk to others and reach out for help.
2) Because of the amazing people I work with at the Defense Centers of Excellence, things are changing on the battlefield for men and women who experience TBIs. New guidance and research are helping health care providers ensure injured service members get the right treatment at the right time, when it’s absolutely critical to their mission, the lives of others and themselves.
I feel I can’t end without offering a sincere “thank you” to those who continue to fight. I’m thankful for the men and women who sacrifice their lives to fight for freedom and just as importantly, for the people at home who fight to ensure deployed service members, returning veterans and their families have access to high-quality treatment, support and information. Thank you and keep fighting!
(Note: This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury blog.)
Army Spouse Takes on Finances
Posted by in Family Matters on July 6, 2011
Guest blogger Nancy French and her husband, Army Reserve Capt. David French, are recognized bloggers and book authors.
By Nancy French
July 6, 2011
When my husband, David, was deployed with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to Iraq, I’d never balanced my checkbook. I was what you might call a bystander to our financial lives after embarrassing David enough — the last straw was when I bounced our tithe check — to start handling our money exclusively. If adults had superlatives, I’d be voted, “Most Likely to Get My Electricity Turned Off,”
When David left for the war, however, it seemed less frivolous and more dire. Women would say, in hushed tones, “You should know more about your finances,” they would say, “in case something happens.”
Something happening was meant to induce fearful visions of the bank seizing my car because I couldn’t figure out where to send our monthly check if David couldn’t assist me. Before deployment, I felt invincible and full of life, not bothering to plan for the worst or, to be honest, even think of it. But before David left, we filled out some basic Army forms that ridded me of any of this false security.
In case something happened, David made a box of important documents that would guide me through our finances. In case something happened, he created a will and taught me about our insurance policies. In case something happened, our friends in Boston agreed to travel with me out of the country, and my neighbors agreed to watch the kids.
It sobered me. When David drove off that Saturday morning to begin his journey to Iraq, I feared for his safety and he feared he’d return home to a house with a yellow ribbon on the porch and a foreclosed sign in the yard — an all-too-common occurrence.
Soldiers give power of attorney to their parents or girlfriends and return to realize their “loved ones” have bought new satellite televisions, pick-up trucks, and — in one case I heard of — plastic surgery. Wives, who already feel deserted, feel entitled to live it up while their husband is gone, or, in my case, lack the know-how to keep things afloat.
One day, I was driving in my car and came across Nashville financial guru Dave Ramsey’s talk show.
“I give you the same advice your grandmother would’ve given you, except I keep my teeth in,” he said, describing his old-fashioned money advice. It got my attention.
To get started, he advised something called a debt-snowball. This is when you list all your debts from the smallest to the largest and pay the little debts first. Theoretically, if you can get over the shock of seeing all our debts in a list, it’ll give you immediate emotional gratification of getting rid of one naggingly small debt at a time. Then, you take the money you would’ve paid on it the next month and pay on your second debt. By the time the final debts are reached, the extra amount of cash you have to pay them off will grow quickly, just as a snowball rolls downhill and gathers momentum.
It sounded good, simple and understandable. So, I sat down and decided to look at our numbers for the first time. I felt like a child who had scraped her knee, afraid to assess the damage.
“Complete Lists of Debts” I wrote on a page of a notebook I’d ambitiously titled “A New Leaf.” David had given me carte blanche and power of attorney, realizing he couldn’t monitor both al-Qaida and my checking account, so I decided to keep this whole adventure a secret. I wrote down each item of debt, which represented anywhere from just a few to several thousand dollars. Revealing the wound was painful, each item causing me to physically wince — Sallie Mae (David’s Harvard loans); Plato (I-didn’t-even-get-a-degree loan); Land Rover (overpriced, gas-guzzling loan); Saab (car that might or might not have a gear shift loan), American Express (new laptop); and Visa (too many dinners out).
To start the snowball rolling, Dave Ramsey suggested having a yard sale or selling something of value. In seeing it all laid bare like that, I got a lump in my throat, took a deep breath, and did what any red-blooded American girl would do. I put David’s Land Rover up for sale.
After all, he was in Iraq. He wasn’t using it.
The next night, I was standing in my driveway accepting payment in cash from some guys in Nashville. When they drove away, they took my garage door opener, my Prince CD, and an enormous financial headache with them.
I hadn’t thought this all through. David would eventually return and need a vehicle, but I planned on being filthy rich by that time. Now? I got out a marker and wrote down the amount of my monthly Land Rover payment and designated it for next month’s American Express bill.
And so it began, a snowflake of an idea turning into a snowball of momentum. Over the course of the year, I got two extra jobs, planted trees in our otherwise pretty dull front yard, asked my neighbor to help me plant flowers, and generally tried to make our home a better place upon his return. (I did have extra time, since I didn’t have to shave my legs for the whole year.)
Whether I would succeed in my effort was yet to be seen. But there was something intoxicating about making something happen, rather than sitting around and fearing that somewhere, across the world in some sandy wasteland, something might.
DOD Program Inspires Kids to Read
Posted by in Family Matters on June 27, 2011
Elaine Sanchez
Elaine.sanchez@dma.mil
June 27, 2011
The day after school let out for the summer, I raced to find activities to fill those long, lazy days of summer for my 2-, 7- and 9-year-old.
While I want my kids to relax and enjoy their time off, my 7-year-old, in particular, has a couch-potato tendency that I struggle to contain. If I let him, he’d be happy to plant himself in front of the TV, remote in hand, and not budge until the fall school bell rings.
With that and my ever-shrinking budget in mind, I first searched for free community activities and lucked out by finding a great summer reading program at my local library. My kids simply have to read books, keep track of them on a log, and then can participate in weekly activities and earn small prizes.
As an added bonus, reading will help keep their minds sharp. Studies indicate there’s a significant summertime loss in literacy and learning if kids stop reading. And, according to one study, students who read over the summer scored better in reading achievement tests in the fall, and had better literacy and analytical skills.
Aware of these benefits, Defense Department libraries have launched a DOD-wide summer reading program in the hopes of inspiring children — and adults — of all ages to read this summer.
Visitors to libraries on 270 military installations around the world are invited to join “A Midsummer Knight’s Read,” an activity-packed reading program with a medieval twist.
Libraries can customize the program to suit local needs, but weekly activities may include candle-making, planting an herb garden, learning to weave, creating a sorcerer’s hat and ballad writing. Snacks range from smothered bread and chocolate toads to dragon’s breath candy mix and medieval gingerbread.
The program inspires a love of reading in children, said Margie Buchanan, libraries division chief for the Air Force Services Agency, and “the activities offer them a chance to learn more about arts and crafts and music.”
For more on this program, read my American Forces Press Service article, “DOD Libraries Launch Summer Reading Program.” You also can stop by your local library or visit the program’s website. Military families who aren’t near a base can email dodsumread@navy.mil to find out how to participate.
My Husband’s PTSD
Posted by in Family Matters on May 13, 2011
Diana Veseth-Nelson’s husband, retired Army Capt. Adrian Veseth-Nelson, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received treatment through the Deployment Health Clinical Center’s specialized care program. Here’s Diana’s story of coping with PTSD as a military wife, supporting her husband throughout his treatment and her desire to reach out to other military spouses.
By Diana Veseth-Nelson
May 13, 2011
Diana Veseth-Nelson poses with her husband, retired Army Capt. Adrian Veseth-Nelson, and their dog, Loki. Courtesy photo
My husband’s PTSD manifested itself in different ways. I remember Fourth of July at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., when we were all standing outside listening to the band, enjoying the picnic and listening to fireworks. The fireworks bothered Adrian because they sounded so much like gunfire. It made other soldiers upset too, and we all went inside. I thought it was ironic because the celebration was supposed to be for the American soldiers; they couldn’t even enjoy it.
He’d see a can on the side of the road and swerve, thinking it was an improvised explosive device. When he’d go out to dinner with other soldiers, I’d say it looked like a “The Last Supper” painting because they’d all sit there with their backs against the wall. If a room became too busy, he’d want to leave. He’d suddenly become unfriendly or unapproachable. At first, I confused his behavior with depression, or I thought maybe he was just tired. I also couldn’t help but think it had to do with me; I’m only human.
I was fortunate that Adrian was willing to get help once he got back. Once he was diagnosed, I knew we’d know better how to deal with his symptoms. I educated myself on PTSD; I went to his group therapist and reached out to the Real Warriors Campaign for information. But the most important thing I did was to listen to Adrian.
After he took part in the DHCC program, I could tell there was a stark improvement in his ability to manage his PTSD symptoms. The program taught him different ways to manage the symptoms. I never thought he would be into activities like yoga or acupuncture — now he’s a convert!
I think because Adrian and I communicate well we’ve been fortunate. When a soldier comes home, there’s usually a highly anticipated arrival and perception that everything’s going to be OK now. The truth is, everything may not be OK and getting to that desired state may be more of a process. But in the end, it’s worth it.
We recently moved outside Washington, D.C., and I’m looking to start a support group for significant others since we’re so close to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other bases. I think spouses need a support network just like service members, especially since some soldiers are not as open as my husband. Some families may have to cope with someone who is in complete denial — being involved in a support network may help. My hope is to lead a group that does just that, provide support to military families.
(Note: This post originally appeared on the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury blog. Diana’s husband also wrote a post about his experiences for the DCoE blog. You can read the post here.)
Family Forum: Supporting Military Families Year Round
Posted by in Family Matters on May 3, 2011
By Deborah Mullen
May 3, 2011
Deborah Mullen, a Navy wife and mom and a military family advocate, has been married to Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for 40 years.
During the Month of the Military Child in April, there were picnics and parades, fairs and festivals in communities
Deborah Mullen
There is no issue nearer or dearer to my heart than reinforcing to our military children that they are, indeed, a key part of the military community and how equally important it is to recognize the sacrifices they make every day.
It’s one thing to be a military child during peacetime, quite another during a time of war. Every day, these young ones shoulder worry, stress and responsibility far beyond their years while mom or dad is deployed. It’s not just the missed birthdays and soccer games or helping mom with extra chores that dad would normally do. It’s the fear that their world can crumble at a moment’s notice.
When their parent comes home, the stress and challenges don’t necessarily disappear. It’s a safe bet dad didn’t return quite the same guy he was when he left. He, too, may have emotional and even physical challenges to face. And he, too, may be afraid … and perhaps even afraid to admit it.
Many of these kids have known only war … only worry.
Dealing with these things months and years on end, demands resilience and toughness – qualities innate to military children and something most are particularly proud of to be sure.
I can personally attest to the inner strength military families develop through deployments, frequent moves and new cultural experiences. There is, of course, much to love about a military life and a lot to value about the richness and diversity it brings to our children’s perspectives.
But as I meet with military families across the country, it is clear to me that a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has challenged them, stretched them, and tested their resilience and strength in unprecedented ways.
That reality isn’t always readily seen or understood by the rest of America.
My husband Michael speaks frequently on this topic. He notes that today, less than 1 percent of our nation’s population serves in uniform.
We are concerned that people who used to have day-to-day connections with military men and women and their families may not know much about them anymore, so they are simply unaware of the stress and challenges these families face — a situation compounded by the fact that most military families bear their burdens quietly.
It is evident to me that people care and want to help. Often, they just don’t know what to do to support our military families in the ways they need it most, particularly as they transition back to their communities and to civilian life.
That’s why April’s Month of the Military Child and May’s Military Appreciation Month are important efforts that help us get moving in the right direction. They keep us talking. They offer avenues for appreciation and action. These things can only strengthen the connections between communities and our military. I also believe they can only strengthen our country.
There are many ways, big and small, to get involved. However people choose to support, the concept is straightforward. Our military men and women and their families do so much and sacrifice so much to take care of America. This is about doing everything we can to — together — take care of them … not just in April or May but year round.
Editor’s Note: You also can follow Mrs. Mullen on Twitter and on Facebook.
Top Enlisted Leaders Talk Family Issues
Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III and his wife, Jeanne, address an audience of family support professionals during a senior enlisted advisor town hall meeting at the 2011 Family Resilience Conference in Chicago, April 28, 2011. DOD photo by Elaine Sanchez
By Elaine Sanchez
Elaine.sanchez@dma.mil
April 29, 2011
The top enlisted leaders from each service led a packed town hall meeting yesterday to discuss their family-focused programs and to field questions from family support professionals attending the 2011 Family Resilience Conference in Chicago.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West, Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael P. Leavitt talked about the importance of leadership in family support efforts and the need for easy-to-access and effective family programs. Their wives also attended the meeting, with the exception of West’s wife, who is working for the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan.
Much of the discussion centered on building resilience in families.
“At the end of the day, we as a nation don’t do well promoting resiliency … that ability to bounce back,” Chandler said. “If we can instill [resilience] in our soldiers and in families … we believe we’re going to have a stronger force, and we need a stronger force to get through these challenges.”
For more on this town hall meeting, read my American Forces Press Service article “Top Enlisted Leaders Focus on Families.”
After the town hall, I had the opportunity to interview West about Navy family programs and the importance of seeking help when needed. Watch the full interview here.
For more on this conference, visit the Family Matters Blog or check out Family Matters on Facebook or Twitter.