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Workshop teaches military families how to cope
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Posted on Feb 02 2009
As their loved ones are deployed abroad, family members of local Echo Company soldiers spent Saturday undergoing a sustainment workshop and training.
About 70 relatives of those serving in the 100th BN 442nd and 368th MP Det. 1 took part in the workshop, held at Pacific Islands Club.
“Each deployment is different. There’s always room to learn,” said FRG leader Rita L. Chargualaf, FRG leader.
Agnes Ada, whose husband is serving, said the topics discussed, like stress management, were helpful.
“I feel like I can always use the resources,” Ada, who has attended several similar workshops, said.
This was the first workshop where dependents also took part. Children were divided into groups by age and participated in different leadership building activities.
Some of the youngest kids—age 5 to 8 years old—watched a Sesame Street DVD that featured Elmo’s father being deployed. They later made Valentine’s Day cards for their family members.
“Kids serve, too. They’re going through a hard time,” said Kasee Fuller, regional coordinator for the Army Reserve Child, Youth and School Services. The day was focused on the kids getting to know each other, she said. A reunion workshop will take place in May.
An older group of kids learned how to use listening skills by trying to go from point A to point B with their eyes closed, only listening to directions to guide them.
The teenagers, meanwhile, learned about making good life choices, such as avoiding drugs.
Guam National Guard Sgt. Iglesias Thomas said it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and its not the end of the world if someone is arrested for drugs.
