Photo By Seaman Emily Johnston | NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON (March 15, 2018) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment)...... read more read more
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The military is more than just a job. It is a lifestyle that can be challenging and strenuous, not only for its active members, but their loved ones as well. It is a commitment to service, allegiance to one’s country, and devotion to each individual’s self and family. When a mother serves, her children serve with her. When a Sailor serves, their spouse feels the impact of everything they do.
Just as deployments are long and difficult for active military members, they are equally taxing on families. Children don’t understand why their parents are gone and spouses are forced to cope with distance, especially if they don’t have other family nearby. One of the best ways to deal with the stress off separation from a loved one is to come together with others in similar situations.
Many commands have a Family Readiness Group (FRG), which is a group of Sailors’ spouses and loved ones who meet regularly to provide support to each other, as each of them knows the unique adversities of military lifestyle.
The FRG for the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is one of the most active in the fleet, according to Nimitz FRG Vice President Kristina Wells, from San Diego. They plan monthly meetings, children’s playdates and a multitude of family-friendly events to provide a safe haven for each other.
“We do our best to connect and welcome everyone,” said Wells. “We all go through the same thing, and we are here to let everyone know that they always have emotional support. Even when the ship is in port, it’s important to have the friendships through all of the stressors and life challenges.”
The FRG has rules and guidelines they follow pertaining to funds, board member policies and operational security. The board members include a president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and an event coordinator. Each position is held voluntarily, but must have family connection to a Nimitz Sailor. Most often they are a spouse.
Some gatherings are as simple as coffee socials at the local mall, where spouses can bring their children, meet other Nimitz spouses and form friendships with people who share their same battles. They hold non-profit fundraisers to cover funded events, such as adult-only outings and cruises, and family-friendly picnics and fun days. These events provide long-lasting friendships and a way to network at a low cost, and an easy way to locate other resources in the area, like the Nimitz Ombudsmen, Fleet and Family Services, school liaisons and local trainings.
“The connections are so important,” said Nimitz Ombudsman Taren Wilhelm, from Pensacola, Florida. “You become close to people who are walking the same path as you, who you will always be able to look to for ideas and advice.”
The FRG has direct communication with the ship while it is underway, making it easy to update and inform families of the status of the ship in a safe, reliable way. Information can be easily lost or skewed somewhere down the line, so they try to bridge that gap.
“A lot of people rely on their spouses for information, but communication can be really hard when the ship is gone,” said Nimitz FRG President Andrea Saunders, from Kennewick, Washington. “I think the people who attend our events have a better understanding of the resources available to them, and they become more appreciative and knowledgeable of what the ship is doing and how we can help.”
Connecting with people who understand the military way of life can be vital. Even though each individual family’s situation is different, the military atmosphere is unique to any other job.
“I think there’s a reason we call it a military family,” said Sandy Lenox, wife of the commanding officer of Nimitz. “These bonds follow you throughout your entire military adventure.”
At home or at sea, Sailors can rest assured that their families are taken care of, and have a strong support system through the FRG. Children can build friendships with children their age who understand what it’s like to miss a parent, and spouses can network to form relationships that encourage and nurture a life of service.
Nimitz is currently conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2018 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 270466 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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