Photo By Spc. Nathan Goodall | Capt. Bradford S. Dooley, a Frankfort, Ky., native, now the rear detachment commander...... read more read more
BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- Every deployment is going to be a little different. How are soldiers and their families going to know what to expect during the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s upcoming deployment? Where can they go to learn and get information on how to ask the questions that can come up during a deployment? The bayonet brigade had something in mind to make sure 170th IBCT families could get answers.
Leaders from the brigade’s family readiness group and rear detachment command held a question and answer discussion at the Rheinlander club here Jan. 27, addressing concerns Bayonet soldiers and family members had regarding 170th IBCT’s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
The family readiness group deployment question and answer meeting promoted discussion about deployment, encouraged questions and opened up the floor to anyone that wanted to contribute.
The spouses and military leaders were separated into two panels. The panel of spouses provided information based on their personal experiences during prior deployments.
“I liked the fact that they were a variety of women, and it wasn’t just all senior spouses, it wasn’t just all people that had a specific title. It was real spouses who had gone through this,” said a spouse in attendance.
“The panel was chosen through the commanders,” said an FRG panel member, whose spouse is with B Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th IBCT, the first company from the brigade to deploy to Afghanistan. “They talk with all the senior spouses and family readiness support assistants about who has the most knowledge, information and who is very positive. They choose from there. It was an honor [to be on the panel].”
The rear detachment leadership panel answered questions from the military’s perspective.
“Rear detachment used to be specifically about manning the duty phone and performing regular soldier duties, but now one of their main duties is to help families and guide them. So having this meeting is one of the ways that they’re showing that,” said Rachel A. Dooley, the 170th IBCT brigade family readiness support assistant.
“I liked the rear detachment panel because I think it’s easier when you have a rear detachment question and they are right there to answer it,” said a spouse in attendance.
Soldiers and their families have access to a variety of resources like the brigade website, brigade Facebook, and services available to contact by phone, appointment or walk-in where they can ask questions and get answers.
A unique benefit about the question and answer discussion was that Bayonet soldiers and family members could get answers on the spot and from the source. For FRG leaders, the meeting gave them new ideas to help the families they support within their groups.
The FRG leader with C Company, 40th Engineers, 170th IBCT asked how to motivate seasoned spouses, who had already gone through deployments, to offer their experience and knowledge to some of the newer spouses that are about to go through their first deployment.
“I liked hearing and sharing about compassion fatigue,” said the C Company FRG leader. “Many of the veteran military spouses go through this so much that it’s hard to keep giving.”
The C Company FRG leader expressed her positive feelings about knowing others share her views of compassion fatigue, and the desire to learn how to encourage people to both cope with and be proactive about it.
The input and informed questions from the experienced spouses in the crowd kept the discussion flowing.
Although all spouses are encouraged to participate in the FRG, advocates for the group know that not all spouses will attend events like the question and answer discussion. But, they hope the information will spread by word of mouth afterward, said Dooley.
“It matters to [those that attended] because they have something to think about, something new and a new way to look at it, and they’ll talk to someone who wasn’t here,” said Dooley. “That’s what really matters, is to talk more and send it forward.”
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.01.2011 04:43 |
| Story ID: | 64573 |
| Location: | BAUMHOLDER, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 330 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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