The III Marine Expeditionary Force family readiness officer, III MEF chaplain and a 3rd Marine Division representative, held the first Spouse Transition Too class Oct. 21 at the Camp Kinser Chapel.
The class was designed to help spouses of Marines and sailors understand their service members’ experiences during deployments and how to help make the transition easier.
“Many Marines and sailors who return from a deployment experience some sort of operational stress whether it’s (traumatic brain injury) or (post-traumatic stress disorder),” said Capt. David G. Kloak, chaplain for III MEF. “This class will help inform the spouses of the different signs and symptoms and also help them understand what their wife or husband is going through.”
The class examines what service members go through before, during and after a deployment and the stress they experience.
“We want to reach out to the spouses and let them know how an active-duty member has to think when they are deployed,” said Denise Loftesnes, the III MEF FRO. “The spouses are usually the first to notice if something is wrong with their significant other, and we want them to know how to identify what it is and who they can call to ensure they get the right treatment.”
The class also covers the four R’s of psychological first aid and how to enhance communication.
“The four R’s of psych first-aid are recognize, remove, replenish and refer,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Gamble, lead petty officer for Division Mental Health, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. “These help spouses know what to do when they see the signs of (operational stress) and help them communicate with (their recently-deployed spouse).”
The instructor presented real-world examples to give a better understanding of the issues returning service members face and how to find solutions.
“When the service members are deployed, they are in what we call the ‘24/7 camouflage business suit’ and are called by their rank all the time,” said Gamble, explaining the class. “When they come home, we want to let them know it’s OK to go back to ‘Jack’ or ‘John’ and back to a (noncombat) lifestyle.”
The information spouses receive from the class enables them to help their active-duty spouse experience an easier transition from a deployment and know how to handle the stress, said Loftesnes.
At the end of the class, spouses have the opportunity to talk with the instructor and ask questions.
The FRO is the liason between the military and civilian world, and spouses should contact their unit FRO for more information, said Gamble.