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 UNDISCLOSED
LOCATION - No man is an island; entire of himself, every man is a
piece of the continent... This famous line from “Meditation XVII,” was
written in the 17th century by the English poet, John Donne. It
means human beings do not thrive when isolated from others. Although
it was written many centuries ago, this fact remains true today and
is one of the many reasons why Family Readiness Groups are so
important to the military family.
Camp As Sayliyah and the
379th Air Expeditionary Wing's Joint Services Family Readiness Group
work hard to ensure the family members located in Southwest Asia do
not feel isolated. The JSFRG is not only about practical support,
but about emotional support as well.
To alleviate the holiday stress
and strengthen the bonds between the Families in the area, they
hosted a holiday potluck and ensured everyone had the opportunity to
participate in the local seasonal events, to include a visit from
Santa.
“Fostering a sense of belonging to the community
provides a vehicle for families to develop friendships,” said
Nathanial Hudson, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing community readiness
consultant. “The FRG events bring synergy between military families
and create a social network; not only to make friends, but to build
a community family; to get first hand information from the people
who understand the frustrations and emotional stresses of moving to
the area.”
Through successful FRG efforts, many spouses
develop a more positive attitude toward themselves, a better
understanding of why deployments are necessary and the military
mission to maintain readiness.
“We want to bring the
families out of the villas and into the communities,” said Capt.
Megan Kahn, command sponsorship program manager, 379th AEW. “We want
them to experience the culture and make the most of living in a
foreign country. We are here to take care of them, and by taking
care of them, we are taking care of our soldiers.”
Kahn went
on to explain, “The soldier develops a confidence when they know
their Family member will receive reliable and friendly support while
they are away. This assurance affect the Soldier's performance and
enhances their training and mental readiness, which enables them to
focus on their job at hand.”
There is something special
about traveling around the world with your family. And there is even
something more special about the people you meet and the friends you
make while on your travels. But the reality is that it is stressful
starting over in a new community; sometimes in a new country. Family
members can feel isolated and lost when it's time for the Soldier to
start work and leave them behind.
Make sure to check out the local Family Readiness Group in your
area. Remember, “No man is an island; entire of himself, every
man is a piece of the continent”.
Be that piece of the continent and get involved.
By Polli Ogilvie
Area Support Group Qatar Public Affairs
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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