11/17/2009
By Cpl. Sydney Purschwitz, Defense Media Activity - Anacostia
ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- Marine Corps Reservists, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)Marines and their families gathered in Arlington, Va. Nov. 13-15 for a Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW).
The weekend workshop is designed for service members and their spouses to assist families in the reintegration and reunification process.
Most Reserve and IRR Marines deploy and return as individual augmentees. They are back home within hours of their return to the U.S. and many are away from a base and the services provided post-deployment to help transition into daily life. This is difficult for many and has caused relationship problems, anger problems and increased use of alcohol or other substances. The Marine Corp recognizes this is normal due to the exposure to war and has created these workshops to assist the Marine and their families with reconnecting.
"Particularly with our warriors that are Reservists, individually Reservists," said retired Cmdr. Darlene Bennett Greene, RWW founder and program development team commanding officer. "The difficulties are they've gone alone and they've come back alone and they transition alone. Without a unit around you, without people who understand you back in your civilian job and your family who may not understand anything that you've gone through; that is a challenging one. And they need to be able to talk to people that understand what they've been through; to understand that they are very similar in their common experiences."
Marines and families attended all hands presentations, breakout sessions and discussion groups. Topics such as Warrior Transition, Telling Your Story, Combat Operational Stress were facilitated by the RWW founder, chaplains and other personnel that are part of the workshop. Individual counseling was available at all times for the attendees.
"Every person regardless of their circumstance in life; regardless of the challenges that they face has an opportunity to grow even during difficult times," said Capt. Terry Pletkovich, development team chaplain, who taught classes on returning and transformational growth.
"And we like to use those opportunities of growth to be transforming within ourselves; and so that we see life perhaps a little bit differently. It gives us a little different perspective and helps us to get throw those challenging times."
Returning Warrior Workshops are key components of the Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program and were developed by the Navy and Marine Corps together. More workshops will be held in the future in different locations around the country making it possible for Marines, Sailors and their families to participate.
ShareThis