FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Army Community Service at Fort Eustis will host two seminars dedicated to educating new and veteran military spouses on what to expect after their Service member enters the military or moves into a leadership position.
New and experienced spouses can benefit from both classes, as the military is constantly evolving and the role of spouses is ever-changing, said Donna Cloy, ACS Army Family Team Building program manager.
"Spouses are the backbone of support for our Service members," said Cloy. "Learning about spousal programs, opportunities and benefits can take away the intimidation of a new culture and get them excited about their military experience."
Cloy will lead the "Married to the Military" class Dec. 3 which will educate new spouses on what their branch of service can do for them, and will explain military terminology, unit structure and terms they may encounter.
The one-day class also gives spouses a cursory glance at the multitude of resources available to them. Topics include financial help, Family Readiness Groups, spouses clubs, Tricare, legal assistance and programs designed to provide spouses with up-to-date information on child care, sexual-abuse response and morale.
"There is a lot of information given to our spouses in the class, and no one expects them to absorb it all immediately," said Cloy. "The class is designed to show them who to talk to for more information on whatever they need."
After joining the military, Service members may eventually take on leadership responsibilities, which may place their spouses in new support roles within the unit. The "Command Team Spouses Course" on Dec. 10 and 11 teaches command-level spouses about military protocol during ceremonies and their roles, said Sharon Rector, ACS community readiness consultant.
"Command spouses are usually held to a higher standard, and their roles are more public," said Rector. "It is important they understand what their actions mean for their Service member and the unit, and how they can use their position to further support a unit's mission and people."
The two-day course covers communication in all forms, such as social media, between spouses and the unit. Participants also learn conflict management techniques and protocol, which Rector believes gives them confidence to lead.
"A command spouse's support role evolves from taking care of their Service member to taking care of the unit," said Rector. "What spouses learn at CTSC benefits the entire unit since they can jump into those leadership positions alongside their Service members and give support to newer spouses."
To help develop mentoring skills, CTSC ends with a question-and-answer session where participants ask veteran spouses about the different challenges associated with their positions.
"Everyone loves [those sessions] because they can find more specific answers," said Rector. "It gives the whole assembly a chance to network with contemporaries and work together toward [becoming] stronger leaders."
Whether unpacking after the first move or accepting flowers at a change of command, the ACS classes and programs offer something new for every spouse.
"Taking care of family members is our main priority," said Cloy. "If we can provide spouses with what they need to succeed, we know together we have supported and helped accomplish the military mission."
For more information on upcoming classes or to register, contact Rector or Cloy at 878-3638.