Chaplain’s program saving wartorn marriages

Patricia Ryan
Army News Service

Married couples attending a chaplain-led marriage enrichment weekend in San Antonio pose for the camera. From left to right: Spc. Nathaniel and Karen Champlain, Spc. Matthew and Spc. Nicole Headden, Staff Sgt. Buffie and Mark Hall.

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WASHINGTON – Now there is a program that will teach new Soldiers and their families how to cope with the transition from deployment back to normal after they return home.

The Building Strong and Ready Families Program provides support, help and training by teaching coping skills that help a marriage to survive and become stronger even under the difficult circumstances that are unique to military families, said Col. Glen Bloomstrom, director of ministry initiatives for the chief of chaplains.

“The beauty of this program is that chaplains and chaplain assistants are available to assist soldiers and spouses after the training, providing continuity,” said Bloomstrom. “They are available for support, encouragement and counseling as needed, which is a major difference from other marriage enrichment programs.”

Old program updated for today’s Soldiers
The BSRF program, originally developed in the 25th Infantry Division, division artillery, has been modified due to the war on terrorism and expanded for use throughout the Army. It also acts as a reunion program providing training and skills to assist in the stress management needed to deal with the ups-and-downs of family life, specifically upon redeployment, said Bloomstrom. Many Soldiers and their families are taking advantage of the program, and becoming educated in strategies that will not only help their marriage become stronger he said, but provide them with tools and lifelines of support.

“Many spouses feel cut off when their loved one joins the military. Their Soldier is now part of a new culture, receiving training and involved with new people and situations that sometimes leave the spouse at home feeling alone and wondering, what about me?” said Bloomstrom. “The program is available where chaplains have requested the funding to support it, that is the key. The funding must be requested in advance, and the program is labor-intensive.”

There are various adaptations to the program including those that are spread out over four weeks, and those that are conducted over a weekend. Bloomstrom says he prefers the four-week program because the retention seems to be better, but the weekend option is sometimes all that can be provided due to time and scheduling constraints, especially for the Guard and Reserves.

Fort Hood gears-up for updated program
“Up until now the BSRF has been done at brigade level. Fort Hood is working hard to implement a program that is designed to streamline the process by working across groups,” said Chaplain Maj. Robert H. Williams. “This way each brigade doesn’t have to initiate it’s own program, but will still process the data. We plan to be up and running by February.”

There is a small window for the 4th ID at Fort Hood, as new Units of Action are standing up and preparing to deploy again, Williams said. Chaplains are trying to provide more venues for Soldiers and spouses to complete the program; they have asked for more good quality marriage and family training. Chaplains are doing everything they can to fit the program into that small window of time, along with competing demands and other priorities relative to gearing up for deployment said Williams.

The cost of a Soldier going through the BSRF training program is a bargain according to Bloomstrom. The whole course costs about the same as two hour-long sessions in marriage therapy, and offers the availability of continuous support after the training. The program also provides a lifeline to various support services the Army has such as medical care for pregnant spouses, childcare and family medical support, as well as counseling services through the chaplain’s office.

Chaplains embedded in every unit
“We would like to implement a marriage program for Soldiers and spouses to be taught before they deploy, as well as when they return,” said Bloomstrom.

Bloomstrom added that it is important to remember that a chaplain is embedded with every unit. Even if chaplains are not able to gain funding for the BSRF program on their post, they are always available to Soldiers and their families for support and counseling.

The bottom line is that Soldiers and their families should seek help before their problems end up in divorce or domestic violence, and the BSRF provides a way to do that, said Bloomstrom.

“The first step is as easy as talking to your chaplain. Chaplains are there to provide you the help and guidance you need to learn to deal with the stresses and challenges that are the product of the difficult times faced by Soldiers and their families,” said Bloomstrom. “Just reach out, the help and support is available.”