By Mass Communication Specialist 1st
Class Larry Foos, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West
DENVER (NNS) -- Navy Region Southwest
Reserve Component Command sponsored a Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW) for 135
post-deployed Navy Sailors and their family members May 4-6.
Half of the participants were Navy
Reservists who reside in Colorado and recently completed a deployment overseas
as individual augmentees (IA). The RWW brought them together in a relaxing
atmosphere to help accelerate their reintegration into normal life by
listening, sharing and honoring one another.
"I'm starting to feel welcomed back
home," said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Kyle Curran, of Colorado Springs,
Colo. "I learned how people deal with the same emotions and stresses. I
can sort of relate to them and how I can adapt and overcome like they
have."
Curran served in Al Fujairah, United
Arab Emirates nearly all of 2011 and is now a drilling reservist at Navy
Operational Support Center (NOSC) Ft. Carson, one of two NOSCs in Colorado.
Funded by the Department of Defense's
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, RWW is widely regarded as one of the most
effective and popular reintegration programs for demobilized servicemembers. It
has its roots in the Southwest Region, with the first RWW introduced in Phoenix
in September of 2006. Besides Colorado, the Denver RWW included Reservists and
Active Duty members from eight other states, and as far away as Guam and Japan.
Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Charles
Skinner is Full Time Support staff for NOSC Lemoore, Calif., and returned from
IA duty in Guantanamo Bay in February. He and his wife, Ashley, were impressed
with the Denver RWW.
"I love it. Just the location and
the atmosphere, to me it's like an 'aah, I can breathe moment.' All this animosity
or emotions you might have, this is the place you can get it out. It is by far
the best Navy program I've ever seen. I have been in the Navy six years and
I've seen a lot of our Reservists mobilized out of our NOSC, and I will highly
recommend them to come to this," Skinner said.
Two elements that make the two-day
workshop so effective are the science that goes into the order of events, and
how participants are seated within the ballroom. Each returning warrior and
spouse, family member or significant other, who is affectionately called the
"homefront warrior," sit at a round table with up to three other
couples and one facilitator per table. After opening remarks and introductions,
the workshop kicks off with a keynote speaker explaining the "code of the
warrior." It is a message intended to establish meaning and acceptance to
arduous deployments and their effects. Retired Navy Capt. Robert Schoultz, who
served as a Naval special warfare officer for 30 years, explained the
"code of the warrior" to the Denver audience.
"The warrior's journey is risky and
you've all been there. Today you'll be focusing on the reintegration phase. It
is an important part of the journey. For some of you it may not be very hard.
But for others it's a struggle. And you're not alone," Schoultz said.
As the day progressed, facilitators used
team-building exercises to build unity among couples at their tables. This
enables them to feel comfortable to share and learn from each other's
experiences and similarities. Later in the day, multiple breakout sessions were
available that provided the attendees with specific areas of support or
communication tools by subject matter experts. Topics included "Are You
Angry," "Couples Reconnecting," "Getting Specific with
Families Issues," "Home and Car Buying Tips," and "Female
and Single Warriors."
Retired Navy Capt. Jane Bingham, who is
a "charter" member of the first RWW, said one of the most rewarding
aspects of the workshop for her is the large-group session called
"Improving the Process" because that feedback goes up the chain.
"Leadership values the feedback
(from participants) and makes adjustments to the Navy's deployment process as a
result," Bingham said.
During 'Improving the Process,' one
representative from each table shared the one thing they would like to see
changed during the deployment period.
One of the highlights of RWW is the
Saturday evening Banquet of Honor. It is a formal dinner affair with special
ceremonies, a guest speaker and a presentation for each warrior. Capt. Marcus
J. Cromartie, commander, NRSW RCC, read the inscriptions of two different
certificates of appreciation, one for the returning warrior and one for the
homefront warrior. The table facilitators made the actual presentations.
Rear Adm. Patrick E. McGrath, deputy
commander, Third Fleet, spoke to Denver's RWW banquet attendees with a message
that summed up the weekend event.
"At this Returning Warrior Weekend,
for the first time in the history of the U.S. military, we're recognizing the
sacrifices of our Sailors and their families. We're showing our appreciation
for what they went through now, not 50 years later. We're saying the two words
that for some reason make all of those who are called to duty very
uncomfortable. The two words: thank you," McGrath said.
If you are interested in enrolling in an
RWW, contact your regional coordinator and reserve a seat at one of the next
RWWs in their region at www.ia.navy.mil. For more information, visit
www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
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