Returning Warrior Workshop Focuses on Psychological Health

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles White, Commander, Navy Reserve Force Public Affairs

TAMPA, Fla. (NNS) -- Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters and approximately 150 combat-tour veterans and family members participated in a Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW) in Tampa, Fla., March 25 - 27.

Funded by the Department of Defense's Yellow Ribbon program, the RWW focuses on psychological health and is designed to aid in service members' post-deployment, reintegration into family and community life. The workshops are intended for Navy Reservists, but both active duty and reserve members of all services are invited.

A reservist and father of a deploying soldier, McKeague lauded the Navy, its Reserve component and its unwavering commitment to individual and family welfare.

"What I lack in direct connection to the United States Navy, I hope to make up for in my esteem for this great sea service and more importantly, for your heroic service," said Maj. Gen Kelly McKeague, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters.

McKeague applauded Navy Reserve leadership by saying their vision and their conviction for each Navy Reservist and their family members is unequivocal.

RWWs have three key priorities, which are to inform, empower and to thank. They inform attendees by showing them the substantial network of resources available to them as Reserve families. They teach both the warriors and their guests techniques in recognizing stress related illnesses as they manifest. The workshops also teach the steps to gain support in dealing with stress and reintegration issues.

The weekend event empowers attendees by removing the stigma associated with asking for help. It provides the attendees examples of the greater personal and professional successes attainable when there is an established support structure. This is especially true when that support structure is aided, in part, by mental health professionals. A psychological health outreach team is on hand at each RWW to evaluate and refer interested attendees for additional assistance.

"If you had a broken leg you wouldn't hesitate to get help, but if you have a broken heart or a broken mind, for some reason we hesitate to get help," said motivational speaker, Capt. Wyman Winbush.

"You are who you are because of what you've come through, not because of what you avoided," Winbush said. "Asking for help is not a way to avoid anything, but rather a healthy way to address and move past certain sticking points in life."

RWWs show thanks to the warriors and their spouses at an appreciation banquet and dance that is considered the apex of the weekend. They are treated to a four-star meal and many times, as was the case here, they enter the banquet hall to a standing ovation by appreciative event organizers, table facilitators, presenters and even hotel staff. After the meal the guest speaker, usually a flag officer, delivers his remarks, which, more than anything else is meant to be words of thanks.

"I recognize that in serving you have made inordinate sacrifices … and that goes for your family members who have sacrificed beyond measure. Each of you should be applauded and saluted for that," McKeague said. "Thank you."

An important part of the weekend is an hour at the opening of the workshop dedicated to sharing one's story. Attendees are grouped together in cruise ship fashion, by table, and they remain with their tablemates for the entire weekend to build rapport. For one hour they are encouraged to speak in depth about their deployment experience. In many cases, whether as a family member at home or as a warrior overseas, attendees are struck by the similarities between their experiences. They often discover their experiences are not unique to them. It is a designed result and a strengthening one, as attendees now know specific examples of people who are going through what they are, and those people are ones with whom they can communicate and directly relate.

Another benefit of sharing one's story is the improved understanding between family members.

"I never spoke [to my daughter] about my experiences over there," said Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist David Charnley, referring to his 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. "She was working a full-time job, going to school full time, and taking care of my finances. It was an incredible amount of pressure. I didn't want to add to it."

Charnley's daughter, Ashley, was surprised by, and empathetic towards, the immense amount of stress endured by her father during his mobilization.

"I learned so many new details that he just never shared before," she said.

Closing the weekend is an interactive presentation called Improving the Process. Attendees discuss issues with their tablemates and offer suggestions for the improvement of the deployment and mobilization processes. Each table selects a spokesperson who airs the group's number one unsatisfactory issue and their suggestion for its improvement.

Each spokesperson had additional responsibility of presenting in front of a large crowd. McKeague's presence meant they had an indirect line to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, to the Congress, and even the President of the United States. McKeague promised to represent them and their issues to the best of his ability.

There were 18 tables and 18 issues, two tables of which were filled with Marine Corps Reservists. McKeague heard issues ranging from professionalism at Navy mobilization processing sites, to pay delays and medical redundancy during the mobilization process. The most common issue was the lack of communication between commands and families of deployed service members.

Speaking on behalf of his table, Cmdr. Dennis Rieke, commanding officer, Navy Operational Support Center, Charleston, S.C., suggested establishing spousal support groups for spouses of deployed Sailors.

Ultimately, the attendees' response to the weekend was positive. Each attendee had an opportunity to complete a critique of the RWW process. Many couples reported a mutually improved understanding of their mobilization experience. Many of the Sailors, Marines and family members left feeling their well-being, and that of their family, is truly of national interest.