Marriage is vital in providing stability and emotional support, especially in the face of the unpredictable and lengthy schedules inherent to military life. For military families, a strong marriage serves as a foundation that helps both partners navigate the unique challenges of deployments, frequent relocations, and long periods of separation. A resilient marital bond fosters trust, understanding, and communication, which are essential when dealing with the uncertainties and pressures of military service. In this way, marriage becomes not just a partnership but a powerful anchor, helping couples endure the demands of military life together.
Service Branch Specific
Each service branch has a program specifically to assist in developing strong marriage relationships. While each branch has different operating rules, overall if the family is stationed at the base, they can utilize the resource. Check with the chaplain or those running the program for eligibility as some programs may only be open to that service branch.
Air Force
The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center announced the Strong Bonds program offered by the chaplains in the Air Force. The program offers a wide variety of programming not just specific to marriage, but to building strong relationships. Check with the base chapel and unit Chaplain for specific events offered.
Army
The Army chaplain offer programs through the Building Strong and Ready Teams program, facilitated by chaplains to strengthen relationships among soldiers and their families. From Spouses nights, Marriage date nights and couple events, the program offers a variety of events to support families. Search events by location and type here.
Navy
The Navy offers programs like date nights (and some with childcare!) and weekend retreats geared at providing tools to navigating the military marriage. The Chaplain Corps offer these programs by both region and by base. The Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operations (CREDO) retreats are weekend retreats, usually without childcare, but include hotel, meals and enrichment opportunities to build the lines of communication and understanding.
Check out the offerings here.
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps’ offering for building skills navigating relationships in amidst military life is the Preventions and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP). The program is part of the Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) programs under Marine and Family Support. Check the MCFTB social media or base page for programs and offerings.
Weekend to Remember
FamilyLife offers marriage retreats for all called a Weekend to Remember. These weekend retreats provide a peaceful, distraction-free environment where couples can focus solely on each other, away from the stresses of daily life. With a blend of insightful talks from marriage experts, practical tools, and guided conversations, participants explore key aspects of a healthy relationship, such as communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy. The retreats cater to couples at all stages, from newlyweds to those who have been married for decades, offering fresh perspectives and time-tested principles to enhance their connection.
There are specific military branch out sessions at certain retreats, and these retreats offer discounted admission to the conference to active duty military, reserve and guard members here, not including hotel fare or meals.
The marriage conferences and tools available to military families are invaluable resources designed to help couples build stronger, more resilient relationships amidst the unique challenges of military life. By taking advantage of these programs, whether through retreats, workshops, or counseling sessions, couples can find meaningful ways to reconnect, improve communication, and strengthen their bonds. Don’t hesitate to utilize the resources available to you; they are there to help you grow together and build a lasting, loving partnership.
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