Program preps families for deployment

FORT DRUM — The 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team is making last-minute preparations before deploying to Afghanistan next month.

The brigade has prepared its battalions, which in turn have prepared companies and platoons, but one team is left.

"Our readiness is not complete until our family is fully ready to embrace and to accept the challenges," brigade Chaplain Maj. Chul W. Kim said.

The brigade has held more than 25 Strong Bond retreats, where couples learn communication and coping skills for the deployment at no cost to them during three days in various tourist locations including Burlington, Vt., and Saratoga Springs.

Strong Bonds is an Army program that started in 1999 and is handled by unit chaplains. The Army requested more than $100 million for the program in 2010.

Though couples counseling is a major focus of the program, the brigade has held six events for 60 soldiers each. Men and women are taught what a healthy relationship should look like, Maj. Kim said.

In fiscal year 2009, 160,000 soldiers and family members Armywide attended the program.

The sizes of local retreats vary in size and, right before a deployment, it's tougher to get couples to sign up, Maj. Kim said.

And while some couples would rather spend time alone instead of going to a retreat, Maj. Kim lets them know why he thinks the last few weeks before a deployment are a key time to attend.

"Separation from deployment is a golden opportunity for families to turn around and build stronger relationships," he said.

Soldiers and families become more aware of what they don't have during a deployment.

"When we go down there, the soldiers tend to think a lot. They tend to reflect a lot about families and relationships from a different setting and a different perspective," he said. "They begin to appreciate the families more."