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Conference on health of military families
Winn conference 004
Winn Army Community Hospital Chief of Behavioral Health Maj. Chris Warner and child psychologist Dr. Teresa Arata-Maiers discuss challenges faced by military families. - photo by Photo by Denise Etheridge
Winn Army Community Hospital’s Chief of Behavioral Health, Maj. Chris Warner, patiently explained the meaning of PCS, TDY, ACS and other Army acronyms to a sea of civilian social workers gathered Friday at the Coastal Georgia Center in Savannah.
Warner and other mental-health professionals from Winn joined the Clinical Social Work Association of Savannah for the 24th annual Julius Hornstein Professional Conference last week. The conference, titled “Challenges on the Home Front,” equipped providers with practical information and treatment options to help them work more effectively with service members and their families.
CSWA-S members learned about the unique challenges faced by soldiers and their dependents. Conference participants explored such topics as soldier resiliency, reintegrating soldiers after deployment, suicide, post traumatic stress disorder, stress of deployments on military children and helping new spouses transition to military life.
“It’s such a pertinent issue,” said CSWA-S President Dr. Cathy McRae. “Our members requested this.” McRae said the association’s 200 members wanted training specific to the needs of military members and their dependents. Most mental-health providers who attended the conference were “masters level or above,” the association president said.
“There is a demand on their part and a desire on our part” to work together, Warner said. The major said the goal is to provide soldiers and their families the best mental-health services possible, whether it is received on or off post. Winn is striving to interact with area providers and draw more of them into the TRICARE network, he said.
“We have 137 providers in the TRICARE network now,” Warner said. “But we always want more.” Conference keynote speaker Dr. Teresa Arata-Maiers, a clinical pediatric psychologist and coordinator of Child and Family Programs for the Warrior Resiliency Program at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, discussed the advantages of military family life and its particular stressors.
Military families enjoy such benefits as housing and free medical care, and often have the opportunity to travel, Arata-Maiers said.
She pointed out military families bond with each other, forming “supportive extended families.” Soldiers and their dependents also tend to be patriotic, Arata-Maiers said.
“They’re working on a mission they believe in,” she said.
Arata-Maiers listed stressors unique to military life including frequent relocation, absent parents, soldiers’ heavy workloads and dangerous occupations, isolation and community ambivalence.
The child psychiatrist said prolonged deployments and more frequent deployments increase the risk for child abuse and neglect, spousal abuse and increase mental-health diagnoses in military spouses.
Arata-Maiers said there has recently been an a shift in American society’s attitude toward the military, and the military has changed its perception of the military family.
“I think the fact we’re at war heightens the understanding that families are impacted,” Arata-Maiers said. “Families serve, too. That’s important to realize.” The child psychiatrist said the Army now recognizes military spouses and dependents that are resilient in turn make soldiers more resilient, so they can better serve the Army’s mission.
“Supporting families is the key to soldier retention and soldier readiness,” Arata-Maiers said.
She pointed out the Army has recently indicated its newfound respect for military families by capitalizing “Family” in its written communications and, more importantly, by creating the Army Family Covenant.
Arata-Maiers spoke about how the military family has changed. Families are more non-traditional today, with many single-parent soldiers now serving, she said.
Warner, responding to a question following Arata-Maiers’ speech, said soldier parents are required to form family-care plans when they deploy. Single-parent soldiers especially are encouraged to make their plans early, and are offered resources to help them make those plans, he said.
A panel of Winn representatives fielded questions from association members after Arata-Maiers’ presentation.
In addition to Arata-Maiers, panelists included Winn Army Community Hospital clinical social worker Sharon Bullard, Susan Domine with the Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Family Advocacy Program and Dr. Alan Baroody, executive director of the Mary Lou Fraser Foundation for Families in Hinesville.
Panelists, and Warner, agreed more outreach and networking is needed between the military and health-care providers off post.
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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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