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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES December 24, 2008 13 Programs aim to strengthen military marriages, curb divorces divorce rates is difficult, officials said, but most sources agree that about 50 American Forces Press Service percent of first marriages end in divorce in the United States. The highest inciASHINGTON — Servicedence of civilian divorces is within the members and their spouses 20- to 29-year-old population, which also are flocking to a broad array makes up the largest percentage of the of programs to help them strengthen military. their family relationships as the serRecognizing the hardships military vices step up efforts to curb divorce life often imposes — and the challenges rates. it can place on family relationships Military divorce rates rose by .1 percent — to 3.4 percent — during fiscal — the military services are working to buck societal trends through a full range 2008, with 492 more divorces than the of outreach programs. The programs are previous year, said Army Lt. Col Les* offered through the services' family supMelnyk, a Pentagon spokesman. port, chaplain and mental health counMilitary-wide, 25,750 marriages seling networks and range from support ended in divorce last year. groups for spouses of deployed troops to The Marine Corps, with 3,077 diweekend retreats for military couples. vorces last year, experienced the biggest The Marine Corps provides various increase, from 3.3 percent in fiscal 2007 programs and counseling opportunities to 3.7 percent. The Army rate also increased — to 3.5 to assist couples in enriching their marpercent — with 10,200 divorces last year. riages and dealing with stresses inherent in the military lifestyle, said Greg GorThe Army reported a 3.3 percent rate in don from the Marine Corps' Personal fiscal 2007, with 9,134 divorces. and Family Readiness Division, Meanwhile, divorce rates dropped These include the Prevention and Re.2 percent last year in the Navy and lationship Enhancement Program, a tworemained stable in the Air Force. The day workshop that teaches couples how Navy reported a 3 percent rate in fiscal to manage conflict, solve problems, com2008, with 5,441 divorces representing municate effectively, and preserve and a 618 decrease from the previous year's enhance their commitment and friendnumber. ship. Participants begin the program by The Air Force reported a 3.5 percent divorce rate in both fiscal 2007 and taking a marriage survey to help them 2008, but the actual number of divorces evaluate their relationship and identify problems before they become serious. dropped by 618 — to 7,032. The four top problems generally involve Comparing these statistics to civilian BY DONNA MILES W communication, children and parenting, money and sexual intimacy, Gordon said. In addition, a retreat program called the Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation is designed to help Marines and their family members develop personal and spiritual resources. The Army also has numerous programs aimed at helping couples. The goal is to build resiliency in Soldiers — 58 percent of them married — and the families who stand by them, said Lt. Col. George Wright, an Army spokesman. The programs focus on communication, intimacy and conflict management, which research shows increases marriage satisfaction and reduces marital challenges. "Military families have to adjust to more transitions than the typical family," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carleton Birch, from the Army's Chief of Chaplains Office. "These programs strengthen the bonds that build resiliency in Army families." The centerpiece of the Army program is "Strong Bonds," a program initiated by commanders and led by chaplains that helps Soldiers and their families build strong relationships. Strong Bonds has four parts: a general couples program, programs tailored for couples preparing for or returning from deployments, and programs for families and single Soldiers. Much of the training is provided in a retreat-style format so Soldiers and their families can get away from their daily routines "to focus on their important relationships," Wright said. Participation in the program has doubled every year since the program started five years ago, Birch said. So far, more than 60,000 couples have participated in the training. The National Institutes of Health, which recently completed the first year of a five-year study evaluating the program's effectiveness in building family resiliency, found "encouraging early results," Birch said. Meanwhile, an attendee gave a fullfledged endorsement of the program's value after attending a recent Strong Bonds session at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "This is the first time since getting back from Iraq in April where I have felt that I am capable as well as confident enough to lead my family in a loving and caring environment," he said. "The tools that I have learned will serve us a lifetime. This should be mandatory training for all married couples." While praising the benefits these programs offer families, officials said they recognize that .strong marital and family relationships make better Soldiers. It also has an important impact on a soldier's decision to re-enlist, Birch said. Quoting other Army leaders, he said, "The Army recruits Soldiers, but it retains families." NEWS BRIEFS Dec. 26 deadline for Eagle Scout project Sean Rosenthal of Troop 55 at Hill Air Force Base is working on his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project to collect items for hygiene kits for homeless men and women. The items to be collected are new unopened toothbrushes, tooth paste, disposable razors, shampoo and body washes; small travel kits are preferred but any size is accepted. There will be collection boxes placed at the Base Exchange and Base Commissary through Dec. 26 to collect the items. The kits will be given to the Ogden Salvation Army site to be distributed to their local homeless shelters. The discount is meant to support and thank the families of those serving America. White House Christmas ornaments for sale The Officers1 Spouses' Club is currently selling the 2008 White House Christmas ornaments for $20 each. They make wonderful collector's items as well as beautiful additions to any tree. To purchase, please contact Kristin Gammons at jkgamm@yahoo. com or call at (205) 492-3595. Military spouses may win cut, color, style Discovery Children's Museum military 2 for 1 Meet the Airman and Family Readiness Center's new Military Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is offering a discount to all military ID card holders, effective through Jan. 31. With the discount up to four patrons with military ID will be admitted as two for the price of one. In explaining the decision, a news release states, "Nearly 2,000 servicemen and women from Hill Air Force Base and another 550 members of the Utah National Guard have been deployed in 2008, all of whom have family that have been effected by their service. "Time spent at Discovery Gateway as a family is centered on sharing, playing and learning together. Our goal is to provide a quality family experience for our returning soldiers and their loved ones to connect with one another and ease back into normalcy," said Mario Farrington, the museum director, in the release. ELIM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 575 -23rd Street, Ogden Phone 394-5543 Christian Education® 9:00 a.m. Worship Services® 10:00 a.m. www.atlmlulheran.orB UGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) |« Sunday Worship sialled Sundsy Nonflry 10:30 a.m. visitorsEijMciedi /ALLEY 1074 N, Fa I rite Id, Laylon (Across from Post Olflco) Call Pastor Tom Qlende 01444-1591 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 8:30 Modern Worship 10:00 Traditional Worship Sunday School for All Agts Youth Group and Chiidcare Every Sunday 1339 West 400 North Marriott-Slaterville 393-5662 www.fumcogdcnut.org Join us at our new location. Serving the Ogden Area Since 1870 www.llgHlotitiaualloy.org Be Included In The Church Directory . As little as „/• $10.52 an issue . •Call Mitzi@ ; 625-4371 For More Information t FIRST 880 28th Street PRESBYTERIAN 393-8477 Join us for Worship 9:00 a.m. Traditional :00 a.m. Praise & Worship Chiidcare, Sunday School, and Youth Group every Sunday. 163 West 4800 South Washington Terrace 479-7430 in*- Internal civilian announcements'arepo'steti orr the Air Force Personnel Center Web site. Announcements for bargaining unit positions are posted on Fridays. All other announcements may be posted any day of the week. The Civilian Announcement u Notification System is a subscription e-mail service available to « assist employees in their job search. s Self-nominations for posted announcements can be made on-line at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb. or via the interactive voice response system at 1-800-997-2378 and TDD 1-800-382-0893. • For info on NSPS visit http://www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps. THEPENTECOSTALS OF SALT LAKE Worship: Sunday -11:00 a.m. Wednesday - 7:30 p.m. 1755 West North Temple (801)725-7141 lngridslink@yahoo.com 3350 Harrison Blvd., Ogden Worship/Childcare 10:30 a.m. Dec. 24,5 pm - Christmas Eve Worship Rev. Robert Nuhn, pastor - 392-5012 www. ogden ucc .org UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST Congregational Christian Assembly Pentecostal Church of God The Episcopal Church Welcomes You Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Thurs Service: 1:30 p.m. 825-0177 Church Office or 621-5008 wonhip" Bible Study: Wed. 6:30 pm The Bible. When self-help doesn't help. Sunday worship times arq: 8:13 am & 11:00 am Pastor Chuck Sabin Our Savior's Lutheran Church 5560 S. 2300 W. Roy,UT. 801.825.6552 oslcroy@aol.com FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Services: 9:00,10:20, and 11:45 am, and 7:00 pm Be M m ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1579 So. State St., Clearfield Sunday School 10:00 am Services 11:00 am & 6:30 pm 1770 E 6200 S, Ogden (801)479-7030 Sunday School: 9:30 & 11:00 Pastor: Rick Minnich www.fpc-ogden.org The Airman's Attic will be closed for the holiday season through Jan. 5 and reopen Jan. 6 for normal business hours. Reverend Diane Bell Audio Sermons on website www.community-umc.net Worship 9:30 a.m. Contemporary 11:00 a.m. Traditional Free Nursery Care Airman's Attic holiday season closure • Hill AFB Job Openings Site Pastor John Salcido 2280 Jackson St., Ogdert • 801-383-7617 Community United Methodist Church and Family Life consultant and get a chance to win a morning of pampering. The MFLC will be handing out tickets to be drawn for one of 12 seats at Salon Tantrum's Salute to the Military Spouse on the morning of Jan. 8,5:30 a.m.-8 a.m. Each pamper package includes a cut, color, style and breakfast, and Channel 2 News will be covering the event. The drawing will be held Jan. 6 and winners will be contacted by phone that day, Call the AFRC at 777-4681 for more information. Located near the intersection of Skyline Drive aid Hwy 89 in So. Ogden wmtwashingtonheights.org Sunday School 9:45 AM Morning Services 11:00 A.M. Evening 6:00 P.M. Wed. 7:00 P.M. • Teen Group > Awana • Nursery Pastor Chuch Beickel Phone # 771-4652 2430 N. Falrfietd hayton, UT 84041 |