Briefing for COs Spouses

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4th Marine Logistics Group
Briefing for COs Spouses CAPT Robert L. Young,
CHC, USN Group Chaplain
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4th Marine Logistics Group Command Religious
Program

• Mission Providing Religious Ministry to Marines
  and Sailors AND their families within the 4th MLG
• Ministry through Counseling, Visitation, Worship,
  Ceremonies, Training, and Education
• Staff Officer/Advisor to Command
• on issues having moral, ethical,
• religious or morale implications

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4th MLG CRPMISSION STATEMENT

• To produce spiritually fit sea warriors for the
  4th Marine Logistics Group.
• Spiritually, Morally, Relationally Mature
• Marines, Sailors and Families
• who are supported
• in their Religious Freedoms.

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THE CHALLENGETHE AREA OF THE COMMAND RELIGIOUS
PROGRAMS RESPONSIBILITY

• 62 Units Dets CONUS, Afghanistan, Iraq,
  Ecuador, Korea, Djibouti
• 9,700 Total Personnel
• SMCR Officers and Enlisted
• II Staff

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4th MLG HQ Staff New Orleans, LA4th MLG
HQSVC Bn Marrietta, GA4th Landing Support Bn
Ft Lewis, WA4th Supply Bn Charlotte, NC6th
Motor Transport Bn Red Bank, NJ4th Dental Bn
Marietta, GA4th Medical Bn San Diego,
CA6th Engineers Portland, OR4th Maintenance
Bn Newport News, VA6th Communications Bn
Brooklyn, NY4th MLG Forward East 4th MLG
Forward West

• BATTALION HQs

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FORCE BN HQS LOCATIONS
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WHATS IMPORTANT TO OUR 4TH MLG MARINES

• PROFESSIONAL-GRADE
• PASTORAL CARE
• SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, EXAMPLE
• COUNSEL, ADVICE ON RELIGION
• MILITARY BEARING KNOWLEDGE
• MOBILIZATION READINESS
• TRAINED TRAINING

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GROUP CHAPLAINS GENERAL EXPECTATIONS OF 4th
MLG RMTS

• Dedication to their Units, Sailors, Marines,
  Families
• Genuine Professionalism
• Mobilization Readiness
• Forward-leaning Ministry Delivery
• Mutual Respect

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STATEGICEXPECTATIONS

• 4th MLG will continue to provide CHCs RPs to
  OIF Noble Eagle.
• The majority of unit members families will be
  in CONUS and require religious ministry. The
  effects of Hurricane Katrina will continue to
  create issues.
• Development of MLC for Korea will be a priority.
• Pre-Deployment, Return Reunion, Suicide
  Prevention, Care of the Wounded, and CACO will
  remain major priorities.

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STRATEGIC GOALS

• To provide exceptionally well-trained and
  professional-grade Chaplains and RPs for
  mobilization to the GWOT national emergencies.
• To provide superior on-going religious ministry
  for those unit members families in CONUS.
• The Group Chaplain to be prepared to rapidly
  establish a CRP for the MLC in the event of war
  on the Korean peninsula.
• To provide RMTs able to give professional grade
  Pre-Deployment, Return Reunion, Suicide
  Prevention, Care of the wounded, and CACO
  support.

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DELIVERY OF MINISTRYDURING GLOBAL WAR

• Maximized visibility of ministry to drilling
  reservists (Lay Leaders at remote sites)
• Pre-Deployment, Return/Reunion, Post-Deployment
  Follow-up
• Ongoing care of wounded (VA, Civilian Hospital,
  Home)
• CACO Funeral support

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CHAPLAINS RPs

• Group Chaplain 06
• Deputy Group Chaplain 05
• Battalion Chaplain 04
• Assistant Battalion Chaplain 03 or 02
• Chaplain Candidate 01
• Religious Program Specialist (RP) Enlisted
  Support

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What are the Chaplains telling spouses and
family members at Pre-Deployment briefs?
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Preventing Combat Stress Psychological Injury
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Preventing Combat Stress Psychological Injury or
Psychological Injury
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Emotional Fitness Prepare yourself. Believe in
the importance of your mission. Remember the
body is not the person. Do not go through
personal effects. Do not desecrate the dead.

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• Managing Combat Stress before Battle
• Develop solid moral and spiritual beliefs.
• Talk with mature trusted others about
  concerns.
• Avoid speculating about your performance.
• Take advantage of realistic training and trust
  your
• training.
• Make time for routine fun and exercise.
• Imagine victory, heroism, destiny, homecoming.

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• A Just Warrior fights
• Under an honorable authority
• Motivated by a just cause
• Guided by right intention
• Acting through appropriate means

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We want the Iraqi people to be free Free from
the tyranny of Saddam. Free from the tyranny of
foreign extremists. Free from the tyranny of
home-grown fanatics. Free from the poverty,
ignorance, and hopelessness that tyranny
inevitably brings.
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Imagine your homecoming Imagine coming home
having served honorably, bravely, and
well. Imagine coming home morally fit. Imagine
coming home mentally fit. Imagine coming home
emotionally fit.
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Managing Combat Stress after Battle Talk about
your experiences with trusted mature
others. Eat and sleep as regularly as
possible. Focus on the task at hand, not what is
coming. Maintain an appropriate sense of
humor. Take advantage of personal prayer and
unit worship. Write letters/e-mails to loved
ones. Set goals for what you will do when back
home. Envision victory, heroism and your
homecoming. Get back to your unit ASAP.

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Chaplains in Combat
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Through it all, Navy Religious Ministry Teams
are there sharing the hardships and
spiritually sustaining the Marines in the War
On Terrorism
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Opportunities to express Faith and Joy in the
midst of the sacrifices and heartaches of war
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Providing Divine Services Sacramental Care
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Setting the Example Upholding basic human values
despite the horrors of war
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Counseling Marines who experience battlefield
trauma and other problems
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Coordinating Community Relations Programs
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Providing a Ministry of Comfort and Assurance to
the Wounded and Injured
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Working with Combat Leaders to assist them in
preventing Psychological Injury among their
Marines
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What are Chaplains telling Marines and their
families at Return and Reunion Briefings?
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HOMECOMING ISSUES FOR RETURNEES Will my
family still need me? Will my kids recognize
me? How did things go while I was gone? Will
they be happy to see me?
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HOMECOMING ISSUES FOR SPOUSES How much has my
spouse changed? Have I made good money
decisions? Did I do OK with the kids? Will I
have to stop seeing my friends so much? Will we
have things to talk about?
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HOMECOMING ISSUES FOR CHILDREN Will the rules
change at home? How long will dad/mom stay?
Will dad/mom come to meet my teacher? Will I
get punished because I wasnt nice sometimes?
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HOMECOMING TIPS Go slowly dont try to make
up for lost time. Be patient dont expect
everything to happen at once Accept that some
things may be different Talk with each other
about your experiences
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HOMECOMING TIPS Go slowly dont try to make
up for lost time. Be patient dont expect
everything to happen at once Accept that some
things may be different Talk with each other
about your experiences
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HOMECOMING TIPS II Take time to become
reacquainted readjust to one another Accept
that your partner may be different people
grow Remember that intimate relationships may be
awkward at first e.g. jet lag, etc. Tone down
your fantasies
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HOMECOMING TIPS III Communicate as openly as
possible with your partner family Reassure
your children change often frightens kids
Set aside quality time for each child Plan on
family activities but be flexible Keep a handle
on your budget
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HOMECOMING TIPS IV Plan for visits from your
extended family Curb your desire to take
control Prepare to be astounded by some
peoples ignorance
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MARINES WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? Relationships
Where do you want to go in your
relationships? What are you going to do to make
things better? What friendships have you
developed in your unit that you want to
continue? How will you maintain those
friendships?
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MARINES WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? Work Where
do you want to go in your work and career?
What can you pass on to young Marines who
havent been there and done that?
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MARINES WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? TOTAL FITNESS
body, mind and spirit. Body What has happened
to you physically since you left? If sleep is
a problem, if substance abuse is a problem
get help! Dont forget to eat right for
yourself and your future. And dont
forgetas if we need to tell Marines! to keep
working out!
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MARINES WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? Body, Mind,
and Spirit TOTAL FITNESS body, mind and
spirit. Mind What kind of thoughts are you
having? If your thoughts are giving you
trouble get help! Dont stay chained to
negative patterns
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MARINES WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? Body, Mind,
and Spirit TOTAL FITNESS body, mind and
spirit. Spirit Spiritual fitness takes just as
much planning effort as physical mental
fitness. A weak spirit wont support great
plans. If your spirit is dried up, or youre
mad at God Get help! There are many
spiritual ministries methods that can make a
big difference.
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How can I help my Marine?
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Encourage your Marine to be realistic about
driving You are the First Line for preventing
spotting PTSD Encourage him to talk to other
Marines about his experience of war Recognize
that combat is a singular experience that can
only be shared so far with those who havent
experienced it
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Watch out for signs of excessive
drinking Watch out for signs of isolating
himself Watch for other signs of PTSD and
Psychological Injury Be aware of the 3 to 6
month window Encourage your Marine to seek help
if he needs it Reassure him of your support
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UNTREATED PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY
THE WARNING SIGNS---RELATIONSHIPS
CRUMBLE ---CHRONIC TARDINESS UAs ---MOOD SWINGS
---CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR ---BECOMES A
LONER ---REPORTS OF FAMILY ABUSE ---ADDICTIONS
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MINIMIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY One of the
principal causes of PTSD is regret over decisions
made in combat or before combat. Reverse roles
and ask If I was the one who died or was
wounded, would I want it to devastate another
Marines life? Understanding the nature of
combat decisions is an important part of
healing.
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MINIMIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY Understand the
nature of combat decisions They are often
made In a split second In a life-threatening
situation In the midst of disorienting sights
sounds With inadequate information In utterly
unexpected situations When there is no text
book answer or the text book answer
doesnt apply
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MINIMIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY Understand the
nature of combat decisions They are often made
by people who Are exhausted Under fire or
aware of being targets Who dont know whats
happening Who cant see the whole situation Who
dont know the future Who are not God
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Beware the H word Hero For most Combat
Veterans, the heroes are those who gave their
limbs or their lives. We want to be Your Hero
and our childrens Hero but being called
Heroes in public bothers most of us.
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Command Religious AdvisorReligion Religious
Ideas are integral to understanding the Middle
East the Korean Peninsula

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Casualty Assistance Calls and Funeral Support
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This is the Commands Religious Program