MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Marine Corps Community Services presented its first Spouse Transition and Readiness Seminar at the Jerry Marvel Training and Education Building July 31 to educate Marine spouses and ease challenges associated with transitioning from the Marine Corps to civilian life.
MCCS created the class for spouses who may be unable to attend the Transition and Readiness Seminar along with their active-duty service member due to schedule conflicts.
“We want them to understand what their service members are going through,” said Patrice Bryant, a family member employment specialist with MCCS. “This workshop was developed for spouses to sort of give them a mini version of a TRS.”
The two-hour workshop covered a variety of topics from relocation to education and presented a panel of subject matter experts to answer questions.
“Subject matter experts like military family life consultants are there to offer counseling on stress and health issues,” she said. “The second hour is all about letting the spouses ask questions or raise concerns. The subject matter experts are there to help.”
Spouses asked questions regarding a variety of subjects including transferring entitlements, meeting deadlines to apply for benefits and taking care of final details during their service members’ final days in uniform.
“The main thing we are trying to do is get the word out,” said Teresa A. Brice, a Transition Readiness Seminar coordinator for MCCS.
The program also offers limited career counseling.
“A transition is hard, even if you are moving from one duty station to another,” said Shawna Stone, wife of Sgt. Robert Stone, a Marine Corps Community Services Marine with MCCS. “However, the seminar has been very informative, and now I feel I can find a job after my husband gets out.”
With the new STARS class, Bryant hopes to get military spouses information she missed out on when her husband transitioned from the Army.
“I know as a military spouse, I was left out on a lot of information,” said Bryant. “I want to make sure the spouses on Cherry Point are aware of the things that are going to be most important to them during their transition.”
The STARS class is expected to run quarterly at Cherry Point. To register, contact Patrice Bryant at 252-466-4201.