National Guard - 5/06

[Smartmarriages]

- THE NATIONAL GUARD

> Diane,
> 
> Thank you for putting this Washington Post article out to the list.  I hope
> everyone remembers that our Reserve and Guard service members are ALSO dealing
> with these issues.  The Guard and Reserve spouse often need to cope with less
> support since they do not live on or near a military installation and are
> separated by distance from the spouses of the other service members that their
> spouse is serving with overseas.  This is especially true for those service
> members who are "cross leveled" which means they were taken from their
> assigned unit and put in another unit where there job skill was needed.  Such
> "cross leveling" often moves a service member many states away from where they
> live and normally serve leaving the family further isolated.
> 
> I'll be happy to answer any questions I can for you or any of the list
> members.  I am currently an Army Reserve Chaplain in Vancouver, WA and I have
> served one tour in Iraq.  I can be contacted at jmaxwell at myrealmarriage.com
> jmaxwell AT myrealymarriage.com or by phone at 360-772-6319.
> Jim Maxwell

Anyone working with re-entry families should read the cover story in
Sunday's NY Times Magazine on reentry for National Guard and their families.
Very surprising stuff.

> Bringing It All Back Home
> By SCOTT ANDERSON
> When Chuck Norris joined the National Guard, he wasn't expecting to end up in
> one of the worst corners of the Sunni Triangle. Now he's home in Pennsylvania,
> with his fellow guardsmen and memories he just can't shake. Go to Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/magazine/28vets.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Side show: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/magazine/index.html

------------------------------
> Dear Diane, 
> 
> I think people would be more likely to understand and relate to the stress on
> marriages (and families in general) from the physical wounds suffered in war
> if they could see some of the injuries "up close and personal." (I know I
> did.)
> 
> Last week I watched the HBO documentary "Baghdad ER" - which shows (in full
> gory details) the physical toll of war. I think more of us could be supportive
> of the challenges faced by couples who deal with the "scars of war" if we are
> more informed.
> 
> I wrote my most recent Blog entry about this and other struggles on behalf of
> freedom, encouraging people to recognize our responsibility to stay informed,
> and challenging people to "suck it up" and watch. (I provide a link to HBO's
> listing of future airings of the program through the month of June.)
> 
> See: http://www.dearpeggy.com/blog/
> 
> Peggy Vaughan

YES, I also watched this, and agree.  It's incredibly illuminating.  And,
this documentary is being shown on Army bases around the world.  It might
sound like it's some anti piece, but the military was fully cooperative and
supports the film.  Watch a video clip here:
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/baghdader/

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