Camp Zama's couples attend seminar, strengthen bonds of marriage

By Noriko Kudo, U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public AffairsSeptember 10, 2014

Camp Zama's couples attend seminar, strengthen bonds of marriage
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Camp Zama's couples attend seminar, strengthen bonds of marriage
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CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Sept. 10, 2014) -- Several of Camp Zama's married community members attended the "Whole Hearted Marriage" seminar held Sept. 5 to 7 at the Camp Zama Community Club, in order to learn ways to strengthen their marriages.

Five sessions were conducted throughout the seminar; the wholehearted marriage, conflict management and resolution, personal responsibility, communication and tackling difficulties.

Guest speaker, Dr. Greg Smalley, vice president of Focus on the Family said, the take-away is for the attendees to learn is that everybody's (marriage) is going to have conflict.

"It is not a sign that your marriage is bad or something is wrong," said Smalley.

Staff Sgt. Wynetra Jones, assigned to 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, said she learned the "win-win technique."

"You need to focus on not trying to win against your spouse. You (and your spouse) are team so everybody should win," said Jones.

Capt. Samuel Sellers, assigned to 78th Signal Battalion and his spouse Shelby Sellers, said they learned that "there is no ideal marriage or perfect marriage."

"You just have to figure out what success looks like to you and your spouse," said Capt. Sellers.

Erin Smalley, Dr. Smalley's wife and the other guest speaker for the seminar, said that it is important to make sure that each partner in a marriage takes care of the other.

"(Spouses) have to be well taking care of in order for them to hold a fort together," said Erin.

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