VILSECK, Germany -- We all know that deployment is hard on both the Soldiers and the families left behind.
What we talk about less are the pre- and post-deployment struggles for families and attempting to find normalcy in constant change.
Army Community Service has opened the dialogue with a series of classes led by Military and Family Life Consultants, professional therapists, counselors and psychologists who work on a short term basis with military communities.
"When a family knows a Soldier is coming back they think the stress has gone away, but it really hasn't," said Mark Moll, acting director of Army Community Service. "It's just a different form of stress."
The MFLCs teach weekly classes in Rose Barracks focusing on various parts of the deployment cycle. Attendees get tips on maintaining healthy marriages, anger and stress management, transitions and reuniting service members with their children.
The classes emphasize group interaction and lifestyle guidance over counseling.
"They are to provide methods and techniques to get through the deployment and life cycle and to focus on transitions," said Moll.
While MFLCs conduct similar classes for returning units, the the sessions at ACS highlight the specific needs of family members.
All classes are at the Rose Barracks ACS Building 322, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The upcoming classes are:
March 13: Helping Your Service Member Reconnect with their Child.
March 18: Principals of a Healthy Marriage.
March 25: Coping with Transition.
For more information, contact ACS at DSN 476-2650, CIV 09662-83-2650.
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