JBER plans Spouse Resource Shares

The JBER Connection plans to host four Spouse Resource Shares throughout September at three different local community centers for anyone who wants to learn about the multiple resources available and how to stay more connected as a community.

“Anybody can relate to the idea that being here is unique and can also be a challenging place for some if you do not know what to expect, [it’s] your first time away from home, being a new military spouse across the country or a new working military spouse trying to fit in,” said Jennifer Frysz, Family Advocacy Program outreach manager. “We are here to help them get connected, increase their knowledge of resources, and help everyone learn how to enjoy this beautiful place.”

The first Spouse Resource Share is scheduled for Sept. 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Crossing Community center; the second is Sept. 11 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Richardson Community plaza.

The third is slated for Sept. 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., also at the Richardson Community plaza; and the last one is Sept. 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Silver Run Community center.

This isn’t the first Spouse Resource Share.

In 2013, Frysz and Anthea Acosta, Military Family Readiness Center relocation readiness program manager, observed that spouses felt ‘disconnected’ and did not know how to integrate themselves.

At the time, during a big deployment, there was a need for something to bring the spouses together.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed spouses are not as apt to get involved and, a lot of times, don’t want to get out of their comfort zones, so they stick to social media to meet people as opposed to coming into the family centers to volunteer,” said Acosta, who grew up as a military child before becoming a military spouse.

With the help of other agencies like the Exceptional Family Member Program, Interactive Customer Evaluation and Morale Welfare and Recreation, they listened to what the spouses suggested and created a get-together to showcase all the agencies willing to help.

The Family Readiness Group leaders, key spouses and brigade spouses also helped with the discussion.

The first resource share was child-friendly, had male spouses and dual-military couples, and served coffee, tea and doughnuts.

Once a month, they hosted meetings primarily for spouses to get connected – but after several meetings, the majority of people on the installation felt comfortable navigating the joint system, and the meetings naturally ceased.

The upcoming 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division deployment, and other military members frequently deploying and going on unaccompanied tours, plus a lack of participation at base-wide community events sparked the discussion to bring back the Spouse Resource Share.

“We try to put up a lot of fun things for spouses to do and we just aren’t getting the participation we used to,” Acosta said. “When I first got here in 2011, the classes we taught would be full (40 people), now it’s a good day if we have seven or nine participants.”

The JBER Connection, an ‘arm’ of the Joint Installation Prevention Team – bolstered by volunteers and people who just want to help – decided to revive the Spouse Resource Share because this time around there are more agencies to include – one of the biggest being Aurora Military Housing.

“We are helping agencies have a means to not only support spouses better, but also to model community connectedness, while generating great ideas on how we can do more together,” Frysz said. “We can accomplish improved communication, participation and a sense of belonging.”

For information, call the event hosts at 384-2999 or 384-1515.