Free couples retreat offered to Airmen Published April 1, 2009 By Senior Airman Wesley Wright Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Married Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing have the opportunity to take advantage of a free Marriage and Family Reintegration Retreat April 16 to 17 at the Sleep Inn and Suites in Minot. The event is being sponsored by the base chapel and the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The retreat package includes a free, one-night stay at the hotel, catered meals and an event-packed schedule of communication-enhancing activities. "The real goal is to help married couples communicate better and reintegrate," said Capt. Todd Dickman, base chaplain. "The vision is to help families connect and make memories." The event is open to any 5th BW member who has deployed in the last year, and his or her family. Children are also encouraged to attend with their parents. "We absolutely encourage people to bring their kids," said Chaplain Dickman. "The children will be taken care of well and receive a lot of great information. We'll have age-appropriate activities for them throughout the event. It will be a lot of fun." Organizers are remaining flexible with the schedule of events but plan to include the following: - Four Lenses Activity: This assessment is a proven personality assessment which helps build a solid understanding of the innate talent and potential of individuals. Family members will learn to understand each other's strengths and motivations and will gain valuable insight on how best to work together to achieve common goals. - PREP Block One: Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program is one of the most comprehensive and well respected divorce-prevention/marriage enhancing programs in the world. PREP is a skills and principles-building curriculum designed to help partners say what they need to say, get to the heart of problems and increase their connection with each other. - Family Mission Pictures and Building Block Activity: Parents and children will work together to create a family vision picture using fun, interactive activities. In addition, families will get to use kids' craft items to explore family strengths. The base chapel, along with the Airman and Family Readiness Center here are working jointly to make the event a success and credit the generosity of Air Combat Command and Col. Joel Westa, 5th Bomb Wing commander, for making it possible. "ACC chaplain headquarters gave us $10,000 and then Colonel Westa donated $5,000 from his Commanders Emphasis Program Fund," Chaplain Dickman said. For his part, Colonel Westa said he was more than happy to help. "I am committed to making sure families continue to thrive while we support our Air Expeditionary Force taskings," Colonel Westa said. "It's tough on a family to deploy a mom or a dad -- and it's equally tough to adjust to their return. It can also be difficult for the deployed family member to transition from their deployed mindset and schedule back into their role in their family life and schedule. These Family and Reintegration retreats are critical to help that transition and I am pleased ACC recognizes their importance as much as I do!" Similar couples retreats have been held across the Air Force, but this will be the first one at Minot and organizers hope to build on its success. "There are only 40 slots available, so we encourage people sign up quickly and take advantage of this," Chaplain Dickman said. "Hopefully, in the future we can make more slots available and cater to both the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing if we get the funding." According to Chaplain Dickman, unit commanders here have agreed to make the event an alternate duty location so that Airmen do not have to take leave to attend the event. Additionally, most parents will not have to worry about school for their children as April 17 is a scheduled down day for Minot Public Schools. Parents will also be afforded time April 16 in the afternoon to pick their children up from school. To register for the event, contact the base chapel at 723-2456.