Save the date: Pre-deployment Family Retreat set for April 13-15 Published Feb. 16, 2012 By Charlie Lewis Tinker Caring for People Coordinator TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Research shows deployments have damaged military marriages. Divorce rates among active duty members have increased significantly due, in part, to multiple deployments and the tempo of deployments. To help combat this negative trend, the Office of the Secretary of Defense has authorized the use of funds to provide support services for chaplain-led programs to assist active duty members and their immediate family members in building and maintaining a strong family structure. The purpose of these programs is to connect spouses to each other and their squadron support systems, organize helping agencies into a single and comprehensive deployment care system, provide for deployed opportunities to create shared memories that will relieve stress (pre- and post-deployment) and educate everyone how to strengthen (pre-deployment), sustain (mid-deployment) and find ultimate success (post-deployment) in all their important relationships. The cornerstone of Tinker's program is the Pre-Deployment Family Retreat -- a three-day, two-night retreat designed to help Team Tinker and their families build some special memories and solidify the foundation of their family. Registration for the next retreat -- set for April 13-15 -- begins March 5. The retreat equips family members to deal with day-to-day situations while the active duty member is deployed. This preparation allows the deployed Airman to focus more clearly on the mission instead of distractions that come from a family in crisis. Tinker has held three retreats thus far, with each one bigger and better than the one before. Fifty-seven families attended the last retreat in August. The 98 adults and 120 children were able to engage in a more intimate setting than a conference provides. The retreat, held at NCED in Norman, provides a "cruise ship on land" setting that is conducive to strengthening family ties and connecting active-duty families who are dealing with the same issues of separation. One participant said the best part was "sharing a stress free weekend with my children. That was awesome! Just spending time and bonding closer with family and all our free time was spent together." Twenty-four of the families said they were able to build shared memories to reflect on during deployment. Thirty-seven others felt there was relevant teaching to improving their relationships. The retreat helped both husbands and wives openly communicate and express feelings they would not normally share with each other in any other type of setting. At the retreats, Team Tinker professionals and volunteers work together to serve deployed families. By strengthening the bonds of cooperation among base organizations and increasing their participation, the combined service of organizations to all of Team Tinker has been enhanced when we return to our normal, day-to-day operations. Tinker has made it a priority to ensure military members are equipped to ease some of the stress related with all stages of deployment by hosting a retreat every six months.