Hawaii Marine, October 30, 2015

Lifestyle

Hawaii Marine

Kristen Wong

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

When an active-duty service member returns to the civilian sector, there are many things they must do in preparation for their transition.

Many may be preparing to do so as the Marine Corps is currently downsizing its force by about 27,000, according to a March 12, 2014 report by Gen. James F. Amos, thencommandant of the Marine Corps to Congress. Fortunately for spouses, there is a special seminar dedicated to helping them find all the resources they need for a future outside the Corps.

The Spouses Transition and Readiness Seminar is scheduled to take place Dec. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the classroom at the Family Member Employment Assistance Program and Relocation Services building on Reed Road.

Subject matter experts will be speaking for the first three hours of the seminar on various topics. The last hour of the event will be dedicated to a questionand- answer session with a panel of base program representatives. Though registration was required prior to the event, the seminar will be outdoors, and attendees will be able to visit with representatives at various resource tables.

There will be numerous repre­ sentatives from multiple organi­ zations including TRS, Military OneSource, Marine Corps Fam­ ily Team Building, Veterans Af­ fairs, Families OverComing Un­ der Stress, Education Center and Disabled American Veterans.

A Corpswide program estab­

lished by Headquarters Marine Corps, STARS provides military spouses with information and answer questions as they pre­ pare to separate from the mili­ tary. When families separate from the military, they may have a lot of questions, ranging

from how long their military identification cards will remain valid to what kind of education benefits they have.

“It’s an opportunity for spouses to come together and get the very basic (resources for transitioning),” said Jocelyn

Pratt, personal and professional development advisor with the Education Center. “They really want to plan ahead because the planning is what’s going to take off more of the pressure.”

Although active-duty Marines already receive a lot information

in the mandatory five-day Transition Readiness Seminar, not many spouses may have the time to attend, either due to work or child care commitments.

Christina Gill, a family readiness advisor for Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, previously attended STARS.

Her husband has been active- duty military for 20 years, and is about a year and a half away from retirement. For her, the amount of information she needed to know about leaving the military life was upsetting, particularly healthcare. Gill then saw the flier for STARS and felt that it would be beneficial to go.

“I was very happy that I was able to learn a lot in that class (about) what’s out there for (spouses) as far as education and employment,” Gill said. “The programs are there to help us when we transition out.” Gill said attending STARS was actually overwhelming, because there was a lot of information to take in.

She planned to attend STARS again, to get more questions answered. She was grateful for the class, knowing she was not alone in the transition and there were other spouses with her in the seminar who were “in the same boat,” also asking questions.

“I just hope that the (spouses) know that (STARS is) out there for them,” Gill said. “It was very helpful.”

Pratt said each of the dates and times of the seminars differ to accommodate various schedules. She added that units may also request seminars. For more information, call Pratt at 257-7097.

Reach for the STARS! Course supports transitioning families

October 30, 2015 • B-5