Ellsworth Air Force Base Marriage Support
Military service and marriage have many parallels: both are challenging, rewarding, and take a team approach to succeed. Combining the two, however, creates a new challenge; juggling a relationship with your significant other and a relationship with the military at the same time. Luckily, Ellsworth Air Force Base offers several resources that can help couples navigate the unique ups-and-downs of marriage and military service.
The one-stop-shop for couples just getting started is definitely the Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC). Located in the Rushmore Building on base, couples can find information on counseling, marriage retreats, childcare options and deployment support. A great electronic resource is their new homepage, Ellsworth Life Skills. Here, couples can find marriage resources, as well as other avenues of help for military life.
Not only can the A&FRC help with big stressors, they can help with all of the little day-to-day things that pop up, like resume building, financial planning, even basic budgeting and tax prep. Getting the little things knocked out can help take stress off of you and your spouse, which in turn can help reduce marital stress. Stop by, or talk to your unit’s command section or First Sergeant for more information.
For spouses looking to get support from others who have been in their shoes, the Key Spouses are a great resource. They provide a toolkit for spouses to learn about and build their own resiliency, and also offer a great social support structure. Those wanting to get involved can find their homepage here.
Perhaps the most important thing for service members and their partners to remember is that you aren’t alone. If you feel like you’re in over your head, reach out and ask for help! Your unit’s First Sergeant is a great resource, as well as base Chaplains or Military Family Life Counselors. All are here to help you get the care you need to help your marriage flourish.