How do these workshops differ from other programs (e.g., PREP, P.I.C.K., CREDO) and marriage preparation and enrichment materials used by a number of couples and professionals?

Unlike excellent civilian programs like PREP that help couples and professionals address one or two relational areas (e.g., communication and conflict resolution), these workshops focus in on the most common issues and problems faced by military couples (e.g., coping with deployments, financial mismanagement, etc.).  Personnel returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, along with their partners, seem to have a heightened appreciation of the workshops. While most relationship inventories (e.g., Prepare, Enrich, FOCCUS) are professionally administered and graded by third parties, the self-grading nature of the inventory in The Survival Guide makes it more palatable to military personnel that are extremely concerned about maintaining confidentiality. Its self-grading aspect also encourages greater honesty in each partner’s responses, thus increasing the inventory’s effectiveness and broadening its use.  Because the counseling insights provided in The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military reflect input from hundreds of military couples, counselors and chaplains, the workshops often prove more enlightening than seminars that simply reflect the training and experience of the presenters themselves.  Finally, while people who attend workshops may retain a workbook along with notes taken during the presentations, participants in the Marriage and Military Life and The Survival Guide workshops leave with copies of The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military filled with counseling insights that can prove very useful in their relationship or counseling in the months and years to come.

In addition to promoting stronger relationships, are there any other benefits associated with attending these workshops?

Many people have heard it said that “the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love their mother.”  Married couples with family members discover that their participation in the workshop often has a very positive affect on their children who benefit from their stronger love for one another.

While recruitment has to do with individuals, retention is about families in so far as family satisfaction often impacts whether a service member will remain in or leave military service.  By strengthening relationships, military divorce rates fall and retention rates rise.

Finally, most commands recognize the relationship between operational and family readiness.  By strengthening relationships, personnel find greater support before, during and after deployments, all of which promotes operational readiness.

In regard to workshop materials, what is the difference between the The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military and other relationship inventories and marriage publications?

Unlike civilian relationship inventories, the inventory contained in The Survival Guide addresses issues that are particularly challenging for military couples (e.g., multiple long-term deployments).  Because the inventory is often self-administered and is self-grading, couples tend to be more honest in their responses, thus contributing to the inventory’s effectiveness.  Finally, unlike the advice that one would be provided after completing other civilian inventories that represents the training and experience of a particular counselor or clergy person, The Survival Guide offers counseling “insights” from literally hundreds of couples, counselors, chaplains and members of the clergy that have contributed to this tool.

What can be done to reduce the cost of offering these workshops?

Commands that order 500 or more copies of The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military qualify to have the workshop, billeting and travel fees waived.  Commands that in the past ordered the Marriage and Military Life inventory or the first edition of The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military qualify for a discount in the workshop fee in proportion to their previous order(s).

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Arrange for one or both of these workshops to be given at your command by contacting

Gene Thomas Gomulka, author of Marriage and Military Life and The Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military available at www.plaintec.net.