CNRMA CREDO team hosts marriage retreat

ByMC1MaddelinHamm

CNRMA Public Affairs

WILLIAMSBURG, Va Commander

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s (CNRMA)

Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO) team hosted a two-day Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER)inWilliamsburg,VirginiaFeb10-12

Service members, assigned to various commandsaroundtheMid-AtlanticRegion, attended the retreat, which is aimed at providingeducation,reconnectionandquality together-time to Navy couples looking to explore their marriage and connect with otherNavycouplesinthearea.

Religious Programs Specialist 1st Class

Matthew Malloy, assigned to CNRMA’s CREDO staff, said he enjoys teaching at the retreatsbecausehecanseecouplestakingin newinformationthatwillhelpthemintheir relationship “Ienjoyprovidingtrainingandsupporton personalitytypesandcommunicationtechniquesandseeingthe‘lightbulb’turnonfor couples,”saidMalloy.“It’sgreatbecausewe areallowingasafespaceforeveryoneinthe roomtoseetheyarenotalone,andweallfeel thesethings.”

MassCommunicationSpecialist3rdClass JordanGrimes,assignedtoCNRMA, attended the retreat with her husband, Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chris Stachyra, assigned to Navy Public

Affairs Support Element East, and said she hasbeenlookingforwardtospendingqualitytimewithherhusbandwhowasdeployed for nine months in 2022 and is about to deployagaininafewweeks.

“I think what helped us most was how theretreatunlockedasenseofunderstandingthatwedidn’thavebefore,”saidGrimes “Learningourlovelanguagesandpersonalitytypeswasreallyusefulinmakingproblem solving and communication plans moving forward. I learned how to appreciate the thingsmyhusbanddoesforme,evenifthey don’t register in my mind the way they do inhis.”

Instructionalseminars heldattheretreat, are designed to strengthen marital relationships by teaching participants skills for improving communication skills and handlingconflictconstructively

“I think the retreat helped teach us how to talk to each other,” said Grimes. “Even thoughwemaybelookingtosolvethesame problem we can be looking at it from drasticallydifferentangles.”

Grimes said she would recommend the retreat to other couples looking for some usefultoolsfortheirrelationship.

“If you can find the time to go, then go,” said Grimes “This retreat is so much more thanafreechancetogetawayfromthekids foraweekend.It’sdefinitelynotforthefaint of heart though. You’re going to discover problems in your relationship that otherwiseyoumayhaveneverthoughttofix but theygiveyouthetoolstofixthemtoo.”

CREDO offers multiple MERs each year and members from all branches of service are welcome to sign up Attendance is free of charge which includes meals and lodgingfortheservicememberandtheirspouse FormoreinformationaboutupcomingMER dates visit CNRMA’s Facebook page or emailcnrmacredo@gmail.com

Florida,wherewewerealways outdoors. Anything outdoors, that’swhatIenjoy.”

Although there’snot much hikinginthe area, especially with the cold weather,they were able to exploredowntownChicago.

“Myfirstdutystationwasin Washington state,soI spent fiveyears there,”headded. “That’s what openedmeupto the outdoors. We did alot of hikinginWashington.”

He wasn’tinto hiking growing up,but he did playa lot of sports outside.Mullen talked about howmuch he enjoys watchingsportsandevenplays fantasyfootball.

“I love my sports!Football, basketball,Ilove ‘em,”he added. “I am an Eagles fan— SuperBowlherewecome!”

Asfarashisfuture,hewants totraveltoJapan,putinapackage to go to officer candidate school, and be commissioned asaNavalofficer Bootcampisapproximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careersatthecommand.Training includes physical fitness, seamanship,firearms,firefightingandshipboarddamage controlalong with lessons in Navyheritageandcorevalues teamworkanddiscipline.More than40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only bootcamp

FormorenewsfromRecruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc

FoundedbyThe FlagshipInc. in Norfolk,Virginia in 2005, Heroes at Home is ahighly regarded, regional recognition programthathonorsmilitary spouses from all ranks and all branches who makeimportant contributionstothe military community,local civilian communities, and country

Ourrecognition programisuniqueinthatthe honorees areselectedbased on merit.Allnominationsare reviewed and scored by an independent panelofjudges who areeither former recipients of the awardorindividuals/business representativeswith strong ties to themilitary community

PENSACOLA,Fla. (January30 2023) -

Fleet Subject Matter Experts from the Builder(BU) rating meet in Pensacola, Florida,fortheir

Advancement

Examination Readiness Review (AERR).AERRs bring togetherexperts from around the fleet to review,validate,and develop exam content fortheirrating’s exam banks.Ifyou are a chief,seniorchief,or masterchief,andwish to contribute to the future ofyourrating go to MyNavyPortal to apply Afterlogging in,click“Professional Resources, then “NavyAdvancement Center,”then “Advancement Examination Readiness Review. (U.S.NAVYPHOTOBY CHERYLDENGLER)