Chaplain
Homecoming
For Army families, homecoming is much more than a high school senior dance, it is something that occurs after each
deployment. This is a time of transition, as relationships are reintegrated and sometimes renegotiated. Practicing what
I call the three C’s of relationships will make the redeployment process go more smoothly. The three C’s consist of
commitment, communication, and caring.
The primary key to enduring relationships is commitment; this is the foundation that everything else is built on. This
means that you should not be so ready to abandon the ship, instead repair the ship and bail out the water! Stay committed to
your spouse, taking the time to adjust and work out any issues after the deployment. I have learned that separations do not
hurt healthy marriages because absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Remember that the Army provides many
excellent resources to assist you, including Chaplains, Military & Family Life Consultants, Adult Behavioral Health, and
more.
Secondly, communicate in an open and positive manner. Don’t isolate yourself from others. Soldiers should talk about
their deployment experiences, as well as ask questions and listen to the shared experiences that spouses, children and
friends have had while they were gone.
Finally, commitment and communication are meaningless without caring. It is obvious that people don’t care how much
you know until they know how much you care, so be intentional about showing your loved ones that you care about them.
Caring equates to time spent with them, so plan family time as well as individual time for your spouse, children and friends
as you get reacquainted.
Allow me to close with a pertinent passage from the Bible, I Corinthians 13: 4-7:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it
is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in
evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
FCP Chaplain
CH (Capt.) Robert Miller
A group of 39 Multinational Battle Group-East soldiers took part
in a spiritual retreat and historical military tour of Thessaloniki and
Kavala in northern Greece Dec. 20-23. The purpose of the retreat
was to generate spiritual and professional growth using real world
terrain to improve the educational experience.
The soldiers were able to see the Church of St. Lydia, the Philippi
archeological excavations, the Via Egnatia, and the ruins of ancient basilicas near Kavala. They took a walking tour of Kavala
and visited the Lion of Amphipolis. In Thessaloniki the soldiers
toured the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Basilica
of Demetrios, as well as Roman, early Byzantine, and Ottoman
battlements. (Photo courtesy of CH (Capt.) Robert Miller)
PG 20