Military Spouses 'Thrive On' During Deployments

Marissa Wentling is a military spouse at Fort Bragg who has found a way to make a difference for other families, and her own too.

Serving as the Event Coordinator for the Thrive On program, Marissa has found friendship, fellowship and fun throughout the past year while her own spouse was deployed.

Thrive On is a Chaplain led program designed for the spouses with a deployed service member at the Fort Bragg Watters Familiy Life Center. Each week fun themes, games and events were planned for the ladies. The program is the first of its kind across the Army, and all hope that it catches on.

The group meets weekly on Monday nights. Every other week is a themed potluck dinner. They have had speakers, done group craft projects, crafted handmade jewelry and had times of sharing and encouraging one another as they prepare to be reintegrated with their spouses.

The group started with just 15 spouses, was up to around 127 at one point during the middle of the deployment, and averages around 50-60 ladies.

Mrs. Tawnya Jamison, the spouse of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Commander, Col. T.J. Jamison, has been involved with the group over the past year when their unit left on deployment to Afghanistan.

"The group has been an encouragement for me too," said Jamison. "They've made me think about things that we all need to tackle."

Thrive On started with the Aviation unit from 2nd Brigade, then the 82nd CAB spouses joined, followed by the 1st Brigade and 4th Brigade spouses.

"Thrive On has opened the door for others who have felt that they did not have anyone to turn to," said Marissa. "There is no drama with these ladies, and we all have a story to tell."

Childcare is provided on site and funded through Chapel Services.

Chaplain Lever, one of the key supporters for the Thrive On program, has been there for them during the entire deployment.

"This program started back in 2008-2009 under Chaplain Yost," said Lever. "It's great seeing the ladies connect here weekly and know that someone is always here for them. The downside is that there are still those who choose not to become involved and you cannot make them."

With the paratroopers, pilots and Fort Bragg soldiers on the cusp of redeploying, Monday night's meeting is the final meeting. Each spouse will be presented with an official signed certificate, with a poem printed on it, along with a patriotic ribbon. And what ladies meeting would be complete without dessert? Two large sheet cakes were prepared for the finale event, pajama night, where the moms and kids came dressed in their p.j.'s. and slippers.