KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Kirtland Air Force Base Chapel is sponsoring a resiliency training series especially for military spouses.
The next training is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Chapel Annex, and another is planned for October. Volunteers provide child care, and dinner is served.
While the event is geared toward military spouses, anyone can come.
“I try to listen to the needs of the spouses in the community and offer something they can relate to and that will be helpful to them,” said organizer Dinah Dziolek. “Our spouses face challenges just like our service members do, so I wanted to reach out to them and give them some information to help their families.”
Dziolek said she serves as a Key Spouse mentor for two Air Force wings and was encouraged to attend resiliency training. She completed one day, but to do it, she had to get four babysitters to take turns watching her small children.
She realized most spouses wouldn’t be able to take the training.
“Being a licensed counselor myself, I know how important the information is,” Dziolek said.
As a volunteer for the 377th Air Base Wing, she asked wing commander Col. Eric Froehlich for permission to conduct resiliency events in the evenings. He not only supported the idea, but also asked that she organize a series of events and let him make opening remarks.
Dziolek is planning three spouse resiliency events per year. The first one ever took place in April.
For the August training, she and her husband, Chaplain Capt. David Dziolek, will give a presentation on resiliency in marriage.
“That’s kind of an interest we share: marriage and family and helping people through counseling,” she said.
Also, a master resilience trainer will teach about individual resiliency, and a Family Advocacy social worker will talk about family resiliency. Airman and Family Readiness Center representatives will discuss the Key Spouse program and financial resiliency.
Dziolek said future spouse resiliency events would probably involve similar presentations.
Wing Chaplain Maj. Darren Duncan said about 60 people have signed up for the August training, but the one in October is still open.
“We just want to do what we can to reach that person out there who’s really, really struggling and give them some tools,” he said.
For more information, call the Chapel at 846-5691 or email Dziolek at dinahdziolek@yahoo.com.