New Bern, N.C. --
Married couples at Marine Corps Air
Station Cherry Point strengthened their marriage and bonded while participating
in a Marriage Enrichment Retreat hosted by 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Chaplains,
in New Bern, Sept. 18-19.
Forty couples took part in the
retreat to rekindle their bond with one another. Each couple participated in
prescribed ice-breaking conversation techniques, seminars on communication and
various other couple-related, cohesion-building activities.
According to Lt. Hardy Owens, staff
chaplain with 2nd MAW, the couples retreat was set-up proceeding a one-day Marriage
Enrichment Retreat hosted by the 2nd MAW Religious Ministry Team.
“We want to be good stewards of the
growing interest and offer a more robust event that not only provides
information, but offers time for reflection and discussion,” said Owens. “This
weekend will allow the couples to share this time, along with a wonderful date
night and much needed time away from the stressors of home.”
The retreat was open to all
Marines, Sailors, civilian employees, federal contractors and their spouses.
During the two-day event, couples had the opportunity to share meals and
converse with other couples, as well as share experiences and discuss techniques
to tackle common marital issues.
“I believe it betters a
relationship and gives the couple more ways to help keep things alive and get
out of a relationship rut if you are in one,” said Lance Cpl. Schuyler Gullett,
a married Marine with Marine Aircraft Group 14. “The retreat is a great
opportunity to enhance your relationship.”
Marine Corps Community Services
offers several additional marriage classes aboard the air station, including 8
Hours to a Great Relationship, the 5 Love Languages and Together for Life.
“It is important for two people who
are in love to work at maintaining their relationship,” said Gullet. “If at
home we are having a bad relationship, at work I would just be unhappy all day
and people at my shop would not want to be around me or see me as approachable.”
Due to the positive outcome and
overwhelming response to this event, the chaplains office plans to host a third
retreat in February.
“We pray that the 40 couples in
attendance will increase in intimacy and resiliency while continuing to grow in
their love toward one another,” said Owens during the retreat.