Strong Families Make Strong Marines

In the movie "We Were Soldiers," one of Lt. Col. Hal Moore's young lieutenants asks, "What do you think about being a soldier and a father?" Moore wisely and profoundly responds, "I hope being good at one makes me better at the other." 

We all have multiple roles and responsibilities in life, but Marines with dependent family members often find these roles competing. Most Marines with dependents have felt, at one time or another, much like this young lieutenant, that being a Marine and being a father, mother, husband, or wife are incongruent. We've all heard the admonition to live a balanced life, and that's good advice. But what about when balance is impossible? How can you have a good family balance while you're deployed? How can you have a good work balance while journeying through a family trial? 

Balance between family and work is possible through different seasons of family and military life. There are also times when the imbalance is so pronounced that it severely strains the family and the job. Accepting imbalance when balance is impossible while continually working toward balance can be challenging. 

Recognizing our vulnerability is crucial, but it can be challenging. The good news is that a wealth of resources are available to help navigate these challenges. From counseling services to support groups, from financial assistance to family support programs, you are never alone in this journey. 

You can be a good Marine and a good parent or spouse. The two do not need to be mutually exclusive. Let being good at one make you good at the other. There are resources available to the entire family. Know when to ask for help and have the courage to seek help when needed. Often, the resources are right in front of us, such as the Community Counseling Program, Military Family Life Counselor, the chaplain, and the Deployment Readiness Coordinator. These are just a few of the resources that Marines and their families can use. Visit www.usmc-mccs.org to learn more.