Weapons of Mass Construction

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill AFB, Fla. --  "Of all the sacrifices and loss that are part of defending our freedom, a marriage and family doesn't have to be one of them." 

That is the thought of Chaplain (Capt.) John VanderKaay, and it is the primary reason the Base Chapel has organized a conference to educate servicemembers on getting into the right relationship, maintaining it or, if all else fails, ending it with grace and less stress. The "Weapons of Mass Construction Conference" is a singles; married; divorce recovery marriage conference to be held over the Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4 and 5. If relationship harmony and success is the goal, the program provides the expert advice and skills that can help.

The program fee is $25 for individuals and $50 for a family. All materials and food are supplied, and the fee includes Friday night lodging. The deadline to register is Monday, Aug. 24. Call 828-3621 or email john.vanderkaay@macdill.af.mil or Elizabeth.stewart-33@macdill.af.mil.

The conference is divided into three tracks: 

1) Singles: Offering the highly acclaimed "How To Avoid Marrying A Jerk" program. Learn how to really get to know who someone is before you commit your life to them in marriage. 

2) Marriage Enrichment: Whether your marriage is in trouble, or you want to make a good marriage great, this interactive track will breathe strength and encouragement into your marriage. Also included is a fun and interactive program for children (from birth to 13) on "Dealing with Military Life." 

3) Divorce Recovery: Find hope and healing from the pain of separation and divorce, or both. Also offered is a "DivorceCare for Kids" program to help children deal with the turmoil that separation and divorce brings into their lives.

The three "tracks" of education will run simultaneously in three separate rooms. To bring the conference to the base personnel, the Chapel has teamed up with other agencies of the MacDill Integrated Delivery System and Child and Youth Behavior Military and Family Life program consultants. 

While the Chapel has held sessions on all three areas of relationship conferences in the past, this will be the first to include all three in one weekend. Of the three, Chaplain VanderKaay said the singles session is perhaps the most important. 

"The best time to learn is before you meet Mr. or Miss Right," he said. "If you know how to make the decision about a person in a relationship, you can avoid divorce ever becoming an issue." 

Part two, focusing on nurturing a marriage, is a traditional conference session, and Chaplain VanderKaay encourages couples with strong relationships to participate, because "there is always something to learn even in a good relationship," and because the Chapel would like to have successful couples on hand to bond and mentor younger couples who don't have the experience. 

Session three is for those "who didn't learn the lessons of part one and two," said Chaplain VanderKaay. 

"The important thing about it is that they learn how not to make the same mistake again," he said. This portion also has a special segment for children, giving them answers and guidance on getting through a tough time. 

"Kids are the biggest losers in a divorce," Chaplain VanderKaay said. "The idea is to give them some healing and a more positive future."