Boats, Surveys teach Soldiers life skills during retreat

Article and Photos by Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade Public Affairs

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Everyone has been there.  Frustrated with that person in the office or at home because they don’t see things your way or they just seem to push your buttons.

           Soldiers from 85th Civil Affairs Brigade and 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion took part in a single Soldier retreat Aug 20-22 that focused on understanding why this happens and how to manage the situation based on understanding personalities and attitudes. 

            “Our attitudes towards life influence how we spend our money, what kind of relationships we have and our attitudes influence our health and how we think about it,” said Maj. (Ch) Bradley Godding, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade chaplain.  “The Real Life Management program intends to help us understand why we are the way we are.”

            Using materials developed by Real Life Management, and support from the Fort Hood Garrison ministry team, Godding provided the Soldiers with skills that would benefit them in the work place, as well as their personal life.

            One of the training exercises, the 3-Minute Survey, boiled down concepts of traditional psychological and personality tests to a level that could be understood by anyone.

            Pvt. 1st Class Chauncy Macdonald, a communications specialist with Bravo Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, saw the survey as an accurate assessment tool.

            “The survey, I thought, was dead on and it described how people get along with each other pretty accurately,” said Macdonald.

            A main goal of the 3-Minute Survey was to provide the users with a visualization of their personalities, in this case boats.  As the class moved forward, the Soldiers began to recognize their own attitudes as a barge, tug boat, or sail boat.

            “I like how it showed people getting along using this visualization,” said Macdonald.

            In addition to this portion of the retreat, Soldiers here were among the first to participate in a program for individuals which targeted to improve communication skills in life situations.  As part of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program, PREP is for individuals who seek to train and teach individuals, like single Soldiers.

            “The individual program has been in development for approximately four years,” said Natalie Jenkins, President, PREP for individuals.  “We sought to create a program that was targeted towards adult learners and a younger audience.”

            Jenkins took part in an assessment of the training following the conclusion of the class so as to receive direct feedback from participants for possible changes that need to be made.

            Since 1993, PREP has worked with all branches of service to provide training for servicemembers. PREP for individuals, however, has been in development for just the last four years.  Fort Hood is among one of the few military installations implementing the training in these early stages so as to iron out any flaws or inconsistencies that may occur.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Connor, director of religious support NCOIC for Fort Hood Garrison, answers a question for Spec. Edward Shultz of Bravo Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.  Collins was an instructor during the single Soldiers retreat in San Antonio Aug 20-22. The intent of the retreat was to provide guidance and instruction to the Soldiers to improve their communication skills within personal and professional relationships.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th CA Bde. Public Affairs)

Maj. (Ch) Bradley Godding, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, explains how colors associate with individual personalities in the context of a single Soldiers retreat in San Antonio Aug 20-22. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th CA Bde. Public Affairs.)

Spec. Christopher Kennedy, a communications specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, works to complete an exercise during a single Soldiers retreat Aug 20-22 in San Antonio, Texas.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th CA Bde. Public Affairs)

Natalie Jenkins, President, PREP for individuals, thanks Sgt 1st Class Collins for his work during a single Soldier retreat Aug 20-22.  Jenkins Addressed the Soldiers next to ask for suggestions that may improve the PREP program for future classes. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85th CA Bde. Public Affairs)