Page 5 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, November 2020

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November 2020
November 2020
Community News

Thanksgiving at NTC/Fort Irwin From FAMILY, Page 2 First Ever hybrid air show ies over Fort Irwin

there is no data showing the number for a “I tell my chaplains all the time, who cares

NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison Public A airs blended military family, Military One Source what you think about it,” he said. “I’m not

data shows more than 40% of remarried ser- coming to get your thoughts, I’m coming to By Brianna Sheats e air show showcased various types of

is year, Fort Irwin will continue its tradition of providing holiday meals for anksgiving vicemembers have children from a previous get your help.” Contributor aircraft like the F-16, F-22 and C-17, which
on post. marriage and more than two million children Jones uses caution when counseling from was piloted by Lt. Col. Zack Scha er, com-

• On Nov. 24, the meal will be served in DFAC #2 Bldg. 271 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. are classi ed as military dependents. the biblical perspective because he said the FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Dozens of mander of the 418th Flight Test Squadron.

• On Nov. 25, the holiday meal will be served in DFAC Bldg. 254 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. With no standard laws addressing the chal- Bible is interpreted di erently from so many people at the National Training Center and “I’ve been fortunate enough to y more

lenges of military life, like constant relocations, people. Fort Irwin watched in awe on Oct. 10 as than 25 di erent airplanes in my career

military families often struggle more with child “When I do counseling, I ask people, do planes and jets took over the sky for the rst and the C-17 is my favorite,” Scha er said.

custody and the road to blending families than they want secular counseling or spiritual coun- ever “hybrid” air show put on by Edwards e C-17 has a maximum takeo weight

their civilian peers. seling,” Jones said. Air Force Bases’ 412th Test Wing. of 585,000 pounds but still feels incredibly
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Terrell Jones has been a ere are studies that say blended families Edwards organized a hybrid show since light.

trained, Military Family Life Chaplain for more should plan to take five to seven years to COVID-19 did not allow for any large “It’s easy to forget that you’re ying an

than 20 years, counseling dozens of families. form a solid relationship, and even longer for gatherings to be held to watch the air airplane that can hold an Abrams tank,”
His advice to families is for parents to remain military families, although Jones said there’s show. To accommodate the guidelines set Scha er said.

mature and professional, staying focused on no average timeline for families to acclimate in place for the pandemic, Edwards decided Although the air show featured aircraft,

what is most important—the youth involved— to one another. to have virtual showcases and yovers to it was also a way for the Air Force to pres-
by setting a good example. “ ere are so many variables—the age of allow everyone to view the air show from ent all the di erent options they have for

“It’s not about you or us, it’s always about their homes. careers.

the kids,” Jones said. “Co-parenting can be kind the kids…for military, moving a family and e event took place on Oct. 9-10 and ey had NASA, test pilots and engi-

of rough. You have to set some boundaries.” kids from one environment to another, like featured yovers across several High Desert neers give a breakdown of what their eld

He said one of the reasons couples divorce overseas…getting used to another person of cities, including Fort Irwin, Victorville and

is because they may have di erent life perspec- authority in the home,” he said. “So to put Barstow. entails by having the rst four days of the

air show feature online classes.

tives, which could be an initial hinderance in that on a timeline, it can be di cult. In my On the Oct.10 show, pilots took o at
ese classes had more than 13,000 sign-

co-parenting. experience, the more aggressively the family Edwards Air Force Base and later would ups and included hands-on experiments,
“We’ve got to set some ground rules,” wants the help, the more it lessens the time.” land at Fort Irwin.

Jones said. “We may have to deal with some During the COVID-19 environment, Jones e noise of the aircrafts took over the lectures and personal testimonials from

unresolved issues, maybe we have to agree to said chaplains have seen a rise in divorce, mar- sky as they ew over the hundreds of people experts who use STEM every day.

disagree and be able to move on, but it always riage con ict and blended family counseling, that watched out of their homes. “We’re agile, we’re innovative by na-
starts with agreeing with what’s best for the but he doesn’t have a negative perspective on “That was the most awesome sound ture,” Brig. Gen. Matthew Higher, 412th
kid.” this. EVER!” Fort Irwin resident, Lesly Shults Test Wing and Edwards Air Force Base
Upcoming and Jones said parents need to be on the same seling load has been up but to me that’s a good said, as other community members chimed commander, said in an interview for the

Youth go through stages of development
“ e numbers have been up and our coun-
Edwards AFB Paper. “Our organizations are
in on the sights they were seeing overhead.
Events page and in agreement for the home environ- thing because if my counseling load is going book and YouTube and hit a total 266,795 example of how we pivot when our nation
dynamic, and this air show is just another
Others watched the event live on Face-
ment, including homework management, up, it may hinder the domestic violence before
screen time, etc.
“It should look like the only thing di erent things get out of hand,” he said. views. needed us to and led the way.” Photos by Carlo Casem, Edwards Air Force Base PAO

Jones said it’s a positive sign because people
*Live #FacebookRoundup every Wednesday at 2:30p.m., where the Garrison Com- is the ‘environment’ but we’re on the same sheet realize they need to speak to someone sooner.

mand Team answers your questions on the o cial Fort Irwin Facebook page, Facebook. of music on core things,” he said. “I’d rather my counselor loads go up because

com/FtIrwin and KNTC 89.5FM e Heat radio. In order for blended family counseling to be that may stop the domestic violence numbers Teacher Spotlight: Student Spotlight:

November 2020 Calendar: successful, Jones said adults must drive the ses- from going up,” he said. “ at means that Ashley Hartel, TVIS Ellie Sandoval, 3rd grade, TVIS
-11/2: Combined Federal Campaign: Sam Adams and live on sions and compromise. He conducts counseling someone is saying we need to talk to somebody.

Facebook.com/NTCfortirwin (10-10:30a.m.) sessions with the ex-spouse, using telephone ey’d rather speak to someone than get to a Ms. Ashley has been Ellie Sandoval is a model
conferences or video conferences when neces-
-11/3: Election Day: Contact your UVAO or the Post Voting Assistance O cer sary because with military families, many are point where they’d get in trouble.” working at Tiefort View student. She comes to class

at 380-3498 not in the same state. Chaplains are often asked about matters of Intermediate School for every day with her materials
-11/11: NTC/Fort Irwin Veterans Day Observance “In situations when only one adult wants child support or divorce decrees but they refer four years. She is cur- ready and a smile on her face.
-11/11: Commissary reduced/holiday hours (9a.m. - 5p.m.) to participate, I try to empower that one adult parents to JAG (military attorneys) and Jones rently the Media Tech She loves to help her fellow
-11/15 – 11/19: Mobile Dental Van: Sam Adams (8a.m. - 5p.m. Appointments are with information on what to say when they said he actually advises chaplains not to give and helps all the students students and participates in all
full) discuss it with the other parent,” Jones said. advice overall. with their technology class discussions. She recently
-11/17: Community Service Council Meeting: Sandy Basin Community Center Jones reiterated the importance of having “I don’t believe in giving advice, because and learning materials. collected diapers, clothing and
(10a.m.) boundaries within blended families, beginning anyone can give advice, I give options,” Jones She has been busy check- toiletries for people a ected by

-11/17: Post Retirement Ceremony: Sandy Basin Community Center (2p.m.) with how to identify the stepparent. said. ing out class novels to the the res in Oregon. While on

-11/18: EEO Observance- American Indian Heritage: Sandy Basin Community Center “One of the simplest boundaries is, what He believes that as a counselor, when you students and she can’t her road trip delivering dona-
and Facebook.com/NTCfortirwin (11:30a.m. - 1p.m.) do I call this person? Stepdaddy or by their give people advice, the chaplain takes owner- wait to have the students tions, she still came to class

-11/18: Military Spouse Job Fair presented by ACS: Bldg. 109 (9a.m. - 2p.m.) rst name or Mr. or Mrs.?” he said, which can ship of their problem, so he tries to train chap- return and be able to prepared. We are honored that
-11/19: Newcomer Spouse Orientation: Sam Adams Ballroom (9a.m. - 1p.m.) be cultural. lains to know their role is to, instead, provide utilize the school library. Ellie is a Timberwolf!

-11/19: EFMP Parent Support Group: Bldg. 21 Recreation Room (10 - 11:30a.m.) Jones also pointed to the reality of blended options that t the direction they want to go.

-11/24: anksgiving meal in DFAC #2, bldg. 271 (11a.m. - 2p.m.) families in the 21st century. Conrad said co-parenting did not start o
-11/25: anksgiving meal in DFAC bldg. 254 (11a.m. - 2p.m.) “In 2020, what does ‘blended family’ easy for her but has some advice to get blended

-11/26: Commissary Closed for anksgiving mean?” Jones said. “You can talk about adop- families o to a good start.
-11/27: Black Friday at the Main Post Exchange (8a.m. - 8p.m.) tion, same-sex marriage bringing a child in “If I could give one piece of advice to
*For more information, you can visit the NTC website at home.army.mil/irwin or that family—there’s a lot of variables that, as blended families in the military, I would say,

contact the Public A airs O ce at 760-380-4511; the MWR at 760-380-5111 (Face- counselors, we have to factor in.” be the adult you want your kids to grow up to
book.com/FortIrwinFMWR) or the respective organization that is hosting the event* Jones tells his chaplain team to leave their be,” she said. “Family is family, whether it’s the
personal thoughts out of their counseling to one you start out with, the one that you end
parents. up with, or the family you gain along the way.”
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin