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It is routine for people to gather pier side when ships return from long deployments, both to welcome sailors back and help families transition. (U.S. Navy)
The Navy is assessing how best to employ specially trained teams placed aboard large ships as they head to sea to help sailors with shore-to-sea transition, a program tested earlier this year.
The “proof of concept” for the Departure and Separation Program kicked off in December on six cruisers and destroyers from Norfolk, Va., and ended in mid-February. Their crews were dealing with the usual stressors of heading to sea for many months but also with family issues and restrictions related to COVID-19, the coronavirus respiratory disease.
8 HIAWATHA, Kan. – The headquarters for the Kansas Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery Brigade sits about 15 miles south of the Nebraska-Kansas border in the town of Hiawatha. Like many small towns in Kansas, Hiawatha has retained a distinct historic feel, with many original buildings and brick roads around the town square. Across the street from the Brown County courthouse, the Citizens State Bank and Trust has operated for over a hundred years; the 1963 version of the building still stands today, an American flag proudly displayed out front.
It was here, several weeks ago, Maj. Nick Carlson, battalion administrative officer, and Staff Sgt. Alicia Young, battalion medical readiness noncommissioned officer, came, based on the recommendations of the state Family Programs Office, to open a new savings account on behalf of their unit’s Soldier and Family Readiness Group at the request of Lt. Col. Shawn Plankinton, battalion commander.