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SOLDIERS RETREAT TO PINE BLUFF

By Wes Clement/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, March 7, 2009 10:44 PM CST

A weekend retreat at the Ramada Plaza is giving a unit of National Guard soldiers a chance to reunite with those they bonded with in Iraq last year.

“It’s pretty much a big family reunion,” said Spc. Brandon Laymon. Laymon said the retreat was helpful because it offered information on colleges and job opportunities.

Besides, allowing the El Dorado-based soldiers a chance to see each other, the event was intended to offer them help with readjusting to civilian life, Maj. Brenda Cluck said.

“It’s a big difference coming back home. It’s been a release of stress,” MSgt. Elbert Jordan said. “There have been worries, but over time they have gone away. The military has tried to set up things here to help us try to get back into the swing of things.”

Employers such as Arkansas Department of Correction and Securitas and agencies such as the Veterans Administration were on hand to inform soldiers of opportunities and benefits available to them.

A variety of small group classes were offered to the soldiers to help them through the transition. Topics included managing personal finances, stress and anger management, chemical dependence, strengthening family relationships, suicide prevention and others.

“When a soldier comes back, the spouse, whether male or female, was taking care of paying the bills, cutting the grass, getting the kids to school and everything else. When the soldier comes back, they need to learn to work together again,” Chaplain Jonathan Hale said.

The retreat, occurring about 60 days after the soldiers’ return from Iraq, is the second one they have attended and a third retreat will be held for them next month to help ensure each continues to re-adjust to civilian life, Cluck said.

“I think they have been very appreciative of the event. It has allowed an opportunity for soldiers both in a briefing format and on an individual basis to get questions answered on various benefits they can receive and opportunities available to them,” Lt. Col. Darrell Daniels said.

Tyronza Conard represented Central Baptist College’s Professional Adult College Education program at the retreat.

“We’re here to make sure soldiers are aware of their opportunities to go to college to either complete their degrees or start their degrees,” he said.

Susie Madsen, group travel services manager for the Pine Bluff Convention and Visitors Bureau, and others at the convention center prepared welcome bags for the soldiers last week filled with items donated by local businesses.

A retreat also will be at the Ramada on March 21-22, Madsen said, for soldiers based at Monticello and Camden.

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