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Rumba!

A couple dances the Rumba during the Sweetheart Dinner marriage enrichment event, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Red Morgan Center on Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. This event was one way the Fairchild AFB Chaplain Corps strives to promote a healthy, resilient community by providing quality of life programs that enhance the development and readiness of Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. David Liapis)

Pop quiz!

A couple fills out a “pop quiz” during the Sweetheart Dinner marriage enrichment event, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Red Morgan Center on Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The event, which featured a catered dinner and dessert, ballroom dance lessons, an inspirational message, special music, a photo booth and marriage resources, was free for the attendees and was paid for solely by the Chapel’s tithes and offerings fund. (Courtesy Photo/Kristina Liapis)

Inspiration

Chaplain (Capt.) Jeff McMillen, 92nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain, delivers an inspirational message about building stronger marriages during the Sweetheart Dinner marriage enrichment event, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Red Morgan Center on Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. About 40 active duty and Air National Guard couples, and 5 retired military couples from the Fairchild community attended the dinner. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. David Liapis)

Total Force Airmen enrich marriages during Sweetheart Dinner

Published Feb. 17, 2017
By Capt. David Liapis
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The Fairchild AFB chapel hosted a free “Sweetheart Dinner” marriage enrichment event Feb. 11, at the Red Morgan Center.

About 40 active duty and Air National Guard couples, and five retired military couples attended the event, which featured a catered dinner and dessert, ballroom dance lessons, an inspirational message, special music, a photo booth and marriage resources.

“The Chaplain Corps staff, contractors, and parishioners who contributed their time, effort or funding were honored host so many couples for an opportunity to spend quality time together,” said Ch. (Maj.) Shawn Bishop, 92nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain. “Every couple needs some quality time together. We live a demanding mission, so it's important to pause when we can.”

This event, which was paid for solely by the Chapel’s tithes and offerings fund, was one way the Fairchild Chaplain Corps strive to promote a healthy, resilient community through quality of life programs that enhance the development and readiness of Airmen and their families.

“Events like this are great … but it’s about the tools and resources provided that we hope these 90 people will take and use to build stronger, more resilient marriages,” Bishop stated. “A healthy home life directly contributes to the success of our Rapid Global Mobility mission by enabling our Airmen to have balanced lives where they can come to work and focus on what needs to be done there rather than be distracted by issues awaiting them at home.”

The Air Force has long recognized the link between an Airman’s resilience and their mission effectiveness, and has emphasized the strengthening of the four pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness – mental, physical, spiritual and social – through events such as this.

“There are stressors from normal military life that can become built up inside that can make us more prone to make mistakes, lose our temper or train of thought,” said Sidney McSwain, 92nd ARW Equal Opportunity specialist. “Opportunities like this allow us to put a pause on the strains of military life, decompress a bit and strengthen the elements required for a successful military marriage. It also helps us refocus on the mission and get back to the fight.”

The base chapel also offers a variety of scheduled events as well as 24/7 confidential counseling. More information can be found here: http://www.fairchild.af.mil/Units/Base-Chapel