The Command Religious Ministry Department (CRMD) aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) offers life skills classes to provide guidance and resources to help Sailors on and off duty.
“The life skills classes serve to enhance the well being of Sailors onboard the ship,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Tagaloa, a George Washington chaplain. “Through educating Sailors on these topics, practical instruction and experiences, our Sailors will learn a variety of skills that promote positive and healthy behaviors as well as equipping them with tools to attain their personal goals.”
The eight classes, offered throughout the month of June in the ship’s library, focus on topics including financial management, alcohol awareness, anger management, and sleep hygiene.
“The classes are led by different Sailors onboard who have had formal training in the topics they’re teaching,” said Tagaloa. “These instructors have stepped forward and volunteered to teach because they’re invested in sharing their knowledge, and take great interest and care in the topics they teach.”
Many classes taught at life skills deal with leadership issues. Sailors learn how to motivate, set goals, and how to take charge of certain aspects of their lives to promote an all-around healthy lifestyle.
“It’s our goal to instill hope in each Sailor that they can change unwanted behavior and replace it with a positive outlook about their lives,” said Tagaloa. “In the classes we’ll provide the tools to help map out a plan for achieving financial success, and promote ways to lead a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.”
According to Tagaloa, these courses are designed to benefit every Sailor aboard George Washington. Whether it’s managing the day-to-day stresses of life aboard a forward-deployed aircraft carrier or building communication skills to assist a Sailor in their personal or professional lives, the life skills classes can provide the framework to accomplish a person’s goals.
“We all want to improve something in our lives, whether it’s health, money or relationships,” said Tagaloa. “With a little time management, Sailors can have the successful career that they want while attaining those personal goals that seem to be put on the back burner.”
George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
[mappress] Press Release, June 02, 2014; Image: Wikimedia