If you were about to go on an extended journey to a foreign country, you would want to do research and learn as much as you could to make your trip enjoyable and successful. You might need a passport, guidebook, and map to start off in the right direction.
Now, think about a spouse embarking on his or her journey as a Navy spouse for the first time. To this spouse, the Navy seems like a foreign land with its' own language, customs, traditions, health care system, inherent moves, and deployments.
COMPASS is a standardized Team-Mentoring program developed by spouses for spouses. COMPASS focuses on spouses new to the Navy, however; all spouses are welcome. COMPASS improves quality of life through education, enabling spouses to understand, experience and meet the challenges of the Navy lifestyle. With this knowledge and realistic expectations, their journeys can be successful and rewarding. COMPASS is a 12-hour program taught in three four-hour sessions.
With Mentors acting as discussion leaders, participants are encouraged to ask any questions they may have in a non-judgmental climate. There is one Mentor Team at each location. Session Teams come from the main Mentor Team and teach each COMPASS session.
Typically, Session Teams consist of four Mentors. Participants are introduced to many aspects of the Navy. The standardized curriculum includes need-to-know topics such as the Navy mission, history, organization, customs and traditions, rights and benefits (health, use of the commissary and exchange, Fleet and Family Support Centers), deployment, pay, moving, interpersonal communication, and investing in self and community.
Another important benefit of COMPASS is the opportunity for spouses to establish a peer network. Because experienced spouses pass on their Navy lifestyle insights, the concept of "helping others to help themselves" is clearly observable and becomes an on-going action-oriented process. COMPASS is one of the many innovative ideas coming to fruition at Naval Services FamilyLine. For more information call 1-877-673-7773 or email the COMPASS Program Director at nsfamline@aol.com
Here's what some recent COMPASS "graduates" are saying about the program.
At COMPASS I learned...
- There is always someone out there willing to help
- How to find these people!
- That I would like to help other wives
- The importance of checking into all the resources available to Navy spouses, like FFSC, Navy Relief, Chaplain, etc.
- New phone numbers to call for information
- How to make your moving more efficient
- That there are a lot of things out there for military spouses
- I learned that I am not the only Navy spouse that doesn't know acronyms!
- I learned some good moving tips - such as what to bring with you in the car
- Better communication
- Lots of info about moving
- How to better help families deal with deployments
- You don't have to stand alone
- How better to communicate effectively with my husband and others
- A good way to look at financial matters, especially credit cards
- That moving w/ the Navy can be a very challenging thing, but can be survived
- Learned moving expenses and pays
- Learned communication skills from the Chaplain
- Learned about local things for children to do
- Learned "what to wear"
- Flexibility is an absolute MUST!!
- NEVER believe the media or rumors!
- Deployment can be a positive, self-fulfilling event - support is available!
- Be flexible
- Communicate
- Finance Info
- Moving Info. Thank you!
- How to read an LES and what's on the LES
- How to cope w/ children and yourself for deployment
- Learned about web sites that I can get information from
- The importance of the Ombudsman
- That preparation and flexibility are your best friends
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