US Naval Special Warfare: Training Families

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Deployments aren’t easy for active personnel. They can be even harder on families, and the impacts don’t end when the deployment does. In recent years, the US military has recognized the effect family difficulties have on its all-volunteer force, and placed a higher priority on family assistance programs. The priority is especially urgent with respect to special forces, who are deployed more often because they’re in such high demand. That means trouble if family problems cause them to decide to do something else. Even if replacing existing operators is possible, it’s time-consuming, difficult, and costly.

One example of the US military’s response is the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Resiliency Program, which recently issued a contract worth up to $44.4 million to Loving Couples Loving Children, Inc. in Seattle, WA. This LCLC program was originally developed by John and Julie Gottman for low-income couples expecting a child...

John Gottman is known for his work identifying the predictors of relationship success and failure, while Julie Gottman provides advanced training in marriage education and couples therapy. The LCLC program was designed to get away from traditional lectures and didactic instruction. Instead, it uses video “talk shows” with real couples discussing relationship issues, followed by group discussion, and then training that teaches specific skills and techniques to address the issues raised in the video.

The initial contract is for $9.4 million, and covers family resiliency assessment analysis, workshops, and training programs. Contract options could push this total to the $44.4 million maximum. Work will be performed in Seattle, WA, and is expected to be complete July 2012. With options exercised, work will continue through March 31, 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two offers received. The NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N00189-11-C-Z044).