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Lance Cpl. Yemili Maldonado listens to a yoga instructor while participating in a women’s group session in the Headquarters and Service Battalion classroom on February 17.

Photo by Photo by Eve A. Baker

Men’s and women’s groups hosted by H&S Bn. are open to all

10 Mar 2016 | Eve A. Baker Marine Corps Base Quantico

Every Wednesday from about 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m, men and women gather in the Headquarters and Service Battalion classroom, conference room, or chaplain’s office for conversation, activities and lunch. The men’s group and women’s group are open to all ranks, both officer and enlisted personnel, as well as civilian employees, said Cmdr. Abuhena Saifulislam, the H&S Bn. chaplain.

“We provide lunch every week, and people can just show up,” said Saifulislam. The groups are not limited to H&S Bn. personnel; anyone who works in the National Capital Region is welcome to attend. “Though we host it here, anyone can come. The base chaplains provide the community support and cover the cost of the lunches and supplies.”

While Saifulislam primarily moderates the men’s group, assisted by Silbert Grant, the battalion’s substance abuse control officer, he does occasionally also help out with the women’s group. He said that the men’s group tends to be more of a discussion group, while the women’s group likes to do activities regularly.

According to Saifulislam, the discussion of the men’s group tends to focus on frustrations or issues the men are experiencing, though he could not share any specific topics for this article because the group is confidential. “The junior and senior Marines are together, and when the junior Marines hear about the problems of senior Marines, they can learn from them and see that there is nothing problematic that is unique to them,” he said.

Saifulislam said he “inherited the group” about a year ago when he joined the command, though it had been in existence for a few years. He said he “wanted to elevate the group” somewhat and bring in more of a spiritual component to help the men see what they can learn from the topics of discussion.

Adriana Martinez, the H&S Bn. legal officer and a former Marine, moderates the women’s group with the assistance of the battalion’s Military and Family Life counselor (who is not identified so as to protect client confidentiality). The week before Valentine’s Day, Martinez said, “we did a ‘sip and paint’ where we painted wine glasses and did the Five Love Languages test. We had 36 women that day.”

Martinez said the meetings “typically consist of 10-30 females, all ranks and civilians.” The week after the “sip and paint,” the women did a yoga session, led by Rebecca Childress, a prevention education specialist and certified yoga instructor with the Family Advocacy Program.

“Yoga can help you feel confident in your body and feel secure,” Childress said. She, Martinez and the MFLC took the time to cover all the windows in the battalion classroom with paper or cardboard before the session so that the women could participate and stretch without anyone peaking in.

According to Martinez, the goal of the women’s group is “just to build stronger relationships among females. We’re quick to tear each other down, so we’re here to build each other up.”

H&S Bn. is located at 2006 Hawkins Ave. in Yale Hall. Those interested in attending a men’s or women’s group meeting can inquire about the meeting’s location in the building in the chaplain’s office on the first floor.

— ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com

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