by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Representatives from the Military Child Education Coalition are on Guam leading train the trainer workshops. The work of the non-profit, world-wide organization, formed in Texas in 1996, is focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition.

Bill Perry is with the Coalition and tells KUAM News, "We know that statistically Department of Defense-wide active Guard and reserve there are over 2 million military connected children and so we know that over a million of those children have been directly impacted as a result of the training the Military Child Education Coalition has done for the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marines and the Coast Guard active and reserve component."

Counselors from various schools on island are being taught how to recognize and address the issues children face when dealing with separation or trauma due to the loss or injury of a loved one. The two-day training session will allow for students in our schools to gain the tools needed to bounce back from life's hardships.

Guam Army National Guard's Major Jesse Pendon said, "The key thing is we train our counselors at the schools and they're able to group with their children during the deployment and while they are on deployment. If you take your kids on island, it basically free up a lot of anxiety."