Fact Sheets

ABOUT THE STRONG BONDS PROGRAM (SB)

The Army recognizes that Soldiers with strong marital and family relationships make better Soldiers. Strong Bonds (SB) was implemented to build Soldier readiness by providing skills that Soldiers can use to strengthen their marriages. Initially SB was intended solely for married couples, but it has now been expanded to include single Soldiers, families with children, and the special needs associated with deployment and redeployment. In addition, it has been approved Army-wide to include Army National Guard and Army Reserve units.
 
Program Overview

• Currently, 58 percent of today’s Soldiers are married. Of those Soldiers who are single a large percentage of them will marry while in the Army. In addition, about 30 percent of first-year Soldiers choose to leave the Army. It is believed that this rate could be significantly reduced if the Soldier had strong support from his/her family and loved ones.
• Strong Bonds is a unit-based, chaplain-led relationship program that will help give Soldiers and families the decision-making skills they need to succeed in their personal relationships. The program’s mission is to “build Soldier readiness by strengthening Army marriages and other personal relationships.”
• Strong Bonds is a preventive program: Data suggests that training in communication, intimacy & conflict management increases marriage satisfaction and reduces rates of family violence.
• A soar in the divorce rate of Army marriages, upwards of 60%, prompted the expansion of the Building Strong and Ready Families (BSRF) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1999 as a tool to strengthen stressed Army marriages.
• Since the program’s origination approximately 1,300 training events have been held and over 30,000 couples have been trained.
• With the satisfaction rate high among the participants (93 percent) and increasing support from commanders, Army leadership recognized the program’s success and inherent value to Army Families and the Army overall. Approval was given for expansion throughout the Army to include Guard and Reserve units as well as for expansion of the program offerings to include single Soldiers and their families.
• The program consists of preventive training that focus on building and strengthening strong marriages and relationships. Each program is designed to meet the needs of the Soldier and is administered through a training process that culminates in an off-site retreat.
• The newly expanded Strong Bonds features a number of new programs targeted for specific groups or individuals.
• Strong Bonds Single Soldier provides Soldiers with decision-making and relationship-building skills prior to marriage in an effort to see that military marriages start out with a good foundation. More than 50 percent of our Soldiers are single and a large percentage of them will marry while on active-duty.
• Strong Bonds Couples offers tools to strengthen the marital bond through effective communication and relationship-building. Soldiers and their spouses join other couples going through the program.
• Strong Bonds Family represents a long-term investment in the future of America’s Army. This program provides skill building for Army families including spouses, and children to enable them to work together while facing the rigors of military life. Children eight years of age and older can participate in most of the training.
• Strong Bonds Pre- and Re-deployment module provides tools to enable Army families to stay close through the crucible of deployment, and reintegrate back together at the conclusion of a long-term separation. This program will address PTSD, providing families with information and training that will assist in combat recovery.
• Chief of Chaplains supports the program which includes meals, travel, sometimes childcare, and an all expenses paid off-base weekend retreat for participating Soldiers or couples.
• Active duty Army families and Soldiers usually participate in Strong Bonds with their units. Reserve and Guard families and Soldiers will participate on a regional level. However, Soldiers from each component can participate in programs sponsored by other components on a space available basis. Course schedules and other program information can be found at www.Strongbonds.org.
• The new programs, Strong Bonds Single Soldier and Strong Bond Family began Spring/early Summer 2006, and the Strong Bonds Pre- and Re-deployment program began early Fall 2006.