The Military Lifestyle Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC)
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If you are in the Canadian Armed Forces or a family member connected to the military, the lifestyle can be a challenge. CFB Esquimalt's Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) explores deployments, postings, transitions and more through interviews with MFRC staff, experts in the community, military members and military-connected family members. There should be no concern about rank or trade, or finding the time to get through the doors at the MFRC. The goal is to meet you where you live and to help you prepare and get a plan in place so that you can master the military lifestyle.
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A Mental Health Journey
You never know where life will take you. For Bruno Guevremont, it took him into the Canadian Armed Forces for 15 years, including two tours in Afghanistan. It also took him on a battle with his own mental health, one where he got help, and is now helping others.
Special Guest
Bruno Guevremont was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for 15 years including time in the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Navy. In addition to being a mental health advocate, Bruno does high performance coaching with organizations and individuals.
Highlights
Bruno's backstory. The experience of dismantling roadside bombs. 4:41 How he knew he needed help with his mental health. Impact on his family life. 10:49 You can only connect the dots looking backward. What he would tell military members and their families about mental health. 17:47 What really changed things around for him. The power of the expedition to the North Pole. Would he do anything different? 24:24 This journey of mental health is something you constantly work on. Quotes
"The military told you you can no longer serve in the military. But nobody told you that you could no longer serve your country. We need you in the communities we need the training that you've done. Nobody puts the amount of money in training you all around and all kinds of things like the military does. Basically, the average price between basic training to fully trades qualified, whichever trades you're picking up in the military is about a million dollars, you're worth a million dollars, you're a Million Dollar Man. So use those skills because they are needed in community." - Bruno Guevremont
"And that starts by making a plan of before while you're joining in basic training and all that and, and really creating that support system around you and saying, hey, guys, what if? Because it might happen. And what if it happens, how we're going to deal with it?" - Bruno Guevremont
"If you want to find out who you are, the military will show you that. It's the right platform to really find out what your abilities are, what you're capable of, and who you truly are at the core." - Bruno Guevremont
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Bruno's website True Patriot Love Expeditions Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life. -
Healthy Nutrition
Food can do many things, it fuels us up, keeps us going, brings friends and family together. A healthy diet, so many positive effects on our lives. But during times of stress, it can be hard to keep the motivation.
Special Guest
Alli Jones is a health promotion specialist at CFB Esquimalt.
Highlights
Canada's new food guide looks way different. Micro and macro nutrients. 7:13 MUFAs and PUFAs. Eat a variety of foods. A few good habits. 15:21 Having a plan is setting yourself up for success. Staying motivated by you're cooking solo, or cooking solo for kids Staying motivated through isolation and loneliness. Quotes
“All of us engage with food very differently. So it's really about figuring out you know, what triggers you? You know, if you're feeling low or if you're feeling lonely? Is your comfort found in food? Do you crave those maybe those higher fat foods when you're feeling low or when you're feeling tired? The first step is awareness and understanding, you know, what drives me to make these choices or what triggers me to make these choices." - Alli Jones
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Health Promotion Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life. -
Techniques for Relaxation, Productivity and Happiness
Now, some believe if you work harder, you'll be more successful. If you're more successful, then you'll be happier. Maybe not that simple. Living in the military lifestyle can be a handful, but wouldn't it be great to feel more productive living the life.
Special Guest
Sarah Francescutti is mindset coach with Exhale and Thrive Coaching. A former military member, she also works at CFB Esquimalt's Transition Centre.
Highlights
Prioritizing the things that are important in life. 4:09 Filling yourself up. Writing out what you should focus on. 8:34 Using your schedule as an intention setter. 10:19 Inside-out scheduling. Look at your life, what you do with your time and assign it a number. 15:48 Even robots need maintenance. For military families, each transition presents an opportunity. Quotes
“You've probably heard about filling up your own cup first so that you can help others it's the same kind of concept. But I think of it more like a vehicle. Most everybody has a car. And you know, if you're running on empty fuel, you're likely gonna burn out, run out of gas on the side of the road and be stuck between here and wherever you're trying to get to. And the same sort of concept comes to mind, in your work and your personal life." - Sarah Francescutti
"It's more around, working less hard, making things easier, prioritizing the things that are important. And when you know what those are, then you can choose where you put your focus and your time and your energy, then your productivity soars." - Sarah Francescutti
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Exhale and Thrive Coaching Inside-Out Scheduling Guide Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life. -
Healthy Relationships
Relationships are great, but they're not always easy. Got to make time for each other, got to communicate. If you're in a relationship with a military member, in the context of the lifestyle, it's just more complex. This episode explores what you need for a healthy relationship and some things to watch out for.
Special Guest
Holly Flower is a social worker and counsellor with the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre.
Highlights
Characteristics of a healthy relationship Financial issues can be massive. 10:44 The importance of trust 11:58 Anger gets a bad rap. Red flags 16:36 Communication and how we are showing up in the relationship Do not take relationships for granted. Quotes
“It's really critical that we're prioritizing our relationships, that we're not taking them for granted, that we are learning how to turn towards one another, how to communicate with one another, how to have each other's back when it does get difficult." - Holly Flower
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Healthy Relationship on CAF Connection Family Information Line Member Assistance Program Holly's Recommended Book List
"Hold Me Tight - Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love" by Dr. Sue Johnson "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by Dr. John M. Gottman Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life. -
Trauma Resilience
Trauma. Postal Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those words might spark a reaction in you. Imagine being able to change the culture around trauma and PTSD. Imagine when people seek treatment, it feels the same way as recovering from any other injury.
Special Guest
Dr. Tim Black is an Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. He has been working with the Canadian military and Veteran community for over 20 years and has delivered programs to help people with trauma.
Highlights
What causes trauma in a military setting 5:28 The effects of a traumatic injury How do you know if you need help? Stigma 19:06 Could receiving treatment for trauma be as accepted as getting physiotherapy on a knee injury With trauma, it is a social responsibility for us to foster resilience 26:12 The role that families can play Quotes
"If you're suffering you're suffering, you don't have to have anybody's permission to seek help when you're suffering. If you're upset and you're suffering, go talk to someone. I wouldn't wait." - Dr. Tim Black
"Part of the reason I agreed to do this is really trying to help people understand when someone's traumatized, they're just not finished a process, and their brain is trying to finish it. And that's why and it's exhausting. When your brain continually tries to finish off this process, it's exhausting, because it never stops, it never takes a break. So if we can help people finish what they need to finish and support them to do that, then they can come out the other side." - Dr. Tim Black
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Wounded Warriors Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life. -
ABC’s of Military Postings
Military postings can be as easy as ABC, but there's still a lot to think about a lot of fine details. So let's explore what to do before you get your posting message, after you receive it, then after your move.
Special Guest
A former military member, Carole Lajoie is the Director of Education and Collaboration with the Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman's office in Ottawa, Ontario.
Highlights
Updating your budget 2:54 Important questions to ask before you get your posting message Post Living Differential 8:27 After you get your posting message Things to consider during a house hunting trip What needs to be done after your move Quotes
“The best way to get through a posting is that you share the load when you consider the conditions now, all you have to consider, it can be overwhelming, but it's at the same time. There's so many tools. It's cool to have that so you can have a look before you actually get the posting instructions." - Carole Lajoie
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The ABC's of Military Postings CAF Ombudsman House Hunting Trips - Information on Different Community Conditions Thank you
Thank you to Organized Sound Productions for their help bringing this podcast to life.