MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- With the constant number of deployments which service members participate in, families are separated several times a year for a substantial amount of time.
United Through Reading is a program aimed at Station parents who may find themselves in this situation. Parents can now read to their children despite being halfway across the globe.
The only prerequisite is a videocassette so the reading session can be recorded and sent back home.
According to Cpl. Joshua A. Roman, Combat Visual Information Center combat photographer, "before coming and reading, an appointment must be made. Once an appointment is made, you can just come in, sit down and read."
"Honestly, it doesn't get any easier than this," said Maj. Michael Rodriguez, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 aircraft maintenance officer. "The camera is set up and the Marines at CVIC are standing by to record. The only requirement is to select a book and bring a videocassette."
The convenient setup allows for a minimal amount of time to be taken while enabling a chance to send a positive message back home.
"This is a great way of keeping in touch with the children," said Capt. Gregory Baker, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 pilot. "I recorded a couple of tapes a couple years ago, so that my wife can show them to the kids while I was gone."
Baker, father of three added, "This will be a nice treat since they have been watching the same tapes for the past two years to see something new."
"Reading aloud helps children develop their imaginations and will help them learn to be attentive," said Rodriguez, a La Mesa, Calif., native. "Additionally, reading aloud to children helps them to improve in their vocabulary and is far more constructive than television. More importantly, reading to my children gives me a chance to spend quality time with them."
Taking as much time out of a day to sit and communicate with family back home can be compromised for the happiness of loved ones.
"The only limitation may be that the CVIC is open only during the daytime, Monday to Friday," said Rodriguez, a husband and father of four children.
"For those with any sort of apprehension about this program, I can tell you that it's one of the easiest and most rewarding things you'll do for your children while deployed. Even for those based here, it would be a great idea to record a tape now which you can leave when you head out on a deployment of any duration."
For more information or to make an appointment, contact CVIC at 253-3043.