Twenty-one spouses gathered to learn about a variety of topics related to military life during a Spouse Readiness Seminar here March 28.

The seminar included a social media awareness brief, a post-traumatic stress disorder briefs, a class that identifies and explains interpersonal communication skills. Participants also attended an informal lunch with commanders and sergeants major of Security and Emergency Services and Headquarters and Support Battalion.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the military, the Marine Corps and your spouse’s command,” said Col. Gino P. Amoroso, commander for SES. “It’s also a great time to make friends and get to know other spouses within your unit”

Will R. Pina, who has been a computer marketing specialist for Marine and Family Programs here for 14 years, educated spouses on the importance of monitoring things they say or do on the internet. He explained how social media users can adjust their privacy settings to avoid compromising operational security, identity theft and overall safety.

Martha J. Amoroso, the SES commander’s wife, said people don’t always understand the magnitude or consequences of the things they put on the Internet.

The seminar continued with a presentation by Lt. Cmdr. Charles A. Owens, the SES Chaplain, on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, fatigue and stress behaviors and symptoms, sleep deprivation, self-care strategies and fatigue stress injury.

Next, Marines and spouses sat with the commanders and sergeants major, and ate lunch while talking and asking questions.

Candace Fuller, the SES Family Readiness Officer, said this event was a good opportunity for spouses to understand the Marine Corps. She said it’s good for the spouses to finally put a “name to a face” of the command. Spouses often forget because of the stressors of their Marines job and that the people making them do that job has a family too.

“I would like spouses too come up with topics that interest them personally for future events,” said Martha. “I think it is really important to reach out to the family members, we want to have families involved and we don’t want people to feel isolated.”

For more information visit your unit’s E-Marine page.

Contact Cpl. Trevon S. Peracca at, Trevon.Peracca@usmc.mil.