The Guardian Bear program began in 2005, when the 1-34th Brigade Combat Team (1-34 BCT) deployed to Iraq.  The Guardian Bear is a teddy bear with a camouflaged vest meant for the child and deploying parent to use as a tool to stay connected during the deployment.  Some parents put notes with the bear for the child to read or photos for the child to look at. The Guardian Bear played such an important role in the deployment process for families that it has evolved to be more of an educational tool. 

 
The new bear, dubbed the Hero Bear, is a bear that the child puts together with their deploying parent at the Family Prep Academy. The process is similar to Build A Bear, with the child even putting a symbolic heart inside of the bear and receiving a birth certificate along with it.

The process of building the bear with their parent and educational classes for the family about deployment, give more meaning to the bear for the child and assist them in coping with their parent being deployed.

The 1-34 BCT is facing another deployment next year and many of these Soldiers are the same ones that deployed in 2005, this time the Hero Bear will take over for the Guardian Bear in comforting the brave children of the deploying Soldiers.

For more information about how you can assist a military child in receiving a Hero Bear contact SGT Amy Smith at 651-268-8204 or amy.dee.smith@us.army.mil.

 

 
"Each time is different and getting better." Baumtrog said.  Both her and her husband agree there are more tools now than there have been in the past, for both Servicemembers and their families to utilize.

When asked if they noticed a difference in their relationship between the 30-Day and 60-Day re-integrations, they said they know better how to communicate with each other.  They are able to read and gauge each other better when situations arise and they feel more relaxed and less stressed out about the transition time.

 
Baumtrog is on leave from work this time as well, she said before she always rushed back into work, and felt that caused even more problems.  So this time she is taking time for herself and will return to work when she feels ready to.

Baumtrog says the overall feelings from the Reintegration Events are good and positive.  She knows with this training provided, her and her soldiers are able to make the transition so much easier.

"How you deal with it afterwards is what counts,"  Said Baumtrog.

 

 

 

 

Learn more about this and other loans for Servicemembers in the Veterans Small Business Seminar at a location near you in the next few months.

 

 

 
The shirts will to be sent on a deployment to be handed out by Servicemembers to war affected children.  The donation will benefit the children by giving them needed clothing and strengthening their sentiment towards the United States.
 
Not only will the donation strengthen the bond between citizens of Iraq or Afghanistan and the United States, but it strengthens the bond in the Minnesota Community between Minnesota Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota National Guard.
 
The idea for the donation came forward when the Values Team for Minnesota Sports & Entertainment met and spoke with Minnesota Hockey who had excess clothing to donate. After devising a plan to donate the clothing, the Values Team contacted the Family Assistance Center to see if the Minnesota National Guard could use the items in some capacity. In addition to the clothing Minnesota Hockey donated the Minnesota Wild also donated a few boxes of clothing.