Readiness & Deployment Support

Readiness and Deployment Support Trainers (RDST) at Camp Pendleton provide a variety of readiness education and deployment support.

• All readiness training: pre-, during-, and post-deployment briefings and workshops
• Unique challenges of deployment faced by active duty personnel and their family members
• Education on maintaining a constant state of readiness independent of deployment

To register for workshops, contact the Readiness & Deployment Support office. Family Readiness Officers or members of a Command Team in need of a unit-specific brief or workshop may contact the RDST line at (760) 763-1337.

Briefings & Workshops

Pre-Deployment Brief:  For active duty personnel and is facilitated on a unit specific basis 30-60 days prior to deployment. Family Readiness Officers or members of a Command Team may call to schedule a brief with an RDST.  Topics include:

• Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) programs
• Financial planning
• Powers of Attorney
• Legal, personal preparation
• Spouse relocation
• TRICARE
• Family Care Plan
• Combat Operational Stress Continuum
• American Red Cross
• Postal
• Communication
• Military OneSource

Warrior Kids Series Ages 5-12:  For children ages 5-12 with a parent already deployed. Each workshop within the series addresses topics focused on expressing emotion, staying connected and preparing for the homecoming. Open to all families who have a Marine or Sailor deployed.

Kids and Deployment:  For children ages 5-12 and the remain-behind parent at the beginning of the deployment cycle. Facilitated by RDST and the Families Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS) project. This 90-minute workshop is split, with parents training in one room, and children receiving a “kids” version in another. The last 30 minutes brings parents and children together for a team building exercise. Childcare available for ages 4 and under. Open to all families who have a Marine or Sailor deployed.

Kids In the Midst:  For children ages 5-12 “in the midst” of a deployment. A 2-hour workshop facilitated by RDST and the FOCUS project. Features a short FOCUS workshop, as well as, three venues or “stations” for children to create and complete projects and activities. Open to all families who have a Marine or Sailor deployed.

Kids and Reunion:  Kids and Reunion helps children and parents prepare to positively and successfully adjust to the return of a deployed parent.  Kids ages 5-12 will learn communication tools and how to express their feelings in a workshop facilitate by FOCUS, while parents will participate in a separate workshop that teaches the tools necessary to help facilitate family re-integration.  For the last 30 minutes of the workshop, parents and kids will join together for a team building exercise. 

Spouses In the Midst:  Designed as a day for spouses “in the midst” to help develop and enhance the tools needed for inner strength and endurance during separation of deployment. Topics include:

• Fun
• Education
• Communication
• Relaxation
• Networking

This workshop is offered to all spouses at Camp Pendleton. Childcare is available.

Return and Reunion:  This interactive workshop for spouses discusses the expectations and challenges associated with the return and reintegration of deployed active duty personnel. Topics include:

• Homecoming planning
• Communication
• Tools for managing stress
• Romance and intimacy

This workshop is facilitated on a unit specific basis 14-30 days prior to a homecoming. Family Readiness Officers or members of a Command Team may call to schedule a brief with an RDST.