LINKS

On-Site Childcare

Our caregivers are trained employees of the Child Development Centers at Camp Lejeune. Childcare is provided free of charge!

If you need childcare, please remember to:

· Bring breakfast and lunch for your child, a change of clothes, etc.
· Label all items.
· Arrive early because we start promptly at 9 A.M.

Volunteer Opportunities

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO VOLUNTEER AT L.I.N.K.S.?

If you haven’t already taken the L.I.N.K.S. class, that’s the first step! At the end of the class, you’ll be given the opportunity to fill out a form indicating what volunteer opportunities you would like to be involved with. After attending the L.I.N.K.S. Orientation, you’ll be ready to get started by contributing your unique skills to the Camp Lejeune L.I.N.K.S. Team!! If you’ve already taken L.I.N.K.S. and are ready to take the next step, please call the office at 910-451-1299 for information about our next Orientation.

L.I.N.K.S. Mentor Our mentors are trained to teach and facilitate L.I.N.K.S. sessions.	L.I.N.K.S. Mentor Manager Serves as a coordinator of mentors and helps to manage sessions.		Marketing Committee Helps develop a marketing strategy to effectively promote L.I.N.K.S. at Camp Lejeune and New River.
Hospitality Committee Assist in welcoming participants, preparing food and ensure that participant’s needs are met.			Team Historian Preserves and records the activities of the L.I.N.K.S. team.

L.I.N.K.S. for Units

1 Day Unit Session,
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2-Day Unit Session,
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m

Unit Sessions are planned and coordinated by the Family Readiness Officer or Family Readiness Staff NCO. If you are a spouse contact to your FRO to find out if they’re planning a session for the families of your unit!

Call 451-1299 to set-up a date!

L.I.N.K.S. Team Provides
Mentors (Teachers) for the Session
All Props and Booklets
Resource Table
Name Tags
Facility
ID tags for all Graduates

Unit Provides
Cake for Graduation
Lunch (Ideas attached)
Childcare

Most Commands give the Marine the day off to baby-sit while his spouse attends L.I.N.K.S. If the Marine is away, we can provide limited childcare on-site.

Guest Speaker (VIP)
The Unit can provide a VIP, such as the Commanding Officer of the Unit, or one can be provided with advanced notice to the L.I.N.K.S. office. The VIP says a few words of appreciation and graduates each participant at the Graduation Ceremony.

Chaplain
The Chaplain's part in the program is to let the participants get to know their Unit Chaplain, to tell them what he/she can do for them, and to talk about Communication skills, and CREDO. (Your Chaplain should contact us for his part.)

Key Volunteers and Unit specific information
The Key Volunteers of your unit are highly encouraged to actively participate in your L.I.N.K.S. Session. The Key Volunteers are given 5 minutes to introduce themselves and hand out rosters during lunch. Also, please do not hesitate to produce any Unit specific information for distribution. This program is to inform and bond the spouses of your unit, so please take full advantage of this time.
To register, have your spouses contact our office at 451-1299. A spouse is not registered for the unit session unless he or she calls the office to register. The unit or Key Volunteers should not take registrations so that L.I.N.K.S. can have an accurate count of attendees.

L.I.N.K.S. - Lifestyles, Insights, Networking, Knowledge, Skills

LINKS Camp Lejeune
Program Manager:
Giovana Declet
MCFTB Office Address:
Marine Corps Community Services
Attn: MCFTB L.I.N.K.S.
1401 West Road
Camp Lejeune NC
28547-2539

Tel: 910 451-1299 DSN: 751-1299
E-mail: mccslejlinks@usmc-mccs.org

The United States Marine Corps derives its vitality and viability from its core values: HONOR, COURAGE, and COMMITMENT. These values are demonstrated daily, wherever Marines are engaged, and they are manifested in the pledge to “take care of their own.” These same principles underlie the dedicated service of Marine families who seek to help themselves and each other to ensure family well being, support their communities, and positively impact mission readiness.

LINKS Part of ensuring this mission readiness is the program L.I.N.K.S., which provides you with the information and tools that will help improve your lifestyle as a Marine spouse, family member or significant other. Even if you think that you know everything about the Marine Corps, there are always new ideas and information to be shared. If you are a member of the Marine Corps family, L.I.N.K.S. will help you to understand and be better equipped for this unique way of life.

L.I.N.K.S. is a volunteer mentoring program that was designed by spouses for spouses in 1997 at Quantico, Virginia. In order to better serve the needs of Marines and their families we are extending the reach of L.I.N.K.S. to include other family members and significant others. Our L.I.N.K.S. Team is well prepared and eager to share their wealth of knowledge with you! Some of the topics discussed during the sessions are: Communication Skills; USMC Structure; History and Traditions; Benefits and Privileges; Resources available for Marines and their families at Camp Lejeune and New River; Leave and Earnings Statement; Surviving the Deployment and Moving Processes. At L.I.N.K.S., our mentor spouses share their own experiences and tips so that you are better prepared for your life as the family member of a Marine.

Tour Of A Session

At L.I.N.K.S. we learn about the military life, have fun and make new friends!

TOPICS COVERED :

Introduction
Explains the concept behind L.I.N.K.S. and how the program got started.
The Corps
Discusses the history, traditions, and culture of the Marine Corps.
Getting Along
This section is taught by a Chaplain and focuses on communication and the role of Chaplains in the Marine Corps.
Getting Through the Maze
Highlights the benefits of being a military family member and the many services and agencies available on and off base.
Is That All There Is?
Explains the Leave and Earnings Statement, military pay and allowance, basic budgeting, and money saving tips.
Your Marine’s Away
Discusses the deployment process and how to plan for and thrive during separations.
Crossroads
Highlights military moves, allowances available, and tips on making your moves easier.
Stay Marine – This section features a career planner who will explain the different incentives available to Marines and their families who chose to “Stay Marine.”
Investing in Your Community - This portion of the class challenges the participants to “Bloom Where They Are Planted” and make their new duty station their home by getting involved.
Closure/Celebration – Certificates are handed out and participants are given their “Bags and Tags.” There is a summation of the L.I.N.K.S. journey and encouragement of the participants to continue developing their knowledge and skills and to “Pass The Word” to others.

Schedule of Classes

2008-2009 Calendar

910-451-1299

2008 & 2009

August
4 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
7 FRO/Deputy Training 0900-1345
11 Lunch Box Brief for HQ Support Bn 1130-1230
14 CLR27 Unit Session 0900-1600
19 & 20 2 Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)

September
8 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
9 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
11 FRO/Deputy Training 0900-1345
17 & 18 2 Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)
20 10th Mar Reg Unit Session 0900-1600
23 MSOAG Unit Session 0900-1530
26 8th Comm Unit Session 0900-1630

October
6 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
1, 2, 3, 28, 29 &30 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530
2 26 MEU Command Element Unit Session
3 8th Marine Regiment Unit Session 0900-1630
8 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
9 LINKS Lunch Box Brief 1130-1230
21 & 22 2 Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)
28, 29, & 30 Evening Sessions 1800-2100

November
3 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
4 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
13, 14 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530

December
1 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
4 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630

January 09
5 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
9, 15 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530
13 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
22 FRO/Deputy Training 0900-1345

February
2 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
10 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
12, 13 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530
19 & 20 2 Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)
24, 25, or 26 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530

March
2 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
10 & 11 2 Day spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)
18 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
19, 24, 25, or 26 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530

April
2 FRO/Deputy Training 0900-1345
6 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
8 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
9, 10, 21, 24, 28 or 30 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530
15 & 16 2 Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1300 (Each Day)
29 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630

May
4 LINKS Team Meeting 0930-1030
5 One Day Spouse’s LINKS 0900-1630
6,7, 20 or 21 Generalized Unit Session 0900-1530

***Saturday and Evening Sessions will be hosted at an alternate facility, dates will be incorporated to the calendar soon***

Revised 07/21/08
E-mail: mccslejlinks@usmc-mccs.org

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