The Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) aboard aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) sponsored a Marriage Preparation Workshop in the ship's theater Nov. 9.

"An hour and a half-long class simply scratches the surface of the topic of marriage," said Lt. Cmdr. William Dorwart, a Washington chaplain. "The goal of the initial gathering was to stir the pot highlighting some of the key themes and issues surrounding the marriage relationship."

Master Chief Master-at-Arms Arcolia Rains assisted with facilitating the workshop.

"By sharing my experiences, hopefully, people [Sailors] will build off of that and not make the same mistakes I did as a junior Sailor," said Rains. "I shared the story of my first marriage, emphasizing the importance of taking the time to date, understand and learn your partner before deciding to get married. Marriage is about setting a foundation for your future. It's a lifetime commitment and people oftentimes forget about that."

Topics covered in the Marriage Prep Workshop included personal strengths and limitations, communication skills and practical concerns to include legal, administrative and financial issues.

"In the midst of the feelings they have and the excitement they share at this moment in their lives, many engaged couples spend more time planning for the wedding than for their actual marriage which involves a way of life and a lifetime," said Dorwart. "It is good to step into the adventure with both the excitement and as much knowledge as they can acquire."

Dorwart also said CRMD hopes to provide valuable information and tools that may help engaged Sailors get a healthy start. They also hope to sponsor future workshops for Sailors who have been married for a few years.

"Although only one spouse was present during the workshop, it provided an opportunity for personal reflection and renewal," said Dorwart.

Marriage Preparation Workshop facilitators agreed that the mission of the course is to help prepare young Sailors for marriage and give couples a better chance for lasting success in those marriages.

"I think being educated will better prepare our Sailors for life's challenges," said Rains. "We hope to continue to equip them with the proper tools to allow them to have a successful marriage in the future."

Washington is deployed as part of Southern Seas 2015 which seeks to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability and build and maintain relationships with countries throughout the region through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation.

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/.