Thirty-five dedicated and supportive ombudsmen from Commander, Joint Region Marianas; U.S. Naval Base, Guam; and their tenant commands were recognized during an appreciation luncheon at Top O’ the Mar in Asan, Guam Sept. 28.

During the luncheon, the ombudsmen received certificates of appreciation, while some additionally received bouquets of flowers and a plaque for their wholehearted contributions.

Seen across the Navy as the selfless volunteers, who serve as the means of communication between service members’ commands and their families, ombudsmen are respected for the healthy, self-reliant family lives they promote.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Becker of Coastal Riverine Group 1 Det. Guam, addressed the high percentage of deployed service members and expressed his thanks for the ombudsmen, who he believes play a key role in the lives of military families.

“The ombudsman is critical. They take care of our family,” he said. “People take their own personal time, which, nowadays, a lot of people don’t have a lot of depending on their family situation, and dedicating it to the command and other families and helping them out and getting them through some of the tougher times.”

For USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) ombudsman Valerie Maigue, being an ombudsman can be challenging with the variety of life changes that a military family experiences, such as births, deaths, and natural disasters. However, there’s something deeply satisfying about the job that has kept her at it, especially having been a Navy wife for 16 years. 

“The most gratifying thing is really to just be able to help our families,” she said. “They come to you with some of their problems and some of their issues. It’s being able to allow people to let them know that it’s going to be okay.”

Helping military families overcome their obstacles, JRM ombudsman Tenille Radzyminski finds fulfillment in the process.

“When a family member is going through a rough spot, it tears up my heart, but I want to help them,” she said. “I love being involved with the families and getting to know everyone (and) giving back and helping contribute to a good, close-knit community.”

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