Chaplain leads first Strong Bonds retreat of 2021

By Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs

SANTA FE, N.M. – Chaplain (Col.) Elmon and Lynn Krupnik led the first Strong Bonds weekend retreat of the year for 10 couples at the Drury Plaza Hotel here May 14-16, 2021. The theme was “Counting Our Blessings.”

The Krupniks, who have been married for 41 years, have led Strong Bonds retreats for 12 years drawing on successes and mistakes in their own relationship.

The chaplain has completed 41 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army National Guard, enabling the couple to bring a well-tested military perspective to the instruction. Lynn, incidentally, is a practicing attorney.

The Krupniks were assisted by others, of course, notably representatives from the New Mexico Army National Guard’s Family Assistance Programs.

Topics included spiritual resilience, communication, financial advice, family services, intimacy, and more. The couples were treated to dinner Friday and Saturday nights, breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings, and free time Saturday afternoon.

“It’s a holistic approach,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Thi Truong.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, attended the opening night with his wife Dawn.

“For military families, military couples, our life is different from the rest of society,” Nava said. “We know that. They may not know that, but you think about deployments, extended periods of time when you’re away from each other, relocation, these are the things that the rest of society doesn’t have to deal with—not the way we do, certainly not the way we do.”

Turning to the NMNG’s service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nava pointed out that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham “was very complimentary” in her remarks during the May 6 Faith Heritage Breakfast.

“I’m so proud of the National Guard’s response to COVID, and it’s been a joint response, Air National Guard and Army National Guard have worked very closely together and we’ve done an incredible job—not Ken Nava—you guys and the Soldiers you work with,” Nava said. “I’m very proud of our National Guard—two services, one New Mexico National Guard.”

Nava then urged the couples to make the most of the retreat.

“This weekend is going to be an opportunity for you to work on your own individual relationships,” Nava said. “The ideal of building Soldier resilience and family resilience is especially important to us at this time right now.”