Marine Corps Family Team Building Feeds Henderson Hall Director’s Soul
By Betty Snider | HQMC MF COMMSTRAT
Jessica Anderson-Novosad started her career in the Air Force and then earned a degree in early childhood education and became a teacher.
After she married a Marine, she jumped into the rhythm of changing jobs with every permanent change of station (PCS) move. After a while, she became burned out on teaching and started looking for a new professional challenge.
That’s how Anderson-Novosad discovered Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) and an avenue to use her teaching skills to help Marines and families.
Her first MCCS job was at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma as a Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) Trainer that specialized in Readiness Deployment Support and Life Skills classes. “I fell in love with it,” she said.
She enjoyed making connections with Marines and family members. “Every day was brand new.”
When her husband’s next PCS assignment took him to the Naval Academy, Anderson-Novosad experienced something new. “For the first time in my adult career, my job transferred with me,” she said.
At Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., she is the director of MCFTB.
MCFTB empowers Marines, families, and units with valuable resources and problem-solving skills to help them navigate the demands of military life.
Anderson-Novosad enjoys facilitating classes and making connections with Marines and families. She also appreciates how the Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge, and Skills (L.I.N.K.S.) program fosters connection and community among military spouses. “It gives people platforms to connect and give back to the military community.”
At Henderson Hall, personality-based classes like Four Lenses and Franklin Covey leadership classes are popular.
It warms Anderson-Novosad’s heart when someone on base recognizes her from a training class. “Training makes an impact. You might only have an hour with the person, but you can leave them with something that is memorable.”
For more information on MCFTB, visit www.usmc-mccs.org/mcftb.