Some married couples fight to the point of screaming and yelling, which can lead to one side blaming the other. But in the nine-week ScreamFree Marriage course, offered by JBLM's Army Community Service, the focus is more on the individual rather than both people in the relationship.

"It's about taking care of yourself to take care of your marriage," said Candy Campbell, ACS family advocacy program specialist.

The class is certified by the ScreamFree Institute, which designed the course based on "The Self-Centered Marriage" by Hal Edward Runkel. Consisting of eight principals, the course covers the different ways to self-improvement as the key to saving a struggling marriage.

The first class on April 4 began with the principle "If a person doesn't have themselves under control, they cannot find a connection with someone else." The following week the principle focused on what a person has inside rather than focusing on what a couple has in common.

"There are things that draw us together and there are things that are just different enough that keeps it interesting," said Karen Fox, course instructor and ACS family advocacy program specialist.

In each class the group watches a video on one of the principles from the book before going into a discussion for the remainder of the 90-minute period.

"It definitely helps with new ideas and brings out some truths," said Spc. John Clements, 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment.

In the videos Runkel uses humor and stories to help drive home the principles the program teaches. "You don't feel bad about these issues," said Patty Jo McGill.

Because the class is open to walk-ins, people who missed the first two or three classes are still able to attend the remainder of the course.

"If someone misses the first three classes, they can read the book and catch up," Campbell said. "We want to make it convenient for people to show up with their spouse or by themselves."

The openness of the course is appreciated by service members and their spouses who are busy with work and their families.

"You don't get in trouble because you didn't go to an appointment," Clements said.

The ScreamFree Marriage class is noon to 1:30 p.m. each Thursday through May 23 and located at the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Building 2013, Room 102 on 3rd Street and Liggett Ave.

For more information about the course, call 967-5901.