CASSANDRA A. FORTIN: BOOK GEARED TOWARD RESERVISTS AND NATIONAL GUARD COUPLES >>>

About three years ago Mike Schindler's best friend was deployed to Afghanistan. 

He decided to put together a keepsake for his son - who is Schindler's godson - consisting of e-mail, notes, pictures, and instant messages.

"The keepsake idea grew to much more," Schindler said.  "We interviewed couples, chaplains, and marriage experts on what keeps military families together during deployments."

The fruit of his labor was a book called Operation Military Family, which was published by Aviva Publishing, a turnkey self-publishing service based out of Lake Placid, N.Y.

The book, which is geared toward reservists and National Guard couples, comprises nine strategies to help couples strengthen their marriages and two chapters of valuable resources. 

"Active duty couples chose the life; they know it will involve separation," said Schindler, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1988-1990 and as a reservist from 1990 to 1994.  "But reservists have jobs and a life outside the military."

In addition to the book, Schindler, who graduated with a degree in English from Western Washington University in 1994, started an organization called Operation Military Family. In April 2009 he began offering Oxygen for Your Relationship seminars through the organization.

"My goal is to provide a support network for soldiers," Schindler, 39, said.  "I want to help preserve and strengthen military families and relationships.  I believe that a strong marriage means a strong family, and a strong family means a strong military."

There are three ways couples can choose to use Schindler's program.  The first is to go to the Web site and take a couples checklist for a cost of $29.95 per couple.  Upon completion, the couple will receive a customized discussion guide on how to improve their relationship.  The second is to buy the book and do the workbook pages at the end of each chapter together.  And the third is to schedule or attend a scheduled Oxygen workshop. 

"I am willing to come to meet with people, free of charge, and give them mini seminars," Schindler said. "I want people to realize that they are not alone.  I want them to see that there are things that they can do to keep their marriages strong during deployments."