Honey, can you hear me now?

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- How much does your personal life affect your performance on the job? Chances are, if you and your "honey bunch" seem to have lost common ground, the problems will show themselves at your workplace as well.

James W. Bertolini, Family Advocacy outreach manager and a clinical social worker, explained that military members who are having relationship issues can really impact the mission. If Airmen are deployed overseas worrying about what's going on at home, the probability of them and their fellow Airmen getting hurt is greater, because they're stressed out, upset and not concentrating on their jobs, he said.

"Our main objective is to facilitate communication between couples in order to develop a healthy relationship at home that will positively influence the Air Force mission," Mr. Bertolini said.

Mr. Bertolini explained that most of the time couples have problems due to a lack of effective communication.

"Some people say, 'I'm not used to talking,' or 'I'm a quiet kind of person, but I do love him/her, and I really care.' But the fact remains that it's not enough," he said. "You have to learn to communicate with each other."

In order to help Airmen communicate more effectively in their relationships, Family Advocacy offers a five-session, monthly course for couples, married or not, Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the chapel annex. The sessions begin in a group setting, and then later are streamlined toward specific couple's education. Free, certified childcare is provided. The next class is scheduled to start Jan. 8. To register for classes, contact Mr. Bertolini at 653-3877 or Chaplain Scott Kaiser at 652-2950.

The Airmen and Family Readiness Center also offers effective communication classes for singles and couples on the second Thursday of every month. The next class is scheduled for Jan. 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. To sign up or find out more information about this class, contact the A&FRC at 652-3327.