Ep 8. Supporting Arms

The episode Supporting Arms from season 5 of Army Wives opens with a shot of Fort Marshall where a charity event is being organized for the soldiers who lost their lives while on duty. The wives of the soldiers are busy in the planning of the event. Claudia Joy is working with the local mayor Howard Baker who is scheduled to speak at the event. Meanwhile, Denise is worried about Jeremy who is struggling with his PTSD symptoms. He is short-tempered and easily triggered.

Roland is seen in the hospital, talking to the patient who is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The patient named Sergeant Steven Collins is not making any progress in his recovery. Roland recommends him to attend a PTSD therapy group. Steven refuses to go and Roland tries to convince him that it's the only way to get better. Steven finally agrees to attend the therapy.

Meanwhile, Denise plans to join the therapy group along with Jeremy as she is worried about his condition. The group therapy session is organized by Joanna and they start with an exercise where everyone writes down their fears and share them with the group. Although Jeremy is reluctant to participate, Denise encourages him to write down his fears. He writes down about his fears of losing Denise and how he feels disconnected after returning from the war.

Michael, on the other hand, is busy in trying to convince Baker to allocate more funds for the Fort Marshall. He is also concerned about his wife Claudia Joy who is taking on too much stress. Claudia Joy is seen organizing the charity event where she is also auctioning a guitar for the benefit of soldiers. Frank Sherwood, the former colonel at Fort Marshall, arrives at the event and starts bidding on the guitar. Claudia Joy is surprised to see him there and tells him that he isn't welcome at the event due to his behavior. Frank apologizes to her and explains that he wanted to do something for the soldiers who lost their lives in combat.

Meanwhile, Roxy and Trevor have a conversation about his job and the fact that he needs to deploy again. Roxy is worried about him leaving and wants him to leave the army. Trevor tells her that he has his duties and responsibilities towards the country. Roxy realizes that she has to be more supportive and takes care of the family in his absence.

In the therapy group session, Jeremy gets triggered when a fellow soldier mentions an incident from the war. He gets angry and leaves the session. Denise talks to Joanna about Jeremy's reaction and explains that she is worried about his anger issues. Joanna tells her to be patient and continue to encourage him to attend the therapy sessions. Meanwhile, Roland meets with Sergeant Collins and tells him about the progress he has made in the therapy group. He encourages him to join the group and tells him that there is no shame in seeking help.

At the charity event, Claudia Joy gives a speech about the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families. She also talks about the need for the government to allocate more funds to support the soldiers and their families. Michael is seen talking to Howard Baker about the issue and they both agree to work together to find a solution.

Towards the end of the Supporting Arms episode, Denise finds Jeremy sitting in their car and they both talk about their feelings. Denise encourages him to continue with the therapy sessions and talk about his feelings. She tells him that she is there for him and they both share a moment of embrace.

The episode ends with a shot of the charity event where the soldiers and their families are seen gathering and supporting each other. The show has dealt with various issues that are faced by the military families. PTSD, deployment, and the challenges they face in their daily lives. The Supporting Arms episode highlights the struggles of the soldiers and their families and how they support each other in difficult times.