Recognizing the Sacrifices of Military Families

This November, we celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month. It is a time to recognize the sacrifices of military families and the importance of the relationships they share.

The resilience of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen is fueled by the support of their families. It is our responsibility to help them thrive and keep their spirits high while on mission or at home.

Family Readiness Groups

One of the most important things you can do as a military spouse is to become involved in your unit’s Family Readiness Group. It can be a great way to build friendships and make connections with other military spouses on your base.

A Family Readiness Group (FRG) is a command-sponsored organization of Soldiers, DA Civilians, volunteers and their families that provides an avenue of mutual support and assistance. It also establishes a network of communication among family members, the chain of command, and community resources.

FRGs are normally organized at company and battalion levels and fall under the responsibility of a unit’s commanding officer. The commander has a duty to coordinate family readiness with the FRG, Soldier and Family Readiness Specialists and the State Family Program Coordinator.

Reintegration Programs

Reintegration programs are designed to help incarcerated individuals successfully “reenter” society, thus improving public safety and saving taxpayers money. This is accomplished through a variety of methods, including pre-release preparation, housing assistance, job training, transportation funding, drug treatment, education, and community-based services such as weekly mentoring, legal support and work-appropriate clothing.

Many programs are based on a continuum of care, providing the same or similar service in both prison and in the community to ease transitions from one setting to another. This is especially helpful for people with specialized needs, such as substance abuse treatment, employment, and education.

The most important part of any reintegration program is the linkage between institutional services and community-based interventions to ensure continuity of support. This requires a clear and transparent communication plan that makes it easy for both parties to identify and resolve issues. This may be best achieved through community-based intervention teams or circles of support. The best reintegration programs also incorporate social, cultural and emotional aspects to assist in the social reintegration of offenders.

Family Support Programs

Family support programs aim to improve the quality of life for families, including those that are struggling with financial duress or are facing dramatic changes because a loved one has been deployed overseas. They can come in the form of child support, energy assistance, Medicare, Medicaid, employment and skills training, counseling services, or a special family support center for the different branches of the military.

For instance, the Airman and Family Readiness Center (AFRC) offers pre-deployment and post-deployment briefings for service people and their families and relocation assistance for permanent change of station (PCS) moves. It also provides information about local resources and provides a newcomer briefing for incoming airmen and their spouses.

Family Activities

The military lifestyle often takes a toll on families. They have to deal with frequent deployments, relocations and other stressors, and this can be hard on kids, according to Amy Phipps, a former military spouse who works as a youth leader.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations and resources that offer a range of family activities. These can be a great way to help your family get through a stressful time and reconnect when you’re all back together again.

Another excellent program is United Through Reading (UTR). This organization helps connect separated military families by offering the opportunity for children to read together. It helps ease the separation stress for the service member and spouse and develops a love of reading for the child, while helping to build family bonds and resiliency.

There are also a variety of community resources available to support military families, including sponsors who welcome relocated members and their families into the community and offer guidance and information.

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