FORT SILL, Okla. (Oct. 16, 2014) -- The Army is an organization that is constantly adapting and changing to meet the needs of its Soldiers and their families. Soldiers come and go and with new leaders comes change and the opportunity to build upon the ideas and legacy of the leaders who came before them.
The 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade continues to build upon an idea that offers Soldiers and spouses new to the unit a chance to learn all about what the Lawton-Fort Sill community has to offer.
In February 2013, with the combined effort of battalion family readiness groups, the brigade family readiness support assistant and the brigade command team, the 31st ADA Brigade launched a newcomers spouse tour. Tour goers visited a few locations on post to learn about resources offered to them here.
"Initially the tour only covered a few places, but we have greatly expanded it so they can see everything that is available to them on post," said Bonnie Jones, brigade family readiness support assistant. "We now offer a resource tour for Soldiers and their spouses that allows them to meet the heads of some of the major organizations and facilities on post."
One spouse who has been at Fort Sill for three years attended her first tour and she was glad she did.
"It gives you the idea and the feeling that Fort Sill is actually as old as people say it is. So you get an idea of the military history that is here," said Crystal Lewis-Bacon. "As a wife, sometimes I feel like I'm just tagging along for the ride, but with this tour I got to see what is available to me and the history at Fort Sill."
Lewis-Bacon added the information gained from the tour will definitely be useful in the future.
"I work in the family readiness group so learning the specific hours for the Soldiers Closet and the Consignment Store is really helpful when I have an incoming spouse who comes to me for assistance and doesn't want to have to go all the way up the chain of command. Now I can easily point them to the specific agency that can best assist them with whatever issue they are facing," she said.
Jones stressed the spouses' tour goes hand-in-hand with the brigade commander's guidance given at his in-brief, that mirrors Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno's reminder of families being the strength behind Soldiers.
"These are all resources and agencies that were put here to assist our greatest assets in the Army the Soldiers and their families," said Jones.
She added tours will continue to be offered every month for the brigade's Soldiers and families.
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