FORT RUCKER, Ala. (January 8, 2015) -- Becoming part of the Army family involves more effort than many people realize, and that's why the Army made it a priority to help people immerse themselves in Army culture to better understand what it means to be part of the Army family.
The Army Family Team Building program is celebrating 20 years of that immersive experience by teaching spouses about all things Army, said Rick Kohl, AFTB coordinator.
From rank structure to acronyms to military time, the program familiarizes family members with everything they might experience in Army life, and helps spouses understand and become a part of what their Soldier is experiencing, he said.
"Army Family Team Building started in 1993 to connect family members to the Army culture and help them learn about rank, Army structure, traditions, courtesies and general knowledge of the military," said Kohl. "It was expanded to teach leadership skills for Army spouses so that they could also have a program that developed their understanding of responsibilities as their Soldier continues his or her career."
Classes are held on a quarterly basis, but many installations have initiated online classes, which are available at www.myarmyonesource.com. The website gives spouses access to all three levels of the AFTB curriculum, said the AFTB coordinator.
Fort Rucker has developed its own program within AFTB called Get REAL (Rucker Experience Army Learning), which is a one-day class that's fun, interactive and engages people in the process of learning about general Army knowledge, as well as knowledge about Fort Rucker and Aviation history, Kohl said.
An understanding of that culture and history helps family members become more comfortable within the Army family and helps them to become Total Army Strong, he added.
The classes are voluntary and are held at Divots Restaurant and Grille at the Silver Wings Golf Course where free lunch is provided. For more information on the classes, call 255-9637.
One way to better help people understand Fort Rucker and Aviation training is by engaging them through the Fort Rucker Newcomers' Bus Tour put on by the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, said Kohl.
During the tour, AFTB representatives ride along and provide narration and Fort Rucker-specific knowledge. People will learn about the history that surrounds Fort Rucker, such as the history of the airfields and how they got their names. For more information on the bus tours, call 255-2292.
"That helps people get connected to the culture of Aviation, which is a big part of Fort Rucker life," said the AFTB coordinator. "The more comfortable the Army culture is for a family, the more likely they are to want to stay in the Army.
"There is a lot of strain and stress on Army families with moving, deployments and training, so it's a different lifestyle in terms of pressures that are put on the family," Kohl continued. "Here we have a really unique opportunity to connect and reach out to Army spouses because their Soldier's training is fairly long, so it's a great opportunity for us and them."
It's important for AFTB to be there for family members and provide a safe place for them to ask questions. Many spouses feel intimidated by Army life, and that's why AFTB exists to alleviate the intimidation and make the family members feel comfortable in their new social network, he said.
"We want (the spouses) to be able to talk about their needs and specifically ask about information so that they don't feel so isolated," said Kohl. "That's why we're here."
The more they understand about that and the traditions and the connections to other families who have done well, it's an investment for us to invest in the Soldier's career.
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