USAG-HUMPHREYS - Family members here got an early Christmas present when the garrison opened its first Family Readiness Center on Nov. 7.
Led by USAG-Humphreys commander Col. John E. Dumoulin, a group of Family Members cut the ribbon and officially opened the newest facility to support the military community and families in Korea.
"I'm very thrilled to be here today to open up this facility and now we have a place where Families can come as a sanctuary and our Family Readiness Groups also have a place where they can go to hold meetings," said Dumoulin.
The new center features computer work stations with internet access, a resource library with information about everything to do with the military lifestyle - including dealing with deployment separation and world-wide relocation challenges, said Dumoulin. Mailboxes in the FRC will help FRGs to keep track of programs and activities here and keep current on Family readiness information across the garrison.
"It's exciting to have a facility to enable our families to get the information they need on-the-spot and where we can have meetings in an actual place designed to support small group meetings, whereas we previously have been meeting in someone's apartment," said Tim Smith, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade Family Readiness Group representative.
The upgrade of the former Child Development Center to a new FRC was necessary because of space limitations in the Humphreys Army Community Service building. The new FRC offers additional services and outreach programs to enhance the well-being, reliance and readiness of the entire Humphreys Army Family.
"I think it's a perfect place for Families who have growing children," said Nicqolle Truitt, Army Community Service Outreach Program Coordinator. Truitt said the main purpose is to bring the families of USAG-Humphreys into the new FRC so that they can get the services they need.
"We're going to have children's art classes, varying by age group, sewing and cooking classes and also an international cooking club - which will consist of Korean cooking, Japanese cooking, American cooking and Russian cooking, but we're also going to have a segment on the Korean culture," she said.
Also available at the FRC are a Family Advocacy program, an indoor play area, classrooms and an outdoor-gated play area for children. There will also be video teleconference capability for Families of Soldiers in units who are deployed; it will be available by reservation.
"We have immigration workshops, financial management and stress management classes offered here," said Truitt. "We're also going to make sure that new spouses will have the information they need before a permanent change of station to the states - like driver's license requirements, and what the job market is like at the gaining command.
"I'll be going out into the community to see what spouses are looking for - both male and female, because I want to know what they need so we can support as much as we can because that's the purpose of the Family Readiness Center," she said.
Truitt noted the new FRC is an extension of Army Community Services, located in Bldg. 311, but that it's a more family-friendly environment.
"The Women, Infants, and Children's program will also be available at the new FRC and will offer a little privacy," said Dumoulin. "WIC program participants will also be able to get more information here on health issues and other programs they can take advantage of."
During the grand opening of the FRC, several spouses and Soldiers were waiting at the door to take advantage of the new facility.
"I heard this facility was opening today and I thought I would come by and sign up for the Women Infant and Children's Program," said Pfc. Andrea Davis, 520th Maintenance Company. "I like the infant play area and I also plan on taking advantage of other programs that may be offered here."
Dumoulin added a final thought on the center's opening and what it means to the community.
"This is the year of the Family Covenant and today is about that because Families mean everything to us," he said. "I'm very excited and very proud to open up yet another facility here."
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