Family readiness leaders prep for South Korea rotation

By Staff Sgt. Keith AndersonJanuary 15, 2016

Family readiness leaders prep for South Korea rotation
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Debbi Nash-King, right, Family readiness support assistant, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, or ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division, meets with Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Ramirez, Family readiness leader, or FRL, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st ABCT, and... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family readiness leaders prep for South Korea rotation
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Debbi Nash-King, right, Family readiness support assistant, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, or ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division, meets with Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Ramirez, Family readiness leader, or FRL, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st ABCT, and... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas (Jan. 13, 2016) -- Family readiness leaders and volunteers, with 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, or ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division, are ramping up to ensure Soldiers and Families are prepared and supported during the brigade's nine-month rotation to South Korea.

"In preparation for this deployment, we've conducted two deployment fairs for Families with local agencies, such as Red Cross, Child and Youth Services, Tricare, legal assistance and many others," said Debbi Nash-King, Family readiness support assistant, 1st ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division. "Our Family readiness groups, or FRGs, are ready to engage."

Families can face many challenges when Soldiers are deployed, such as navigating a seemingly complex military system for medical care, pay issues, replacing identification cards and paperwork and many other hurdles, as well as external challenges such as vehicle and home maintenance, bills and childcare.

"Everything you need to survive a deployment begins with participating in your Family readiness group," said Nash-King, a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. "The resources we have to offer can make life easier when a piece of the puzzle is missing."

Capt. Cathy Zimmerman, 115th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st ABCT, has been on both sides of the fence. She's been the spouse of a deployed Soldier and has deployed herself.

Her husband, Capt. Steve Thompson, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd ABCT, is deployed to South Korea.

"The FRGs are a foundation for our Families to build on so we can support each other through a difficult time," said Zimmerman, who serves as an assistant FRG leader in her husband's company's FRG.

Besides participating in the FRG, Zimmerman had one other piece of advice for surviving a deployment.

"Just be involved," said Zimmerman, a native of Simi Valley, California. "Keep an open communication flow of daily business. Don't let your spouse be out of the loop."

For more information, Families and service members should contact their unit's FRG. In addition, there is supplemental information at www.militaryonesource.mil or by calling 1-800-342-9647.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Army Families

Army.mil: Asia and Pacific News