FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - If you’ve been in the Army a month or more, eventually you will hear the “F” word. No not that word. I’m talking about “FRG,” otherwise known as Family Readiness Group. Yes, FRG has been known to cause even the most valiant of commanders to break out into a cold sweat at their first meeting, but with good communication and a positive attitude by all participants, it can be a great resource during the deployment. Although the FRG program has been around the Army for a number of years each one is different and may operate in its own specific way based on the volunteers who step up to serve in leadership roles within the group. Each FRG leader and key caller is a volunteer who has to balance meetings and duties to the unit with her or his own work schedules and family responsibilities. It takes a very special person to answer the call to serve and many of our volunteers do so with care and concern for the Families they serve. Few FRG members see the hours of preparation that goes into meetings, newsletters, welfare calls, fundraisers and unit activities. It takes a great deal of effort, time and communication between commanders, family readiness support assistants and leaders working together as a team to have a successful FRG. So here's to the volunteers who dedicate so much of their personal time to serve our units. Thank you! Your willingness to serve hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Deployments are a challenging time and as we make our way through this one I believe our FRGs can help ease stress, frustration, uncertainty and anxiety we might encounter. I receive all kinds of questions about FRGs and wanted to share a few of them in this week’s column. Feel free to send in your questions on FRGs or another topic to the email address below and we’ll tackle them together in a future column. After all, we are in this together.
Q: What is the Family Readiness Group?
A:
An FRG is a command-sponsored organization for all assigned Soldiers - both married and single - Department of the Army civilian employees, volunteers and their Families - both immediate and extended - who together provide mutual support and assistance and a network of communications between Family members, the chain of command and community resources.
Q:
What is the Role of the FRG?
A:
An FRG conducts activities that enhance the flow of information between a unit’s command and Families. It also provides feedback on the state of the unit’s Families to the command, disseminates information to Families received from the command and acts as an extension of the unit in providing official, accurate command information. An FRG provides mutual support between the command and the FRG membership, advocates the efficient use of available community resources and helps Families solve problems at the lowest level.
Q:
How do I get information about my Soldier during his or her deployment?
A:
Check with your unit’s family readiness support assistant who can connect you to the FRG leader, Virtual FRG website and newsletters.
Q:
What is a family readiness support assistant?
A:
FRSAs are paid employees who serve as vital links between commanders, the Families and the community resources available on the installation. A FRSA works under the general supervision of the commander or rear detachment commander.
Q:
How can I find information about military Family life?
A:
The Army Family Team Building program at Army Community Service has great classes to learn all about the Army life; everything from Army acronyms to conflict management. Call 353-2382 for more information on current classes offered. You can also visit the My Army Life Too, website: www.myarmylifetoo.com, and take the courses online.
Q:
Is there a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week source for information and assistance for military Families?
A:
Yes. Military One Source can be reached by phone at: 1-800-342-9647 or visit their website at: www.militaryonesource.com.
Q:
What is the Virtual FRG?
A:
The Army vFRG is direct connection to command information from your unit. Register for your unit's vFRG site and get connected to all of the pertinent information and resources you need to stay informed and connected. Contact your unit’s FRSA for more information or visit www.armyfrg.org to register.
Q:
How do I get involved?
A:
Attend meetings and activities regularly. Ask yourself, “How can I help?” There are numerous ways to get involved. You can share your ideas for activities, organize an event or fundraiser, welcome new spouses to the unit, write articles or share recipes for the newsletter, take pictures at events, host a hobby class and much more. All you have to do is talk to your FRG leader to find your place in the FRG.
Editor’s Note: The Alaska Post features the GI Jane column every other week. GI Jane is a composite character of many different military spouse contributors and offers a wide variety of viewpoints and perspectives. We would like to hear from readers. Submit column ideas and feedback to pao.fwa@us.army.mil.
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