Margie Ferriter focuses on families

By Molly Hayden, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Public AffairsFebruary 3, 2012

Senior spouses
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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Margie Ferriter, wife of Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, commander, Installation Management Command, took time to talk with senior spouses during a visit, here, Jan. 27. They candidly discussed concerns including sponsorship, specialized programs for exceptional family members and the new fiscal realities facing military communities.

Ferriter said she has always been and will continue to be a "listening post" as she supports her husband in his new role as IMCOM commander.

"He can talk about policy, about Soldiers and families," said Ferriter. "But I can listen and relate to the experience of raising children in the military and other concerns our family members may have."

Ferriter's empathy comes from more than 30 years of experience. She is an Army wife and Army mom with an impressive extended family -- the Army itself.

"This is my family," said Ferriter. "I think almost everywhere we go we run into someone we know or we run into a child of someone we know. We are all so intertwined."

The Ferriters spent five days touring installations across Germany, including USAGs Baden Wuerttemberg, Kaiserslautern, Ansbach and Garmisch, to discuss issues and policies currently in place. The welfare of Army families was a top priority for both.

"Life is a challenge, so we'd like to make things as simple as possible for Soldiers and their families," said Ferriter. "And we can do it if we all work together."