Florida Guard Families – We are the guard!

Shortly after my husband joined the Florida National Guard (FLNG), he was activated for a hurricane. Our home was in the direct path of the storm, so we both agreed that I should evacuate with our two small children. I was scared and had lots of questions: where should we go? When and how would we get information from my husband's unit? When should we return home? Thankfully, our unit had a Family Readiness Group with members who could answer my questions and calm my fears. A Family Readiness Group (FRG) is a team made up of military members, civilian professionals, and unit volunteers. Its goal is to ensure that military members and their families have the information, connection and support they need to feel confident before, during, and after military activations and deployments. Each Army unit has a FRG. In the Air Force, it is known as the Key Spouse initiative. A FRG is sponsored by the unit commander and governed by military regulation. As soon as my husband was activated, I received a call from one of our FRG volunteers. She was the spouse of one of the Guard members in our unit. She asked how I was doing and whether I needed any assistance. I told her about my plans to evacuate and, using her civilian contacts, she helped me and the other families in our unit to find safe lodging. She created a group text to keep us all informed and, along with the commander, checked on us regularly to ensure we were safe. I found it comforting to have such a caring team with which to 'weather the storm.' This experience motivated me to learn more about FRGs. Specifically, I wanted to know more about what they do, and how I might be part of the effort to inform, connect and support other military members. So, I did a little research. What exactly does a Family Readiness Group Do? A FRG is an official, command-sponsored program. It is not a social group. This means that members of the FRG follow military regulations that clearly state what its members can and cannot do. The main goal of the FRG is to make sure that you and I have the information, connection, and support we need to feel confident when our military member is deployed or activated. This is important because the more "ready" we feel toward a deployment or activation, the more focused our soldier or airman will feel in accomplishing his/her mission. To do this, members of the FRG focus on compiling and maintaining a family contact roster. They compile this roster based on information your military member shares on their 'family contact form.' The form is updated each year during annual training. If you would like to be included on the FRG roster, ask your military member whether they have provided your contact information. If they haven't, call your local Family Programs office to be included, or you risk not staying informed. Once the FRG has your contact information, a member of the team will reach out to ask whether, and how, you would like to be contacted. If you choose to be contacted, a FRG member will reach out during deployments and activations to see how you're doing. They'll make sure you have accurate information from the unit commander, and will help you find community resources should you need help with anything. Aside from contacting families, some FRGs make and send out newsletters. Others organize family days at the unit, or celebrations for special occasions. However these extra duties are not required. There are certain things that FRGs, by regulation, are not able to do, which include soliciting funds, lending money, and providing child care. How Can I Join a Family Readiness Group? Family Readiness Groups rely on volunteers to help military families feel informed, connected and supported. Joining one is easy! Simply ask your military member for the Family Readiness contact. If s/he doesn't know, then look online for the Family Programs Office for your command, and give them a call! For the Florida National Guard, the Family Programs Office contact number is: (800) 226-0360.

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