What is a Family Readiness Group (aka FRG), and Why Should I Care?

jblm spouses
FRG volunteers with deployed spouses attend a military ball together.
0 Shares

 

By Cara Bertozzi

hometown logoIf you have spent any time hanging around the Army, you know that Soldiers are infamous for their rampant use of inordinately long acronyms that stand for phrases nobody can seem to remember. For the uninitiated, it is easy to feel as though you have entered a foreign country when trying to interpret conversations involving an LES (leave and earnings statement), CYSS (child, youth and school services), MWR (morale, welfare and recreation), or LCSC (Lewis Community Spouses Club). In fact, family members can sign up for classes at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) to help them navigate military language, with a full session being devoted to acronyms and military terms.

jblm spouses
FRG volunteers attend a catered leadership development forum.

One acronym that definitively concerns non-military personnel is FRGs, the family resource Family Readiness Groups. An FRG is a Command-sponsored program that is primarily run by spouse volunteers with the help of a DOD employee, a Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA). FRSAs are vetted liaisons who provide continuity as volunteers switch in and out, and they interface with both the soldiers and their families. The volunteers are typically spouses who have a heart for helping fellow spouses thrive despite the demands of military life.

Good Commanders understand that a healthy FRG community is a unique and effective tool for maintaining the readiness of the unit’s soldiers. Its purpose is to establish a line of communication between the Command Team and the families of the soldiers in a unit, educate the families regarding available resources, and build the resiliency needed to successfully cope with the challenges of military life, especially during engagements such as deployments. Having a strong, prepared family allows the solider to maintain focus during missions.

Most FRGs seek to meet their objectives through a variety of strategies. Volunteers present newcomer briefs, town halls, topical information sessions, and pre-deployment and post-deployment briefs in conjunction with Command to disseminate important, sensitive information about the soldiers’ missions and life in the military. They host social events to build community and strengthen family networks. They conduct training seminars to educate and empower their volunteers. They purchase unit-specific merchandise and hold fundraisers to support their activities. And they spend hours and hours working on rosters to ensure that everyone has access to these valuable resources.

jblm spouses
FRG volunteers participate in a Lewis Community Spouses Club event, Mock Dining In.

Modern Army families often look quite different from those of the past. Gone are the days when soldiers were all male and spouses were all female, when every wife stayed at home and did not pursue her own career, and when everyone lived on or close to the base, prioritizing military life above all else. Military spouses today comprise a diverse group, many with careers and businesses of their own who have spread out in communities near and far from the base to pursue professional and educational opportunities for themselves and their children.

In the swirl of juggling careers, children, pets, homes, and hobbies in the face of regular transitions, it can be easy to remain disengaged from Army life, but to do so is to miss out on a valuable opportunity to enrich your own military experience and that of others.

When I first met volunteer Veronica Werhane, she told me that she loved the military spouse life. I had just completed my fifth move in three years, and I was not particularly pleased to be sending my husband off to train while I purchased our first home alone, working full-time. But Veronica’s enthusiasm was contagious, and I hoped that by befriending her, I too might be able to make such a claim one day. Veronica’s healthy appetite for adventure has given her common ground with many spouses, and in wanting to give her son opportunities for exploration, she runs a playgroup that provides a venue for young moms to gather and share their experiences and plans lots of fun activities around town to help people get to know the area.

jblm spouses
FRG volunteers with deployed spouses attend a military ball together.

Lauren Howard is another volunteer who started coming to Veronica’s events with her young kids and eventually took on the role of secretary in the FRG. It wasn’t long before the role of FRG leader opened up, and Lauren stepped in and took the bull by the horns. She has family in the area and could easily have stayed busy without the added responsibility. However, she is passionate about making sure spouses have opportunities for engagement and education following an experience at a previous duty station, where she felt isolated with no community and a small baby at home.

Another spouse who is onboard with Lauren’s passion for educating spouses is volunteer Cinda Doggett. Cinda’s experience as a trainer in the corporate world is a perfect match for Lauren’s agenda. Together, they are hoping to inspire more spouse involvement by touting the many benefits of FRG involvement and creating professional value-added seminars that directly prepare spouses for various aspects of military life and also give them experiences that help them hone career skills.

I have seen the spouses of the FRG pull together when one of their own is hospitalized, needs a ride, requests last-minute childcare, is looking for a pet sitter, or moves homes while their solider is away or when a new baby has joined the ranks. It is incredible to be a part of a group that not only celebrates together but also looks out for each other during life’s bumpy patches, especially when duty calls your significant other away at inconvenient times.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Shares