Why participate in a FRG?

Imagine, you just got married three days ago and today you are watching your new husband get on a bus while you are holding your nine month old child. You know he is going to be gone for a long time and you have no idea how you will manage without him. Now imagine you come home to a waterfall in your house because a pipe broke and shortly after your child's pediatrician tells you they have a high lead level. What do you do? Where do you go? Who can you ask for help?

This was me when my husband had his first overseas deployment to Iraq. I knew nothing about the military and had briefly heard there was a Family Readiness Group (FRG). I went to a meeting not knowing what to expect and I found support that I needed, information that I needed, and life-long friends.

I had never spent time with families who had ever had close family members deployed overseas before. Both my family and my husband's family had no members in the military for several generations and my co-workers had not experienced it either. To my surprise the members of the FRG understood how I felt because they were feeling that way too. It was a very open and honest group and I know our spouses  and children benefited from the bonds that we made.

My husband is deployed overseas again, and now I have a new role in the FRG. I am a volunteer. I have learned so much through my husband's deployments that I can now give advice to those that have never done this before. Not to say, I have no worries or fears; just a I am more mentally and emotionally prepared this time around. And I definetly find the support of my FRG comforting during this time.

Our Military Kids, Inc.

This organization is a great resource. It provides up to $500 every six months for each child (ages 3- 12th grade) of a deployed parent to participate in a single activity.

I applied for the grant for my daughter the day my husband left on his deployment. I received a letter telling me she had gotten the grant five days after I submitted it and the money was sent directly to her gymnastics provider.

All that is needed is to fill out the application and have the following:
     1. Copy of deployed soldier's orders
     2. Copy of One of the following:
            Child's Military ID card
            Form 1172 for Child
            Birth certificate of child if deployed is biological parent
    3. Documentation of the cost of activity
            Brochure
            Website
            Typed Letter from activity provider

The goal is to nuture and sustain Our Military Kids while they are separated from their parents.

MASCOT PMCS

BY: SSG. Blagg
MFO Mascots are valuable force protection assets for the remote sites due to their natural territorial instincts. They are also loyal companions which provide comfort and companionship to the Soldiers. Cleanliness is one of the first lines of defense in disease prevention.

USBATT Soldiers take the time to make sure that the Mascots out at the OP’s maintain their proper level of cleanliness. PV2 Kyle McNamara, Buddy, and PFC Antonio Washington of C. Co 1/175th INF out at one of the remote sites. “Next time I come out here I’m bringing clippers, sorry Buddy but you’re getting a Mohawk” said PV2 McNamara jokingly.

Mascot Bones with PFC. Washingtonenjoying his towel dry. When asked “Why are you drying the dogs off on a 100° day?” PFC Washington said “Two reasons, one we don’t want to let
these wet dogs run through the sand and get more dirt then they had on them. And two this is my squad leader’s towel.”

Military Acronyms

The military is big on using acronyms and as a spouse of a service member you may find it difficult to understand them all.

Here is a list of a few common ones:

ACU - Army Combat Uniform

AIT - Advanced Individual Training

AWOL - Absent without Official Leave

BAH - Basic Allowance for Housing

BAS - Basic Allowance for Subsistence

BCG - Birth Control Glasses or Goggles

BDU - Battle Dress Uniform

BCT - Basic Combat Training

Chow - Food

Class A's - formal service uniform

CO - Commanding Officer

DoD - Department of Defense

DFAC - Dining Facility

ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival

Fireguard - Overnight Desk Duty

FTX - Field Training Exercise

FUBAR - Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition

GI - Government Issue

IBA - Individual Body Armor

Klicks - kilometers

Latrine - Bathroom

LCE - Load Carrying Equipment

LES - Leave and Earning Statement

MOS - Military Occupational Specialty

MP - Military Police

MRE - Meal Ready to Eat

NBC - Nuclear, Biologic, Chemical

NCO - Noncommissioned Officer

NCOER - Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report

POV - Privately Owned Vehicle

PX - Post Exchange

TPS - Thrift Savings Plan

UA - Unauthorized Absence

WOFT - Warrant Officer Flight Training

XO - Executive Officer

Hope this helps, go to this link for more Military Acronyms

Service Members Civil Relief Act

Did you know there is an act that provides some financial protections to service members when they are deployed?

The Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) can reduce your interest rate on mortgage payments and credit card debt to at least 6%, Protect you from eviction if your rent is less than $1200 a month, and delay any court actions, like bankruptcy, foreclosure or divorce. You may also be able to break leases or agreements do to the absence of the account owner, like an alarm system.

You are required to notify any lenders, landlords, or court officials about your deployment. Some may require a copy of the service members military orders and/or a letter stating your account number and signature.

Some lenders may even drop your interest below 6%.

To note this only applies to debt acquired prior to deployment, you cannot purchase a home or get a loan while on a deployment and have this protection.

Please check out the following link if you have further questions or contact your unit.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet/library/scra.cfm

Special time

Today I took my four year old swimming at the YMCA. FYI free membership for spouse and children of deployed National Guard soldiers. You need at title 10 form, a copy of the orders, and a military ID.  She loved this special mommy daughter time, just the two of us. Sometimes kids can get lost in the shuffle during a deployment when a parent is now wearing both hats. I have decided to schedule time with each of my children alone, so I can focus on them one at a time. I have arranged with a teenage neighbor to come over to watch one of my children while I do something special with the other one each week, such as swimming at the Y.
 I find myself shuttling my children and I from one activity or place to another keeping them busy, while in my own head I am worried about the next thing. Take some time to spend by yourself as well away from your children. I know it is hard, but try to at least do it once every other month if not more often. I suggest things like getting your nails done, a massage, or a nice bath. Everyone needs to take a break and just because your spouse is deployed does not mean you have to wait till they return.

What is a Family Readiness Group?

A family readiness group (FRG) is set up by the unit commander to be a support system for the families and friends of military personnel. The FRG is run by volunteers appointed by the unit commander and they provide information, support, and fun activities for family and friends of the soldiers in a unit. The FRG is most important during deployments where the military member is separated from their families and friends.

Our soldiers have recently started a deployment and our FRG participated in a wonderful Easter Egg hunt at the Maryland Country Club in Towson. Thank you to those in the community that continue to support our families.