Photo By Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Stone | Monica Biggs is the Family Readiness Group leader for Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
SEAGOVILLE, Texas - Monica Biggs is the wife of Capt. Charles Biggs, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, 176th Medical Brigade. She's been the 176th family readiness group leader since February of 2014. The family readiness group (FRG) performs a number of important functions. An important area of emphasis for the FRG is to assist commanders with unit preparedness for deployment by providing support to family members. They also act as a communications conduit for information to the families from the commander, and just as important, from the family to the commander. We sat down together to talk about what she's been doing with the 176th family readiness group program.
Q: Family day seems to be the big yearly event for most family readiness groups, what did you do for family day this year?
A: “I prefer to have two half-days instead of a full day at Christmas so I can see the families more often. At our last family day I wanted to talk to them about my experiences and I tried to keep it away from PowerPoint. The program we did that seemed to be the most popular was playing a game show similar to 'Millionaire.' We had two teams, a team of two family members and another team of two Soldiers. We would ask the Soldiers questions like, 'what does 'DEERS' stand for?' and ask the family members questions like 'what is the difference between rank and pay-grade?' Everyone seemed to enjoy it and it was more engaging than the usual PowerPoint briefing.”
Q: Having a loved one deployed is especially tough on the family members. What has been your experience with family readiness groups while your husband was deployed? What have you learned from that experience?
A: “The experience I had with his deployment to Afghanistan with my FRG wasn't good. I don't want our family members to go through the same thing. I was only called twice and they never got my name right. Soldiers and family members are different. Some want to know everything and some want to know nothing. Before he left, he handed me a sheet of paper with the names of people to call, but I didn't know who they were. The most important thing I do is to make sure family members know they have a support group if something happens and to have them prepared before deployment.”
Q: Are you having any success with the FRG?
A: “I think so. During our battle assembly in December, I had a Soldier show me the ring he was going to buy his girlfriend. It's nice having developed relationships with Soldiers so that they know they can count on me and that their families can count on me when they deploy.
Q: What is your overriding philosophy with the FRG?
A: “To me, it's all about the fellowship of people together. I want to make sure that family members know they have a place to turn for the support they need.”
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.02.2015 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 153329 |
| Location: | SEAGOVILLE, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT WORTH, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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