Photo By Kirk Frady | LANDSTUHL, Germany – Medical Readiness Command, Europe leadership hosted an Army...... read more read more
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LANDSTUHL, Germany – Medical Readiness Command, Europe leadership hosted an Army Family Forum dedicated to Soldier and Family Quality of Life Sept 14 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Patricia (Patty) Centeno, Chief of Family Programs for U.S. Army Medical Command was the lead facilitator and guest speaker for the event.
Taking part in the forum were senior Army medical leaders, Soldiers, spouses and family members from across the Medical Readiness Command, Europe footprint.
As the Chief of Family Programs for U.S. Army Medical Command, Centeno plays a key role in supporting and enhancing the readiness and resilience of Army families and caregivers. She also leads the U.S. Army Family Team Building and Army Family Action Plan initiatives that support military families, particularly spouses, through education, resilience training, and community engagement.
"Readiness and building cohesive teams are among top priorities for the Army," said Centeno. "This event ties that direct line between family readiness and operational readiness. When our Army Families at all COMPOS—Active, Guard, and Reserve—have the right resources in front of them, they know where to go and who to go to, and they become more resilient."
According to senior military officials, military spouses play a critical role in both readiness and resilience by serving as the backbone of the home front, enabling service members to focus on their missions while maintaining the stability and well-being of their families.
“The strength and resilience of our Army spouses are indispensable to mission success, anchoring the home front with enduring commitment amidst the unique demands of military service,” added Centeno. “As proactive advocates for their communities, spouses offer an authentic and influential voice on critical quality-of-life priorities, from healthcare and housing to childcare and spouse employment.”
Among the military community, it is commonly known that outside the home, military spouses serve as ambassadors, advocates, and advisors.
“Their persistent leadership ensures garrison realities are elevated to command tables, transforming lived experiences into meaningful change,” added Centeno. “Ultimately, empowered spouses build resilient families that enable a lethal, ready Army. The U.S. Army Medical Command is committed to empowering spouses with the tools and resources they need to thrive — in the community, the workforce, and at home.”
During her presentation, Centeno also highlighted that sustained Army investments in Soldier and Family programs, paired with grassroots mechanisms like the Army Family Action Plan (AFAP), provide commanders with an early-warning readiness radar—bridging home-front stability to battlefield lethality.
Recognized as the "Voice of the Army People," AFAP is the Army’s proven grassroots platform with the power to shape programs, services, policies, regulations, and federal legislation. With more than four decades of continuous impact since its 1983 inception, the AFAP process—operating across garrison levels, Army Commands, and HQDA—remains the vital mechanism for the global force to identify, prioritize, and elevate quality-of-life issues that impact the Total Army Family.
“I cannot overemphasize the importance of Soldier and Family readiness, and the critical role military spouses play in the strength of our Army," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Stackle, commander of Medical Readiness Command, Europe. "U.S. Army Medical Command’s support for families has a tremendous impact on the morale, welfare, and resilience of our Soldiers and their Families. Ms. Centeno’s visit to Europe clearly highlights MEDCOM’s commitment to families and we cannot thank her enough."
According to those affiliated with the Army Family Program, military spouses are not just caregivers, they are readiness enablers and resilience builders. Their ability to adapt, support, and connect strengthens the entire military ecosystem, ensuring that service members can perform at their best while maintaining a stable, supportive home base.
"We are extremely grateful to have dedicated professionals like Patricia (Patty) Centeno on our team," said Melinda Stackle, spouse of Brig. Gen. Mark Stackle. "Through her passion and hard work, our Soldiers and their Families receive the exceptional care and attention they deserve. Patty remains committed to supporting the entire Army team, the Soldier, the Spouse, and the Family."
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2026 06:15 |
| Story ID: | 574597 |
| Location: | DE |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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