Photo By Maj. Wencke Tate | Kassie Leavitt receives an award from Maj. General Brian L. Tarbet, adjutant general,...... read more read more
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ALTA, Utah – Utah National Guard command teams and family readiness group volunteers attended the 2010 TAG Symposium held at the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird Ski Resort, Nov. 5-6. This year’s theme and focus of the conference was “Family Matters.”
“Family Matters” is not just a theme but a statement that is close to home for all members of the guard.
Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, said that family does matter, and that he recognizes the importance of families and the strength they bring to the guard. In his opening remarks he commented on family programs and the value of them saying, “I’ve learned these lessons early on; without family programs we are all in big trouble!”
To show appreciation and understanding for the sacrifice of the FRG volunteers, Tarbet presented each volunteer with an award for their service and contribution to the family readiness program. Several military leaders were also presented with awards for their outstanding support to their FRG’s and soldiers’ families. Although family readiness is a commander’s responsibility, every unit in the Utah Army and Air National Guard are supported by volunteers. These individuals are true patriots who spend their own time working to ensure their units Soldiers’ families are taken care of in times of war and peace.
“The hardest thing about being an FRG volunteer is the diversity of the Soldiers and their families,” said Don Ipson, FRG volunteer with Medical Detachment, 97th Troop Command. “However, there is no more rewarding act than giving service to those who are in service to our country.”
The service that FRG volunteers provide includes information and resources for family needs such as loan interest savings, youth services, single soldier services, food, employment services, family life counseling and many more resources. They also coordinate social gatherings for Soldiers and their families in efforts to bring the units’ families together and build relationships that instill the military mindedness that will help during deployments.
The goal of the TAG symposium is to link FRG volunteers with commanders and leaders they support, and to provide training that pertains to the uniqueness of volunteering for a military organization.
Tricia Baker, FRG volunteer, 1457th Forward Support Company, said, “These conferences are helpful for learning the information to take back to the FRG and use to help families.”
This year’s training programs included Communication Boot Camp, Military Child Education Coalition and Incorporating the Total Guard Family.
Keynote speaker, Wendy Day, communication instructor for more than 14 years, made this statement while teaching a breakout session entitled Communication Boot Camp: “The Military is only as strong as its families and families are only as strong as the marriages.”
The entertainment for the conference was not only entertaining but motivational and touching. Cassy and Alyssa Gaddis, military children from Illinois now living in Nashville, perform all around the country inspiring and sharing their message about the power we all have to “Make a Difference.” These young ladies of 14 and 18 years old are true supporters of our military and American patriots. Several volunteers said singing their songs for our volunteers and Soldiers and Airmen was a true thank you.
Ipson put it best.
“Their songs wiped me out. I couldn’t even get out of my chair after they sang “Price of Peace.”
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2010 17:36 |
| Story ID: | 60184 |
| Location: | ALTA, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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