FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – One single event on Saturday afternoon produced invaluable results for a battalion size worth of Army family members and that is exactly what the Family Readiness Group intended to accomplish. FRGs are assemblies made up of spouses, family members, volunteers, Soldiers and civilian employees associated with a particular unit and are a vital part to the success of the mission.
Their mission is to build Soldier and family cohesion and to foster a positive outlook. They act as an extension of the unit in providing official, accurate command information. The groups also provide mutual support to families with any problem or trouble. They reduce stress and contribute to the well being of Soldiers and spread unit pride.
The FRGs of 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), promoted cohesion, developed channels of communication between family members and helped better prepare Soldiers and families with the Strike Brigade's upcoming deployment by holding a family fun day at Strike Field, April 17.
The event provided live music, an assortment of food and beverages, fun activities for kids and place for Army families to sit down and talk each other.
"Today what we're doing is getting all of the families together and take this great day and this great opportunity to gather in fellowship without our uniforms on and to see ourselves in different light," said Command Sgt. Maj. Harold Reynolds, the battalion command sergeant major. "This recognizes all the great jobs that families do for us supporting us day in and day out."
Building unit cohesion happens in uniform with training events, battle drills and other team building missions, but the bond building does not need to stop when out of the uniform.
"I'm enjoying the day with my and kids and interacting with everybody's families and getting to know them on a more personal level outside of work," said Spc. Charles Osborne, a driver and gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, BSTB. "It is very important to build the unit cohesion outside of the uniform. You can relate with the other families and have that bonding moment."
Some of the event's attendees left work that Friday afternoon and came in Monday morning knowing more people and having more friends.
"When you're at work, you don't get to see everybody, but here you get to see everybody and meet new people you didn't even know," said Spc. James Layne, a combat engineer with Company A. "You get to find out what they do and you get to make new friends while meeting their families and knowing my friend's families is very important to me."
The opportunity allows spouses to meet with other spouses and provides a chance to interact with one another.
"It lets the wives meet each other and with the deployment, they need to know each other so they can support each other," said Staff Sgt. David Marks, a master gunner with HHC 2nd BCT.
"As a military spouse, this gives me a chance to mingle with other military wives and more of these interacting events should happen during the deployment," said Jennifer Marks, wife of Staff Sgt. Marks.
FRG events don't just build stronger unit ties while in garrison, but the cohesion carries on with the Soldiers into their deployment.
"With all of the people talking and families meeting and exchanging information, this helps us," said Spc. Michael Carnes, a military policeman with HHC 2nd BSTB. "And this bonding here will help up work better when we get down-range."
A major concern for military families during deployments is being alone and being without help. It's the Strike Brigade's and the FRG's intentions to eliminate that fear.
"As Soldiers, we'll be connected with each other down-range and as for the families; they'll be connected down here and no one will be alone," said Lt. Col. Alan Preble, commander, 2nd BSTB. "We're building relationships that will help power us through the next year and FRG provides that social environment to build those relationships."
Army families understand one another because they both share the same empathy with difficult scenarios. Long working hours, large amounts of separated family time and the overall dealings with both physically and mentally strenuous jobs are just some of the common characteristic Army families deal with on a daily basis. Strike's FRGs knows this very well and looks to create a better situation for all involved in the brigade, whether wearing a uniform or not.
"This is our Army family and sometimes the Army family is tighter than a biological family and that's because you all are going through the same things," said Mandy Witt, the FRG leader with Company A. "FRG is not just for the Army's families but it's also for single Soldiers, Army parents and anyone else who needs a support system and we are there for anyone who needs a positive direction."