Good Morning. Today is the final day of AUSA and let me just say that this has been an experience I will not forget. I have had the opportunity to meet and listen to some of the top Senior Leaders in the U.S. Army discuss the issues and progression of the Army.
The Family Forums have been an enlightening and eye-opening experience to listen to what Army Families deal with from mulitiple deployments to the stresses of returning home. It was even a greater joy to listen to Gen. Casey and his wife and Secretary of the Army, John McHugh express their dedication and commitment to the Soldiers and their families and the Army Military Covenant that was resigned on Monday.
The theme for the final Family Forum of AUSA is “Army Families: Forging a Stronger Future.” The main speaker for today’s panel was Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz Chief, Army Reserve/Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command and his wife Mrs. Laura Stultz.
Gen. Stultz and Mrs. Stultz presentation focused on the challenges the U.S. Army as a unit faces in taking care of Soldiers and Families in remote locations and how to get them resources when they are not close to installations. “When we think of remote location where Soldiers are, we think about places like Montana. Those places can be in New York, where families are just too far from an actual installation to receive the help and assistance they may need.”
After experiencing this ordeal firsthand, Mrs. Stultz coined the term creating a “Virtual Installation”-having a way to make assistance for Army families more accessible. “When my husband was deployed, we were about two hours away from the nearest FRG. Having four small children and with the meetings taking place on weeknights, this was just impossible.”
On September 12, 2009, Gen. Stultz and his wife opened their pilot “virtual installation” called the Army Strong Community Center in Rochester, New York. This allows for persons that lives too far from an actual installation to have the resources closer and the ability to receive help and assistance from a live person rather than talking with someone over the phone or computer. The goal is create scores more of these centers to continue to get Soldiers and their families the assistance they need, whenever they need it, wherever they may be.
As always, the Family Readiness Groups had the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask questions about programs and initatives taking place. So let your voice be heard-tell us what you think about the current programs and issues involving Soldiers and families.
