The U.S. Army recently sent out the 2010 Survey of Army Families VI to a random selection of civilian Active Army spouses in order to assess the support provided to families and Soldiers during these past nine years of persistent conflict.
“This survey is your chance to tell the Army leadership what it’s like during this difficult period with so many of our Soldiers deployed,” Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, IMCOM commander told 75,000 civilian spouses of Active Soldiers in a letter introducing the 2010 Survey of Army Families VI.
Every four years, this valuable information gives the Army a grassroots view of how family’s opinions and attitudes have changed, and provides an opportunity to evaluate the effects of programs on families. The survey also tracks trends regarding the characteristics of Army families, identifies new and emerging family issues, and supplements other studies on Army families.
Army leadership will use the survey results to plan, formulate, and improve policies and programs which benefit Army families. For example, results from previous surveys of Army families have helped the Army design Family Readiness Groups and improve Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.
The Survey of Army families was institutionalized to meet DoD’s requirement for military departments to perform family research and program evaluation, and an Army requirement (through a 1983 CSA White Paper) to conduct research on the role of Army families and the effect of Army life on families.
For more information on the survey, visit saf.armymwr.com.
Active-Army spouses, we want to hear from YOU! What do you think about the current Army Family/Spouses programs in place? Leave us your thoughts, comments, or concerns.
Personally, we’ve only been in the Army for 10 months. I’ve never heard one word from the FRG. I’ve not heard about any of the on base activities for children or families. I really think there needs to be a better support system, especially for those families whose spouses are gone almost all the time either on TDY, deployment, or those in CA branches that are out in the field 90% of the time anyway. I’ve got no support, no family, and no friends here. If you don’t live on base, you are lost in the mix. It’s really sad for I thought the Army would take the place of what LITTLE support system I had at home.
Nice, Thanks
How about communications systems in Afghanistan???.My daughter is a sinle parent of two and paid $515 to the military intercom systems just to talk to her bayfriend who has been there since Aug 2009 and due to return til’ June or July and she recieved only one phone call due to the fact that now they want even more money out of her and she can’t afford more….Now they won’t be able to talk til’ he gets home and she’s a nervous wreck worried sick about him…Sad thing is she paid that money and was told it was for duration of his tour….LIE! That was one expensive phone call…Bless her heart….
@Shannon
Shannon, the responsibility of a functioning FRG ultimately rests with command. If trying to bring your concerns to the FRG leader(s) fails, then it is perfectly acceptable to take it up with your Family Readiness Support Assistant or Rear Detachment. It would be a good idea to verify, in any case, that the unit has correct and current contact information.
As for activities available on post, contact the installation’s FMWR office and get on their email list. They will then send you regular newsletters detailing what events are upcoming on post, as well as any changes in resources or seminars/classes that might be available to spouses. CYS (Child Youth Services) can also be a great source of information on upcoming family/children oriented programs in place at that installation.
As for myself, even though I have been married into the Army for two years and have a large number of friends/family in the armed services, I am still finding out a lot of basic things by being told that I should’ve done this or that at some particular point in time. Please consider an “Army Spouse 101″ class similar to the Growing Spouses Army Strong class, but with an emphasis on variations in housing rules between posts, what to do with each PCS (for instance, no one told me that I needed to update my Tricare at the post hospital when PCSing to Ft Sill, even though I updated my information with Tricare – I had to find this out when it was time for an EFMP screening for my husband’s upcoming OCONUS PCS), as well as a basic breakdown of programs and services offered on post through such fantastic departments like FMWR, CYS, and online resources for information. While I know that things vary from post to post, it seems to be that there are enough universal policies as well as enough areas where post command has some autonomy in setting policy that it would be very beneficial to offer such a class through FMWR a couple of times a year or more, as turnout should indicate future interest.
I was saddened by the abrupt halt to the MyCAA program. It seems that the Army had just started to recognize the impact to military spouses of the necessity to develop a mobile career. While I am heartened that other programs continue to grow, I would like to see more of these in the future – not just for myself but for my fellow spouses, some of whom feel their options notably limited by the constant moves and lack of funds/time available to pursue furthering their own education/career advancement/market viability without outside help.
As a veteran, caregiver (mom), I am astonished that in 2010, I am still hearing about family members not knowing about FRG’s, Advocates and, especially, husbands of active duty women, not being brought into the fold for support during deployments and injuries. White Papers are only as good as the actual living results that can substantiate them!
I can understand where you are coming from. We live on base and although resources are a little closer, nothing is much better unless you take the time to become involved. Which is my biggest issue, I have four children (one with a disability), and I am still attending college myself. I do not have a lot of time to get involved so I understand. I would suggest getting on your FRG emailing list through the Army FRG at http://www.armyfrg.org
At least this way, those that are off base that register for their husband’s FRG will get up-to-date information via email.
I hope things look up for you. Despite the fact that during our last move on-base during my husband’s deployment (because a pipe broke upstairs and housing took full responsibility and paid for damages) we did not see one person from our FRG to help. It really depends who is in charge of the FRG. Another FRG leader brought my daughter flowers after a leg surgery over a year ago, so it all depends on who you have in charge and what they know.@Shannon
@Brandy Eileen Rowney
Hi Brandy, All new military spouses MUST realize that their Soldier husbands always have to go through inprocessing when arriving at every base and also outprocessing classes. They are told what needs to be done for themselves and their families. Some husbands do play dumb and they do not pay attention. It is important to listen to the classes. There are good reasons for them. You are always told to register for tricare. The soldiers have to from their inprocessing list. So sadly to let you know, the husbands are mostly to blame for the families not knowing all. You need to rely on yourself to get information. I have seen this many, many times. ACS can help. The best learning tool is experience. 24 years of it for me. The Army is the best life.
This is for all spouses. All new military spouses MUST realize that their Soldier husbands always have to go through inprocessing when arriving at every base and also outprocessing classes. They are told what needs to be done for themselves and their families. Some husbands do play dumb and they do not pay attention. It is important to listen to the classes. There are good reasons for them. You are always told to register for tricare. The soldiers have to from their inprocessing list. So sadly to let you know, the husbands are mostly to blame for the families not knowing all. You need to rely on yourself to get information. I have seen this many, many times. ACS can help. The best learning tool is experience. 24 years of it for me. The Army is the best life. FRG’s can be great. It does depend on the leader and usually non-commisioned soldiers spouses make the best ones. Always give your FRG a chance.