FRG 101FRG 101For CommandersFor CommandersSetting up Your FRG and

Making it work for You

FRG Mission StatementFRG Mission Statement

““Assist commanders in Assist commanders in maintaining readiness of maintaining readiness of Soldiers, Families, and Soldiers, Families, and communities; promotes communities; promotes self-sufficiency, resiliency, self-sufficiency, resiliency, and stability during and stability during peace peace and warand war””

ObjectivesObjectives What a FRG can do for youWhat a FRG can do for you Benefits of a FRGBenefits of a FRG Must’s for CommandersMust’s for Commanders Establish a SOWEstablish a SOW Necessities for FRGsNecessities for FRGs Appropriate FRG areasAppropriate FRG areas Inappropriate FRG areasInappropriate FRG areas

What can a FRG do for you?What can a FRG do for you?

Assure Family welfare during Assure Family welfare during deployments and training exercisesdeployments and training exercises

Unit cohesionUnit cohesion Raises morale Raises morale A network between Family members A network between Family members

and chain of commandand chain of command Fosters a sense of belonging in the Fosters a sense of belonging in the

unitunit

A robust A robust Family Family

readiness readiness program can program can

produce produce substantial substantial

benefits!benefits!

Benefits of FRGBenefits of FRG Improved retentionImproved retention Improved mobilization preparationImproved mobilization preparation Improved member commitment to Improved member commitment to

the missionthe mission Improved unit and service member Improved unit and service member

readinessreadiness Improved moraleImproved morale Improved member prideImproved member pride

Benefits of FRG (cont.)Benefits of FRG (cont.) Enhanced Family involvement in unit Enhanced Family involvement in unit

activitiesactivities Enhanced propensity of Family Enhanced propensity of Family

members to contribute to volunteer members to contribute to volunteer servicesservices

Enhanced Family readinessEnhanced Family readiness Enhanced propensity for Family Enhanced propensity for Family

members to support military member members to support military member participationparticipation

To reap these benefits, To reap these benefits, commanders must:commanders must:

Must’s for CommandersMust’s for Commanders Make the Family readiness program a Make the Family readiness program a

part of the unit’s daily lifepart of the unit’s daily life Ask about Family readiness plans and Ask about Family readiness plans and

activities during briefings and planning activities during briefings and planning meetingsmeetings

Include Family readiness activities on Include Family readiness activities on training schedules and calendarstraining schedules and calendars

Plan unit level (and higher) volunteer Plan unit level (and higher) volunteer recognition eventsrecognition events

Ensure that Families are enrolled in Ensure that Families are enrolled in DEERSDEERS

Must’s for Commanders (cont)Must’s for Commanders (cont)

Make Family readiness a unit asset—Make Family readiness a unit asset—not a liabilitynot a liability

Track and report Family readiness as Track and report Family readiness as a key component of unit readinessa key component of unit readiness

View Family readiness as a work in View Family readiness as a work in progress that demands continuous progress that demands continuous attention and improvementattention and improvement

Learn from the pastLearn from the past

Establish a SOWEstablish a SOWProvide your FRG withProvide your FRG with::

-PURPOSE-PURPOSE

-GOAL’S-GOAL’S

-RESPONSIBILITIES-RESPONSIBILITIES

-STRUCTURE-STRUCTURE

-ORGANIZATION-ORGANIZATION

Give Them Give Them the Tools the Tools

and Watch and Watch Your Your

Family Family Program Program

GrowGrow

Basic Necessities for a FRGBasic Necessities for a FRG Command guidance—not interferenceCommand guidance—not interference Guidelines or a SOWGuidelines or a SOW Specific position with job descriptions- Specific position with job descriptions-

units should officially appoint units should officially appoint individuals to positionsindividuals to positions

TrainingTraining Outreach to Family membersOutreach to Family members Publicity/MarketingPublicity/Marketing

Basic Necessities (cont.)Basic Necessities (cont.) Administrative supplies, equipment, Administrative supplies, equipment,

facilitiesfacilities Volunteer recruitment and Volunteer recruitment and

recognitionrecognition Your full supportYour full support Funding or the opportunity for fund Funding or the opportunity for fund

raisingraising

Let Your FRGs know Let Your FRGs know what areas they what areas they cancan be be

involved in and what involved in and what areas they areas they cannotcannot be be

involved ininvolved in

Appropriate FRG AreasAppropriate FRG Areas Newsletters and OutreachNewsletters and Outreach Provide checklists to help Families be Provide checklists to help Families be

more prepared for separationmore prepared for separation Educate and assist Families with Educate and assist Families with

separationseparation Unit functionsUnit functions Helping in times of trauma under Helping in times of trauma under

command directioncommand direction

Inappropriate FRG AreasInappropriate FRG Areas Casualty NotificationCasualty Notification Giving or lending money to FamiliesGiving or lending money to Families Notifying Families on unit/mission Notifying Families on unit/mission

matters without your knowledge, matters without your knowledge, direction, or approvaldirection, or approval

Social Worker’s/Counselor’sSocial Worker’s/Counselor’s

Where Do I StartWhere Do I Start

WY NG Family ProgramWY NG Family Program

11stst

Who is your Lead Volunteer?Who is your Lead Volunteer? What is the current FRG doing? What is the current FRG doing? Ask for assistance from Senior NCO’sAsk for assistance from Senior NCO’s Host an organizational FRG meetingHost an organizational FRG meeting Elect or appoint FRG officersElect or appoint FRG officers Write a SOWWrite a SOW Approval & Appointment lettersApproval & Appointment letters

Approval & Appointment lettersApproval & Appointment letters

Letter sanctioning FRGLetter sanctioning FRG Letter appointing:Letter appointing:

• Military POCMilitary POC• Lead VolunteerLead Volunteer• TreasurerTreasurer

Memorandum authorizing checking Memorandum authorizing checking account (EIN)account (EIN)

SR + FR = MRSR + FR = MR

Soldier Readiness Soldier Readiness (SR) together with (SR) together with Family Readiness Family Readiness (FR) are equally (FR) are equally important and important and vital to Mission vital to Mission Readiness (MR).Readiness (MR).

Your Wyoming National Guard Your Wyoming National Guard Family Programs Office is Family Programs Office is

committed to offering:committed to offering:• education, education, • training, training, • awareness, awareness, • outreach, outreach, • information, information, • referral, referral, • and follow-up.and follow-up.

Through these components, missions are Through these components, missions are accomplished both at home and during periods of accomplished both at home and during periods of military separation.military separation.

SummarySummary This is This is YourYour program—Use it program—Use it It will work, if you work itIt will work, if you work it FRGs are volunteersFRGs are volunteers FRGs are great retention tools, “If FRGs are great retention tools, “If

momma ain’t happy—ain’t nobody momma ain’t happy—ain’t nobody happy!”happy!”

FRGs are not just the “Party Planners”FRGs are not just the “Party Planners” Recognition, Recognition, RecognitionRecognition, Recognition, Recognition

We are here to assist We are here to assist You and Your FRGYou and Your FRG

WY NG Family ProgramWY NG Family Program

Questions?Questions?

WY NG Family ProgramWY NG Family Program