National Guard Family Readiness Groups (FRG) - Tips For Company Commanders

As a company commander, one of yoursupport them.
requirements is to establish a unit Family ReadinessAs a commander, you must disseminate information
Group (FRG). The purpose of the FRG is to provide ato your soldiers and family members about the FRG.
support channel for spouses and family members;In our unit, we had a bulletin board and monthly
especially during a deployment.newsletter.
Also known as the FRG, the Family Readiness GroupPersonally, I found that many spouses were not
normally has monthly or quarterly meetings. At theinterested in a FRG during the typical training year.
meetings, the spouses get together to shareHowever, things quickly changed when a unit
information, answer questions and conductreceives deployment orders.
fundraisers.That's why it's important to have a FRG before the
Whether your unit is scheduled for deployment orunit gets deployment orders. That way, the unit is
not, it's important to have a unit FRG.already working and functional and spouses have
Typically the commander's or First Sergeant's spouseclear forms of communication. And, the unit can
serves as the FRG leader. However, there are manyfocus on training it needs to accomplish, not worry
exceptions to this rule. The true secret to success isabout a FRG.
to find a spouse or family member who expressesIn conclusion, all commanders must support the
interest in accepting the position.Family Readiness Group. The last thing deployed
Once you find someone interested in becoming thesoldiers should have to worry about is their spouses
FRG leader, you must place them on orders and getand family members back home. If your unit has an
them trained. To do this, coordinate with youreffective FRG, the group can help remedy many of
Battalion or Brigade S1 (or FRG rep).these problems and eliminate unnecessary stress
Now that your unit has an FRG leader, you mustamongst soldiers and dependents.