Solution In order to keep the Soldier’s mind on the mission, it is imperative that Army Family programs reach the Family members. The programs designed to help are in place, but are not getting to the grass-roots level. In order to achieve this, USAREC created the Soldier and Family Assistance Branch with a civilian employee in the position of a Soldier Family Assistant (SFA). There are six SFA’s; one placed in each Brigade and Battalion, located throughout USAREC. Their role is to serve as a liaison for Army programs and Soldiers and their Family members. When a Soldier is processing into a recruiting battalion, it is appropriate that they bring their Spouse or Family member so they are able to meet with the SFA. The SFA needs to have information readily available for those attending …show more content…
At the same time, should the Spouse or Family member not be able to attend, the SFA should supply the Soldier with a welcome packet, outlining all the programs available. Contact information for the SFA should be shared with the Soldier so that the Spouse can have a point of contact should any need arise. Moreover, the Soldier should also share his Spouses information with the SFA so that the SFA can reach out to the Spouse within the first 30 days of their arrival. This is a standard operating procedure for an SFA; unfortunately, they are not doing their jobs and are not being held accountable. In order to alleviate this short-fall, the SFA must be held accountable, and to the highest standard, by the command team. The ratio of Families per SFA is very high which is part of the problem; however, the SFA should be resourceful with their time in order to overcome this barrier. USAREC also has support staff within the Soldier Family Assistance program to assist with
The client was rescued by relief soldiers and found in neighboring out cove, identified as a child soldier. The purpose of the referral is provide services for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the child into society. The concern
Military personnel are deployed as part of their job. Usually deployments are out of the country, where most service members are leaving their family behind. With deployment, sometimes you don’t know where military personnel will be going and how long the person may be gone. The most important question is “Are they safe where they are going?” Not only does the person in the military ask these question, but the significant others such as partners and kids worry about these questions, knowing that sometimes these questions won’t have a straight answer. Not only do military personnel suffer from certain emotions and become affect from being away from their family; the family also goes through the same storm. Some are under the assumption that because the family back at home have the benefits provide by the military, they have nothing
P., Larson, J. C., & Armstrong, L. M. (2017). Facilitating successful reintegration: Attending to the needs of military families. American Journal Of Orthopsychiatry, 87(2), 176-184. doi:10.1037/ort0000201
There is a large amount of military families around the world. About Forty- three percent of active military members have children (Website). These children face so many challenges and struggles in their life while having a parent in the military. Children of Active duty military members exhibit anxiety, depression and stress just as much as the service members and spouses experience. For instance the children experience going through multiple deployments, long separations, frequent moves and awkward reunions when their parents return home from deployment. Even more so if the parent has been physically or mentally traumatized from overseas.
The morale and welfare of the men and women that serve our country is considered one of America’s primary missions. Throughout the course of American history, the U.S. government has set forth initiatives as well as mandated laws; with efforts to provide aid and support services for members of the armed services.
A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children from military families have a higher risk of social, emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. Other reports have shown that military families also have a high rates of domestic violence, child abuse and spousal abuse. The immense strains and pressures of the military lifestyle create inconsistencies in the lives of military families that are often overlooked by those considering joining the military. Over the years the U.S government and other organizations have been doing ample research into family health in the military and effectively identifying and addressing critical issues that are faced by military families. Speaking from
Memory-loss, hip injuries, deafness, and PTSD, affected Clayton McDaniel, after a deployment to Helmand Province, in Afghanistan. SFF aided Sergeant McDaniel and eased his pain. The Semper Fi Fund is an organization, that eases the stress of soldiers, and their families. According to their website, SFF assists soldiers, physically or mentally injured; “The Semper Fi Fund and America’s Fund provide immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to post-9/11 wounded, critically ill and injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families, ensuring that they have the resources they need during their recovery and transition back to their communities” (Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund). Team Semper Fi Fund benefits soldiers, by ridding PTSD & TBI, offering financial assistance, and easing life-threatening injuries. If a family member is injured due to battle, or combat; it’s best to contact the Semper Fi Fund.
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your Mother, SSG Stephanie W. Plank. As you know, Stephanie deployed with the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain division, to the National Training Center (NTC). On May 31st, 2013 while in her military vehicle, her truck overturned in Death Valley ultimately leading to her death. More details of the incident will be available to you as soon as they arrive. Please know that the unit is treating Stephanie’s personal effects with the utmost care and will forward them to you as soon as possible. Please know that we share in your period of bereavement. She was an outstanding Soldier and the Army will not be the same without her. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to better support you
One thing that all military installations offer to families is a mock deployment line. A mock deployment line is a wonderful thing for a child to experience. During a mock deployment line, the child will go through all of the steps their parent does when preparing to deploy. It cannot be stressed enough to parents the importance of informing their children’s caregivers and teachers that a parent will be deploying. Doing so is a vital step in helping the child cope with the upcoming separation. The child’s teacher, once informed of an upcoming deployment will help the child cope by incorporating activities such as reading books where a family member is taking a long trip, or talking with all the children about how they feel and why they feel the way they do into their lesson plans. Parents need to make sure they do not put off telling children of the deployment, letting their children know about the deployment as soon as possible will provide them the opportunity to become involved in preparing for the separation. Children will want to have many conversations with their parents about the deployment; parents need to make sure that they keep the discussions honest, straightforward, and factual (Clash, 2008).
Mrs. EverittWilliams participated in monthly VTC/teleconferences with the 335th forward addressing logistical issues. She provided oversight to staff for operational support to facilitate pre-mobilization equipping, movement and integration to Mobilization Training Center (MTC) or CONUS Replacement Center (CRC). Her role played an significant impact on the 335th SC (T)’s ability to consistently mobilize 335th SC(T) Soldiers to standard in order to provide deployable personnel for Overseas Contingency Operations
An article titled "How Deployment Stress Affects Children and Families: Research Findings" estimated that “by the end of 2008, 1.7 million American Service Members had served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF).” Each person is different. They experience and interpret situations unique to their personality that varies depending on the person, but war produces the same problems for members of the nuclear family. War creates a cloud of worry and anxiety. “Parents of [military personnel] often have misgivings (Lediaev).” These reservations and
2. They’ve included the perspectives of women that have no hands on experience of MST. The authors wanted to expand their views regarding of military culture, barriers, and facilitators that deals with reporting and care seeking than those women facing with MST experiences.
Deployment and integration are one the greatest challenges military families and children have to face on a daily basis. When a family member deploys or reintegrates within the entire family, it not only affects the service member but it affects the entire family. Deployment can often lead to families and children, experiencing a negative mental health outcomes and compromised wellbeing. Bello (2015) found that most families and children (80.5% required less than one month to adjust to the return of their deployed parent (Bello, 2015). Accordingly, the families and children are often quick to adjust to having their family member back in the home. Interestingly, discoveries are surprising in light of the fact that when contrasted to another family, the discoveries are definitely unique. Boberiene (2014) found that three out of every four families feel that reintegration after the first three months is the most stressful phase of a deployment (Boberiene, 2014). This is because the family experiences many emotions while the member is away.
MILITARY SPOUSES AND THE CHALLENGES OF MILITARY Military spouses role vary in ranks, from enlisted to officers they are all seen and approached in different ways because of the military rank his or her soldiers rank may be. “The role of the officer’s spouse encompasses a set of activities that are mostly traditional” (Harrell, 2001, p. 59). Officer’s spouses often are considered to be as elite as their soldier, depending on their rank, “in fact an officer’s wife becomes an extension of the officer” (Harrell, 2001, p. 61).
One way to accomplish this is through answering research questions related to military family life, such as “How do multiple deployments, multiple moves and other military lifestyle factors affect the development of attachment in military children?” and “What is the long-term impact on military children who have experienced multiple deployments, relocations and other life-disrupting events associated with military life?” As America continues to send service members to the Middle East in the midst of the longest military conflict in its history, gaining an understanding of the long-term impact on this generation of military children is crucial to aid in the development of programs and resources with the hope of ameliorating the challenges they have encountered. Additionally, the answers to these research questions may assist in identifying protective and risk factors and increase positive outcomes for these children as they grow into