Lt. Gen. D. J. Hejlik
II MEF FAMILY READINESS
Seven years ago, we engaged in a global war to combat terrorism. Our mission for II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) remains constant- to serve as Commander, Marine Forces Command’s primary Warfighter (MEF/MEB) in joint/combined/interagency/coalition operations. II MEF organizes, trains, equips, and employs as required immediately deployable Marine Air Ground Task Forces in support of operational requirements. II MEF also plans and coordinates current and future operations in support of higher, subordinate, adjacent, and supporting agencies. We must maintain a continuously high level of combat readiness, which means everyone, must be ready for combat at all times- including our families. Family readiness is therefore a critical part of combat readiness and as such is a program of personal importance to me.
Situation. The importance of our families in II MEF can not be over-emphasized and our program is critical to the readiness of our units. The ownership of the Family Readiness Program resides with the commanders; Commanders execute their program through the Family Readiness Command Team. Commanders and the Command Team must ensure that Marines, Sailors and their families are ready to deploy and have achieved a professional and personal balance ready to meet the challenges of a MEF at war.
Commander’s Intent. Commanders maintain personal ownership of the program and its effects throughoutthe MEF. Therefore, my intent is to execute an aggressive family readiness program which seeks to communicate, educate, train, mentor, and empower all of our II MEF families. Family Readiness is a commander’s responsibility; therefore all subordinate commanders must aggressively and diligently pursue their family readiness programs in concert with this intent.
The Family Readiness Volunteers which include Family Readiness Advisors, Family Readiness Assistants, and Morale Support Volunteers are the cornerstone to our Family Readiness Program, and we must do everything within our power to recruit, train, mentor, and retain effective Family Readiness Volunteers to support our Family Readiness Command Teams.
End State. All Marines, Sailors and their families will attain a state of readiness which enhances our overall combat readiness. End State is defined by all families receiving communication, education, training, and mentoring, providing them with the information and skills required to manage the rigors of day-to-day military life and add reinforcing fires during periods of stress. Constant communication and straight forward feedback are the keys to improving our Family Readiness Programs and achieving total combat readiness.
Semper Fidelis
D. J. HEJLIK
Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force