Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. -- When people join the Marine Corps, they have an expectation of leaving home to see the world. Marines are stationed in places as far off as Japan and deployed to places even farther.
Marines go through several training evolutions to prepare them for adjusting to life in the Marine Corps. Through recruit training, military occupational specialty training and pre-deployment training, Marines are prepared for their upcoming tasks and missions.
However, there is no boot camp for Marine families. Family members are typically given a synopsis of what to expect in the military lifestyle, and spouses tend to get the harsh reality of the military by having to uproot their entire lives to a new home in a new town with new people.
To help support the families and friends of service members, the military created the Unit, Personnel, Family Readiness Program.
“We assist families in referrals,” said William Copeland, Marine Aircraft Group 26 Family Readiness Officer. “We are basically the phone book. We know where the resources are and we refer them to get the best help they can through resources like the Marine and Family Programs, Exceptional Family Member Program, and other events through the Chaplain Corps.”
He continued to say that families living off base tend to miss out on informational opportunities and programs available to them.
A Marine or family member can go to the Family Readiness Officer and tell them what problem they have and the FRO is in constant contact with organizations to support them.
While Marines are deployed, family members may have communication with their service member, but often they are unavailable to respond due to the service member’s missions. The FRO has a direct link with the command to update the service member if an emergency happens.
“We are the communication link between the families and the commander while (Marines) are away,” said Copeland. “For instance, if a spouse or the service member is injured, we do the Family Care Plans. We know because of Authorization Organization Communication Tool Sheets, if something happens to that individual, we have the direct link to the commander.”
The FROs also runs the E-Marine website to give the family members a single location to see all the events offered in the area.
Even though the FROs are often seen at unit functions, they are more than party planners, said Jennifer Anderson, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron’s FRO.
“To those spouses, if you’re not involved in this squadron please consider getting involved,” said Anderson. “We are here to enhance your life as a military spouse because it’s not easy. I want to help them reach their full potential (in getting assistance).”