Field Problem: SFRG Participation

Editor’s note: This post was updated Jan. 2020 to reflect the change from FRG to SFRG. 

Dear, Field Problems:

In my husband’s unit they have a Soldier and Family Readiness Group, and the leader has contacted me about attending meetings and fundraisers. I am a new military spouse, and I don’t know what SFRG is all about. I thought about attending the last meeting she put together, but my husband says he would rather me not participate with the group because of rumors and other issues that he has heard about. Can you tell me more about what SFRG is all about? Should I participate? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Sarah A., Ft. Hood, TX; Army spouse

 

Dear, Sarah:

We were wondering when this question would make its way to Field Problems! This is definitely a hot topic and debated in military homes across the globe. For military spouses who are a part of another branch of service, Army Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs) would be comparable to the Ombudsman, Key Volunteer Network (KVN), or Key Spouse Network (KSN) programs. Let us start with the basics of an SFRG, and then we will dig deeper into the question of whether or not you should attend meetings.

Basics of the SFRG

SFRGs were renamed by the Department of the Army to emphasize the need for readiness and self-sufficiency among Army families—regardless of their make-up—in the modern Army. A memorandum from the Secretary of the Army explains what an SFRG is, but what does that mean for you?

An SFRG is a group that usually meets at specific times in order to distribute information, discuss support issues, raise funds, foster friendships, and create a sense of community. It is a network that is formed because of its members’ affiliation with the unit it represents. Your role in an SFRG depends on your relationship to the Army. If you are the family member or dependent, the unit SFRG is where you will gain information about the unit and military community. This is one of your “links” or connections to the leaders, service members, and spouses in the unit. If you are a service member, an FRG is there to provide and foster support, integrity of care, and open and honest communication for you and your dependents (if you have them, but it can also link extended family members).

Why you should participate in SFRGs

To put it frankly, should anything ever happen to your service member or your family, it is very helpful to you if your service member’s command knows how and where to reach you or your emergency contacts. It does not hurt when they can put a name with a face, and they know to whom they are speaking.

There are other reasons too.

Everyone has a need the SFRG can fill. For instance, it can help put you in touch with financial institutions, child care facilities, and employment agencies if you are new to an area. Everyone has skills to offer—from creating the phone tree to fundraising and typing newsletters. Your help can make the SFRG become a success and an asset to the unit.

In regards to your service member’s concerns (i.e. rumors), we would love to tell you that they are never an issue. However, because an SFRG is made up of humans, this might always be a factor with which we have to deal. Leaders should be careful to not participate in rumors but be a member of the “gossip police” by promoting honest, relevant, structured communication that all SFRG members can rely upon.

Just as family members rely on the SFRG for information and structure, the SFRG relies on its members for direction, and it is only as successful as you make it.

The best way to make sure the SFRG meets your needs is to let the group know what you want. If you do not like the way things are going, the power is in you to change it.

In your particular case, you know you are on the family roster because you have been called. But, that is not always the case. While an SFRG is a command-sponsored program, the leaders and most of the participants are volunteers. The information chain can be slow and sometimes unreliable. If you are not getting calls or emails from your SFRG leader or the unit with information flow, call the unit and make sure that your contact information is updated and available. You might even ask for the leader’s name and number in order to introduce yourself (and is important to keep on-hand if you ever need it).

It is just as much your SFRG leader’s responsibility to keep you informed as it is your responsibility to inform yourself. So, take that into consideration the next time you hear someone say, “Well, she never called me.” Ask yourself, “Did they go to the meeting? Have they taken every opportunity to inform themselves of what is going on?” Probably not.

Keep in mind that, when it comes to SFRGs, meetings are not mandatory for the family member but definitely encouraged. As we hope we have demonstrated, participation will be the best way of knowing “what’s going on.”