Soldier and Family Readiness Group Center Fort Bragg

The Army Community Service Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) Center serves the Fort Bragg Community. Soldiers and Families now have a location where it is possible to host meetings, schedule a VTC (secure and unsecured), utilize computers, printers, copiers, and much more! Staff members are always available to assist you. Come by today! View the Soldier and Family Readiness Group Center brochure (.pdf).

What is an SFRG?

A Soldier and Family Readiness Group is a command sponsored organization of family members, volunteers, soldiers, and civilian employees belonging to a unit, that together provides an avenue of mutual support and assistance and a network of communications among the family members, the chain of command, chain of concern, and community resources.

What is the Unit Commander’s role in the SFRG?

The Army Command Policy 600-1 (Feb. 2006) and The Army Leader’s Desk Reference for Soldier/Family Readiness provide specific guidance for the command roles. Additional material is provided in the Pre-Command Course & other FRG related Training.

• Commander
• First Sergeant
• Command Sergeant Majors

What is the Role of SFRG Leader?

The SFRG leader should be a person in a non-deployable status, preferably a spouse. Often, the SFRG leader is the commander’s spouse, though not always. Any spouse in the unit who is willing and able to lead the efforts of the SFRG can serve as SFRG leader. The commander may select the leader, or the leader may be elected by the SFRG membership. Either way, the commander prepares and signs appointment orders for the leader. However, after the SFRG leader is selected, he or she needs to obtain the proper training.

The Army Leaders’ Desk Reference for Soldier/Family Readiness defines the SFRG Leader roles as:

• Supports the commander’s family readiness goals
• Provides overall leadership of the SFRG
• Recruits other volunteers to serve on SFRG committees
• Delegates SFRG responsibilities to selected volunteers as committee chairpersons or preside over their elections
• Serves as a member of the battalion-level steering committee
• Identifies needs or unique problems of unit families
• Acts as unit SFRG spokesperson for communicating family members’ concerns and ideas to the unit commander and, if needed, the battalion-level SFRG leader

The SFRG is not a one-person job, therefore, additional volunteers need to be recruited in order to build a team that works together for the good of the families in the unit. Consult the Fort Bragg SFRG Leaders Handbook for other typical volunteer positions (PAGE 64) and SFRG Job Descriptions (page 65).

Additional information is also discussed in the SFRG Leader Essentials and SFRG Leader Advanced Courses.

What is the Role of Family Readiness Support Assistants (FRSA)?

The Family Readiness Group Assistant Program (FRAP) is a link between Soldiers, families, Family Readiness Groups, and community resources.

Their job is to assist the command in properly and effectively responding to soldier and family needs by:

• Providing information and referrals to families who need assistance to the appropriate installation/community resources
• Scheduling and coordinating training
• Assisting in establishing and updating SFRG rosters
• Working with the Rear Detachment Commanders to provide FRG leaders with timely and accurate information
• Providing assistance with the preparation of pre-deployment, sustainment, and reunion activities
• Assisting with FRG newsletters and websites
• Helping to lighten the volunteer load

How do I register and log my hours as a volunteer?

Visit the Army Volunteer Corps page for more information.

What are the requirements for SFRG’s Inspections?

An inspection conducted by a detailed IG oriented toward the identification of problems, determination of their root causes, development of possible solutions, and assignment of responsibilities for correcting the problems. Generally, IG inspections focus on issues rather than on units. The scope and content are determined by the commander to whom the inspector general is assigned (CG, XVIII Abn Corps). The Corps IG serves as the proponent of the XVIII Airborne Corps’ ORA Program (Organizational Readiness Assessment).

Training and Evaluation Outline is available online. Commanders or another designated service member must be present at the ORA.

SFRG Regulations

Appendix J of AR 608-1 was released in December of 2006. Appendix J outlines FRG Roles and functions; resources available to FRGs; fundraising guidelines, donations; and the budget process. Anyone looking for guidance or answers to FRG-related matters should refer to Appendix J or the Commander or Ethics Counselor.

Operation R.E.A.D.Y (Resources for Educating About Deployment and You) is a training resource that was developed after the Persian Gulf War from lessons learned in deployment. ACS provides the following OPREADY-based training:

• Care Team Training - Learn how to establish this team to prepare for trauma in the unit, whether it’s a family member or Soldier.  Positions on a Care Team include home care, meal assistance, transportation, phone call support, and childcare assistance.
• SFRG Essentials Course – Provides information on the Soldier/Family Readiness Group and how to effectively run the organization.
• FRG Power course – Includes SFRG Essentials Course, SFRG Key Caller Training, and SFRG Treasurer Training – all in one!
• Key Caller Training – Designed to provide training in Key Caller duties, communicating with Family members, dispelling rumors, handling crisis calls, etc. It also shows Key Callers how they fit into a successful SFRG.
• Treasurer Training – Designed for SFRG Leaders, Treasurers, Command representatives, and anyone else who manages SFRG money. It covers the various funds available and details the types of purchases that can be made with each fund.

SFRG Resources (SOPs, Templates and more)

• Account Reconciliation (.pdf)
• Account Signatures Form (.pdf)
• Activity Checklist (.pdf)
• Appointment Letter (.pdf)
• Appx J AR 608_1 (.pdf)
• AR 608_1 (.pdf)
• Checkbook Balancing Steps (.pdf)
• Commanders request for Fundraising (.pdf)
• Coping With Stress (.pdf)
• Establishing the SFRG Newsletter (.pdf)
• Fundraiser Checklist (.pdf)
• Helping a distressed person (.pdf)
• Key Caller Job Description (.pdf)
• Key Caller Phone Tree Roster Sample (.pdf)
• Newsletter Template (.pdf)
• Project Planning Template (.pdf)
• Quarterly fund report (.pdf)
• SFRG account add and remove (.pdf)
• SFRG Checking Account Authorization Letter (.pdf)
• SFRG Family Member Information Survey (.pdf)
• SFRG Leader Checklist Fort Bragg (.pdf)
• SFRG Monthly Financial Report (.pdf)
• SFRG Monthly Financial Report 2 (.pdf)
• SFRG Monthly Report (.pdf)
• SFRG Purchase Approval (.pdf)
• SFRG Survey (.pdf)
• SFRG Volunteer Position Descriptions (.pdf)
• Soldier_Family Problem Solving Guide (.pdf)
• SOP APF budget (.pdf)
• SOP FRG Newsletter (.pdf)
• SOP Informal Fund (.pdf)
• SOP Newsletter (.pdf)
• SOP Per DA_FRG Informal Fund (.pdf)
• Special Event Ideas (.pdf)
• Treasurer job description (.pdf)
• vSFRG SOP Sample (.pdf)