US Army Special Operations Command Family Readiness Division

(-) USSOCOMUSSOCOM AFSOCAFSOC NAVSPECWARCOMNAVSPECWARCOM HQDAHQDA JSOCJSOCUSASOCUSASOC û Special Forces Rangers Aviation PSYOP Civil Affairs SB Command Relationships MARSOCMARSOC

Special Operations Forces Military 28,126 Civilian 1,364 Total 29,490

Special Operations Forces RC Enlisted RC Officer AC Officer AC Enlisted 2,588 13,059 2,549 9,931 Active Component15,647 Reserve Component12,480

29,490 Soldiers 65% are active duty Located in 39 states Deployed in 47 countries Level of Support

Average Grade: E5/E6 Years of Service: 8 Age: 29 Married w/ 1 child Civilian Education: 1 year of College Military Education: PLDC/BNCOC Average GT Score: 111 Special Operations Forces

DCS, G-1 Organization

FRD Organization * Term positions

Highly adaptive, self-sufficient, resilient USASOC families, integrated into the Army; ready and capable, today, tomorrow, and always. Vision

Promote programs and advise on services that enable Soldiers and families to enhance their level of confidence and self-sufficiency. Mission

Integrate consideration of family issues into all aspects of individual and unit readiness. Ensure command policies, programs, and regulations enhance family mission readiness. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, programs, and services to ensure effectiveness for improved level of family readiness; initiate and make recommendations for changes, as appropriate. Provide advice and assistance to commanders and family readiness liaison officers. Goals

Information and Referral Army Family Action Plan Army Family Team Building Family Advocacy Family Advocacy Reporting Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Staff Assistance Visits/Command Inspections Operation READY Volunteer Management Key Activities

Child Abuse Prevention Month Domestic Violence Awareness Month Military Spouse Appreciation Day Military Families Appreciation Month Army Family Team Building Birthday Gold Star Dinner Special Events

Held annually near Memorial Day Events Family Briefing Dinner Ceremony Invitees: NOK of Soldiers killed in operations USASOC Gold Star Dinner

Senior Spouse Conference Apr Family Readiness Conference Apr Annual Volunteer Recognition Apr Gold Star Dinner May Army Family Action Plan Conference Jun Family Advocacy Conference Aug State of the MACOM Annually DA AFAP GOSC 2X annually Key Events

Pre-command Course USASOC Staff Officer’s Course Quarterly Newsletter Volunteer Awards Train MSC/MSU Family Readiness Staffs Installation Councils and Boards Community Councils Families United as Neighbors Other Activities

Annual USASOC AFAP Conference Issues – DA AFAP or DA staff Annual DA AFAP Conference May during GOSC Week Fall AFAP Conference USASOC authorized 2 delegates Army Family Action Plan

2003 USASOC AFAP Issues Awareness of Family Readiness Groups Active – DA Education Protection for Activated Reserve Component Soldiers Active – DA Priority for E Army U Slots Active – DA Health Insurance for Demobilized College Reservists Complete - The FY04 NDAA extended healthcare to 180 days Survivor Benefit Compensation Complete - PL , 28 Dec 04, directs that survivor benefits are payable for all active duty deaths retroactive to 10 Sep 01 Unit Family Readiness Coordinators Complete - Currently funding positions with GWOT funds

2004 USASOC AFAP Issues Refractive Eye Surgery Active - DA Leave Policy Active - DA Family Readiness Group Training Accountability Unattainable - Commanders cannot force a volunteer to take training Assistance for Self-Employed Mobilized Reservists Unattainable - The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act provide adequate assistance Awareness of Healthcare Benefits for Demobilized Soldiers Complete - It is the commander’s responsibility to ensure that a Soldier receives the required information upon demobilization Clothing Allowance Complete - The designated cost of uniforms is calculated in the annual clothing allowance Federal Education Standards Complete - A DoDDS study revealed higher test scores for DoDDS students than equivalent public schools

2005 USASOC AFAP Issues Government Housing Acceptance Procedures Active – DA Postage Compensation for CONUS Based Deployed Soldiers Active – DA Military Health Care Active – DA Orthodontic Coverage for Military Families Active – DA

It all began with an AFAP Issue $450K GWOT in FY05 FY06 Operations and Maintenance GWOT Supplemental Request for $1.5M Legislative Proposal for $1.5M for FY07 Next steps: Funding Add to TDA Increase grade FR Architecture

Family Readiness Conference Senior Spouse Conference Family Advocacy Training Conference Volunteers of the Year Family Readiness Groups of the Year Army Family Action Plan Family Support During Deployments Family Programs Coordinators Holiday Open House Successes

Challenges Communications Vacancies Volunteer Burnout Funding