JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The Department of Defense recently released an updated policy governing military family-readiness programs to better position those programs to respond to the needs of today's military force and their families.
"There are 1.4 million active-duty military members and about 1.1 million ready-reserve members -- 70 percent of these Service members and families live off an installation," said Barbara Thompson, director for the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy. "The new policy lays the foundation for a Family Readiness System that helps military families more easily find the information and services they need for the challenges of everyday life, and those associated with the military."
DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1342.22, "Military Family Readiness," updates the policy, responsibilities and procedures for developing, delivering and evaluating military family-readiness services. The DoDI integrates policy for core family readiness services into a single source, including requirements for financial education and counseling, relocation assistance, emergency family assistance, spouse employment and requirements for delivery of services to the Reserve Components.
"The instruction ensures that regardless of branch of service, active or reserve status, or geographic location, families can easily tap into a trusted network of support that maximizes both military and civilian resources," said Thompson.
The Family Readiness System is a network of support, which can be accessed in person, by phone or online. There are three primary ways to tap into the FRS:
For the local, installation-based Military and Family Support Center or Guard and Reserve Family Program at Fort Eustis, call Army Community Service at 878-3095. At Langley Air Force Base, call the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 764-3990. You may also search for a location online at
www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil.
Joint Family Support Assistance Program teams support families who may not have access to local, installation-based services. Find JFSAP information and other local resources by state at
www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil.
For Military OneSource, call 1-800-342-9647, or log on to www.militaryonesource.mil. Services are available 24 hours a day.
"At every stage of military life, military members and their families can rely on the Family Readiness System," said Thompson.
To view the DoDI 1342.22, "Military Family Readiness," visit
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134222p.pdf