Fort Bragg  Military and Family Support Center

The Deployment Readiness Program provides active duty, reserve units and guard units with pre and post-deployment/mobilization briefings, Family Readiness Group assistance, information and referral services, resource materials, and Operation R.E.A.D.Y. (Resources for Education About Deployment and You) training. Training modules provide practical instruction pertaining to ongoing readiness. Topics include: Understanding and Planning for Military Separation and Pre-deployment Ongoing Readiness, Coping with Separation, and Financial Planning. The materials are designed to support unit commanders in preparing service members, civilian employees, and their families for military operations.

De-Stress with ACS

De-Stress with ACS is a fun and exciting class designed to provide stress relief. Previous classes have included Massage Therapy, Scrapbooking, Journal Writing and many other activities. Are you feeling a little stressed? Do you want to start a new hobby, meet new people, or just have fun? Then De-Stress with ACS is the class for you!

Soldier/Family Readiness Group

A Soldier/Family Readiness Group is a command sponsored organization of family members, volunteers, soldiers, and civilian employees belonging to a unit, that together provide 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. Learn more at My Army Life Too.

Operation READY Resources

Operation Ready Resources for Educating About Deployment and You is a training program for commanders and Family Readiness Group Leaders and Participants.

• Reestablishing Intimacy
• Children's Reaction to Soldier's Return
• Reunion Stress
• Reunion Stress-Coping Strategies
• Stress Symptoms
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Going Back to Work (Reserve Component)
• Sources of Support and Assistance
• Pre-Deployment Checklist

Connect and Join

Connect and Join is a pilot program specific to Fort Bragg, providing a limited number of free internet subscriptions while your soldier is deployed. The below listed services are provided free to deploying soldiers and their families and are helpful in developing a living memory of deployment:

• Write Letters
• Journaling
• Record daily events
• Photo album & scrapbooks
• Arts and crafts

For more information on how to get your free internet subscription code please call 910-396-1499. Connect and Join is located in the Soldier Support Center, 3rd Floor. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8a.m.-5p.m.

If you are leaving your family at another location, be sure they understand the reason for the separation. Be certain that your spouse and older children are aware of your financial system: bills, checkbook, lock boxes, bonds, insurance, etc. Be sure that all ID cards are valid. Check the automobile your spouse will be using to be sure it is in good repair and that all registrations and licenses are current. You may want to check into getting a Power of Attorney for your spouse.

For deployment support, you may contact the Army Community Services at 910-907-3707/3704 or call 1-800-457-4636 Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. ACS is located in the Soldier Support Center, 3rd Floor. After 5 p.m., customers can obtain ACS information by contacting the FRG Center at 910-432-FRGC. The FRG Center is open M-F until 7 p.m. and is located in the basement of the Soldier Support Center.

The Military Life Consultants Program is an Army program designed to provide anonymous, confidential support to Soldiers and their family members, especially those returning from deployments. Units that return from deployment may request Life Consultants through Army Community Service. Program serves active duty and mobilized National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers and their families. The Life Consultant's role is:

• To provide post deployment training and informal consulting support to soldiers and families to supplement the services provided by the community.
• To address reunion/reintegration concerns that service or family members may have.
• To liaison within military and local resources.

Life Consultants, keep no records and are available at a time and place designated by the unit. Services are free and confidential. To speak directly to a Life Consultant call one of the following numbers:

• 910-709-4099
• 910-916-0465
• 910-489-8021
• 910-391-9171

The Army Integrated Family Support Network (AIFSN) is a seamless array of Family support services that can be easily accessed by the Soldier and Family, regardless of component or location. We work in concert with other military and civilian agencies to establish a comprehensive multi-agency approach for community support and services to meet the diverse needs of the Active Military and mobilized Reserve Components Families. We can provide information and points of contact for Military Basics, Money Matters, Managing Deployments, Home and Family Life, Getting Involved, Wounded Warrior Program, Medical, ESGR, Legal, Youth Programs, School Transition, and more. Our goal is to provide the Military Family with support where they live. The AIFSN supports the Family readiness needs and provides consistent Family services during extended deployments to Military Families regardless of their component or location.

AIFSN is located in the Soldier Support Center, 3rd floor and can be reached by calling 910-396-2808.

Sgt I. Mike's Neighborhood presents "Kids Have Feelings, Too"

Two children puppets explore their feelings to learn how to deal with the deployment of their parents. Both children have to deal with emotions on opposite ends of the scale. "Rachel's" dad has just deployed and she is angry because her best friend's mom has just come back home from a one year deployment. Rachel is a bit wary and nervous, especially because this is the first deployment she has gone through. She asks for advice from the children in the audience, who are able to help her to understand more of what to expect. Then, there is "Tommy", a year older and somewhat more mature, who has been through the deployment process and now understands some of the emotions to look for and can offer some good advice, especially before the reunion. Even though he is mature he still has to deal with some emotions after the reunion and the understanding that you have to be patient.