Deployment Support

Army Family Action Plan

Army Family Action Plan is an Army-wide program designed to improve Army Quality-of-life. Through AFAP, all members of the Army, including Active, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers, Retirees, Surviving Spouses, DA Civilians and their Family member have a method to voice concerns to Army Leadership and make recommendations for change.  The Issue Management System (IMS) is a tool for Soldiers, Family Members, and Civilians to submit and review Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) Active Issues. To submit an issue or suggestion please visit the link: https://ims.armyfamilywebportal.com/

For additional information, or to become a part of this great process, contact the AFAP Program staff at the Shoemaker Center, Building #36000, 2nd floor, Shoemaker Lane, 254- 287-1127.

Army Family Team Building

The Army Family Team Building Program is a series of 30 classes that are broken down into three levels that focus on Military Knowledge, Personal Growth and Resiliency, and Leadership Development. These progressive instruction classes equip Family members and Soldiers with the tools necessary to navigate through Army life while enhancing personal growth and building leadership skills.

Classes are currently available online and the link is: https://olms.armyfamilywebportal.com/.

For additional information, contact the AFTB Program staff at the Shoemaker Center, Building #36000, 2^nd floor, Shoemaker Lane or call 254- 287-1127.

Army Volunteer Corps

The Army Volunteer Corps is the center of volunteer recruitment, referral, recognition, and advocacy efforts for Fort Cavazos. Volunteers are referred to a wide variety of positions throughout the on and off-post communities. Through volunteer service, individuals can learn or enhance skills, get to know the community, meet new people, build their resumes, and more. Organizations wishing to benefit from volunteer service may register their volunteer position descriptions with the Volunteer office, and staff will work to fill the positions with the right volunteers. The Army Volunteer Corps is located in the Shoemaker Center, Building #36000, 2nd floor, Shoemaker Lane, phone 254-287-8657 or 287-2327.

Information about volunteer opportunities can also be found by logging onto the Volunteer Management Information System at https://vmis.armyfamilywebportal.com/.

Synopsis of Program Training Courses and Classes

The Mobilization, Deployment and Stability Support Operations (MD&SSO) Program provides the following training courses: Readiness Essentials for Army Leaders (R.E.A.L.): Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) Volunteer Course, SFRG Key Contact, SFRG Fund Custodian Course, Command Family Readiness Representative (CFRR) Course, Command Team SFRG Training; Community Resource Course, CARE Team Course, Rear Detachment Operations Course, Company Commander and First Sergeant Spouse Seminar, Family Readiness Advisor Training and Resilience skills training.

The MD&SSO Program provides the following deployment cycle support briefings on request:  Pre-deployment (personal and Family Readiness), Army Community Service Overview, Redeployment, Reunion and Reintegration for Families, Family Readiness Group Overview, REAL SFRG Foundations/Overview, CARE Team Overview, Encouraging Participation in Family Readiness.

The MD&SSO Program also provides Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness trainings for Soldiers, Family members, Retirees, and DA Civilians. These trainings include Resilience Skills trainings and Pre and Post Deployment Resilience for Soldiers and Spouses. MD&SSO is located at the Shoemaker Center, Building #36000, Shoemaker Lane, Phone: 254-288-2794.

Military and Family Life Counselors

The Military and Family Life Counselors provide short-term, solution-oriented consultations in areas of anxiety, stress, adjustments/transition, marital/couple and deployment cycle issues. MFLCs provide services to individuals, couples, families and groups. The MFLCs are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis at the Shoemaker Center, Building 36000 Shoemaker Lane, or by calling 254-553-4705.

Deployment Support

Soldier and Family Readiness Group Volunteer Course: A one-day, SFRG volunteer course. In-depth training covering foundations of SFRG volunteers roles and responsibilities. Identifies daily operations, volunteer practices and expectations for new SFRG volunteers, Soldiers and Family members. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

Command Team SFRG Training: Commanders, command sergeants major, first sergeants receive a three-hour block of instruction. Provide insight into SFRG operations and their potential for enhancing Soldier and Family readiness. Addresses the partnership role between the command team and SFRG volunteers; reviews the basics of SFRG funding; offers volunteer management and recruiting concepts. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

SFRG Key Contact Course: This is a three-hour training course. Training for volunteers in SFRG Key Contact positions. Addresses the roles and responsibilities, call management and expectations of Key Caller volunteers through scenarios and resource discussion. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

SFRG Fund Custodian Course: This is a three-hour training course. Highlights SFRG informal fund and fundraising do’s and don’ts and fund custodian responsibilities. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

Community Resource Course: This is a two-day training course. Local organizations and agencies provide information on resources available to enhance greater self-reliance.

Certificate of training granted upon completion.

CARE Team Training: This is a three-hour training. Addresses the roles, responsibilities and functions of CARE Team volunteers. Explains the support partnership between command and volunteers. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

Rear Detachment Operations/Home Station Mission Command Course: This is a three-day training course. Offers information provided by subject matter experts for active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component Soldiers serving in rear detachment roles. Requests for student enrollment must be initiated by the Unit Schools NCO.

Certificate of training granted upon completion.

Command Family Readiness Representative Course: This is a two-day training. Identifies roles and responsibilities of the CFRR, acquaints CFRRs with the challenges and opportunities related to their position. Identifies available resources. Enhances the connection between CFRRs, their Command teams, and service providers. Certificate of training granted upon completion.

Resilience Training: Resilience training is available to Soldiers, Family members, Department of the Army civilians, retirees, contractors and their family members. The training can be presented by a number of methods the primary being a monthly “Resilience Skills” class that provides interactive workgroup-based training focusing on thriving in challenging situations and bouncing back from adversity. MRT competencies include Mental Agility, Optimism, Self-regulation, Self-awareness, Strengths of Character and Connection. ACS also offers pre- and post-deployment resilience training for soldiers and spouses and modular resilience skills training upon request by units, SFRGs and installation organizations.

Resilience Skills: Resilience training is offered during the lunch hour. A skill from the resilience core skills curriculum is presented to students providing them insight into what resilience training is and what it can do to enhance life skills. The intent is that students will like what they receive and will be motivated to attend monthly to learn the full resilience skill sets. Any student completing the full 14 skills provided will receive a certificate of completion.

Quarterly Resilience Expos: Resilience expos are offered on a quarterly basis. These events focus on different aspects of resilience showing that resilience is not just 14 skills. Resilience is present in most everything we do, building strong relationships, connections and self-awareness. Resilience Expos help to build on those and other Master Resilience Training competencies.