Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Woods Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Sorkin, Navy Information Operations Command Georgia stands proudly supporting his wife Angela, son Trevor, and daughter Shayna during a ceremony where his Family received letters of appreciation for their support during his Naval career. Sorkin reenlisted for six years. You may have seen a United States Sailor or two walking around on post, but believe it or not, on Fort Gordon there are about 900 Sailors assigned at the Navy Information Operations Command.

The Navy accounts for the second largest service represented on post. A majority of these Sailors are deployers who directly support the United States Navy Fifth and Sixth fleets, assigned forward in Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan conducting combat operations alongside the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and multi-national and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces.

Accompanying these many Sailors are their Family members.

As with any service, the NAVIOCOM Georgia Navy Family has taken great strides to care for Families when their loved ones are deployed. Most important in the support of our Navy Families is to make sure they know the Navy has not forgotten them and acknowledges their effort at home during a Sailor's deployment.

NAVIOCOM Georgia has assigned a Family assistance coordinator whose primary mission is to ensure Families are contacted every week. The FAC has a myriad of resources at their disposal and is able to provide guidance to the Families or address any concerns the Families may have.

The FAC also schedules quarterly spouse pre-deployment briefs and quarterly town hall meetings with the NAVIOCOM commanding officer, executive officer and the command master chief to ensure information about deployments, local resources, local community and post information is being adequately communicated to those at home. NAVIOCOM Georgia also has an ombudsman who is the direct representative between Navy Family members and the Commanding Officer. The ombudsman is in place to field any questions or concerns and makes sure the commanding officer is aware of the morale of the Family members. The ombudsman is available to Family members 24/7.

The Navy also has a work and Family life consultant to assist with Navy personnel and their Families.

Over the past year, some free classes that have been prepared by this consultant and offered to Navy Families are "Couples Communication," learning to cope with challenges military couples face; "Navy Family Orientation," teaches Navy tradition and Family member benefits; "STEP/Teen," discussion group on how to communicate with teenagers; "Common Sense Parenting," learning and practicing parenting skills; and Installation Domestic Abuse Awareness Campaign, in partnership with the Army Community Service center.

This list is not all inclusive, however many classes to assist Sailors and their Families are scheduled throughout the year and open to all who wish to participate.

The Navy also has a clinical counselor. The counselor is open to Navy Sailors and their Families providing first step counseling and understands the Navy and the Navy's demands. Both the work and Family life consultant and the clinical counselor are located at the Army Community Service center.

NAVIOCOM Georgia also has a very active Family Readiness Group. The FRG is crucial to the morale of Family members. The FRG has prepared and mailed numerous care packages for our deployed Sailors and those Sailors on a demanding watch rotation. The FRG also hosts socials for Family spouses and their Families, supports new mothers with home cooked meals and a friend to talk to.

The Family Readiness Group has organized two highly successful "Welcome Home Celebrations" for Sailors who have recently returned from arduous deployments, ensuring that they and their Families know they are appreciated by the command and the Navy Family. Of course the command has an active Morale, Welfare, and Recreation committee that organizes Family/command gatherings such as the yearly Spring Bash, summer picnics, children's Halloween/ Easter Parties, and the yearly command Christmas Party.

These events have been successful in bringing the active duty members together in a fun setting with the Family members.

NAVIOCOM Georgia has put into place a great support structure to support Families. Sailors helping Sailors - always.

Over the past year, growth towards better understanding of the sister services has been outstanding.

For additional information about services to Navy Families call the command master chief at (706) 791- 9672; Family assistance coordinator (706) 791- 2994; clinical counselor (706) 791-5891;or the work and Family life consultant at (706) 791-6667.