15th Regimental Signal Brigade Family focused

Caring for Soldiers, civilians and their Families is a priority within the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade.

Our brigade is unique in that we care for multiple subsets of Army Families.

By virtue of our mission, to provide world class advanced individual training to over 5,000 Signal and Ordnance Warriors, the majority of our Soldiers are assigned to Fort Gordon temporarily where their Families are dispersed throughout this great country.

We care for these geographically dispersed Families away from our training base and provide introductory information and training to help them transition into Army life. We also have Families of Soldiers in training with us here at Fort Gordon as well.

Although a smaller population than our trainees, our second subset of Families, we are committed to providing support in our 1500-member permanent party force that consists of Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians and contract employees.

These Families endure the long hours and multiple shifts which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days out of the year without a cycle break. Our third subset of Families we have in the brigade are those Families that remain here while their Soldier has either deployed on temporary change of station orders or on permanent change of station orders to an unaccompanied tour. These Army Families, regardless of their Soldier's new unit remain a member of the 15th RSB team with the unit commander maintaining the responsibility to meet the needs of those Families.

Our battalions execute vibrant and active Families readiness groups leveraging the available resources provided by the garrison as well as the numerous online resources such as websites like armyonesource.com and the Army's virtual Families readiness group.

The uniqueness of our population demands that we provide information to our Families through these various media.

Finally, as a Training and Doctrine Command unit, some may be surprised that the brigade has Soldiers deployed in support of the Global War on Terror as individual augmentees.

This is a fact that is not lost on those Families who remain here on Fort Gordon while their Soldier is deployed. This subset of our Families demands our attention to support their requirements which are very different from the resources that may be sought by the Families of our Soldiers in training. The beauty of the systems that are in place is that they provide flexibility to the commanders to meet the needs of each and every Family member in the brigade.

We are fortunate to have the resources and expertise of dedicated professionals in the garrison whose assistance enables commanders to fulfill their role and meet the commander's priority of caring for our Families.

Each of our battalions executes the critical task of caring for Soldiers, civilians, contractors and their Families in different ways. The end result for each is that the techniques they employ are very effective.

The 73rd Ordnance Cobra Battalion Family Readiness Group, has been hard at work to raise money for the support of the Battalion FRG Christmas Party and additionally in support of the Fort Gordon Christmas House.

They have conducted two fundraisers at the post commissary and have two more fundraisers scheduled for the month of December.They have elected Mark Cory as their new Family Readiness Group Leader and Misty Eastham as the Family Readiness Group Secretary.

They bring years of prior FRG experience with them and we look forward to having their leadership. Each month the battalion generates a battalion newsletter that is sent out to all Soldiers, Families members and civilians of the battalion via email and on the virtual FRG website.

This monthly product keeps everyone informed of ongoing and upcoming events in the battalion and in the community. The Chain of Concern is also updated monthly, as they in-process and out-process Soldiers. The 73d Ordnance Battalion's Bravo and Charlie companies have both been diligently working on introducing Families that are new to the Army by leveraging the installation directorate supported classes that are beneficial to both IET Soldiers and their spouses.

Many of the Soldier's FRG meetings actually become open forums for the Soldiers to learn about Army support programs.

This is also the time that Army Family Team Building is explained to the new Families. Families are informed that AFTB provides training and knowledge that they need to support the total Army effort.

Army Community Service is a great organizational tool that we use to conduct our FRG meetings. They have taught many classes for the battalion, with subjects that range from financial readiness to spousal education. The Family Readiness Groups meet monthly, to keep Soldiers and spouses aware of the battalion, Fort Gordon and community activities.

The 447th Signal Battalion is providing support to our Families through two different avenues. First is our support to our permanent party cadre and their Families with a focus on the Families of Soldiers that are deployed either on a temporary change of station or short-term assignment or part of a mobile training team. We have 12 Families that are contacted monthly to ensure that they have no issues. We also have quarterly activities that allow us to gather together as one large community— our activity this quarter is our holiday party.

Our second avenue of support is the education that we are providing to the Soldiers here as trainees. We welcome each Family to the Army through a welcome letter, and follow up with training for the individual Soldiers on how the Army can provide support to their Families.

The 369th Signal Battalion remains committed to supporting our Army Families through both battalion and company level initiatives. The battalion recently launched a virtual Family Readiness Group online, while concurrently creating a Chain of Concern.

During this quarter each of the company FRGs have planned or conducted FRG events that range from fundraising for causes like Christmas House, potluck dinners, social gatherings, and a variety of information briefs. Additionally, FRG leaders have represented the unit at the post-level FRG forum.

The Warrior Battalion is currently planning a Children's Holiday Party for December and remains dedicated to those Families with Soldiers deployed and away from their loved ones.

The 551st Signal Battalion Patriots' commitment to the Army Family Covenant is deeply rooted at the company level, and supported through the battalion chain of command. Pam Schrader, Virginia Hindbaugh, Rachel Strong, Mary Schein, and Jazmin McGhee (battalion advisor, steering committee advisor, A, B, and C Company representatives respectively) work together to integrate both single and married Soldiers into the Battalion Family Readiness Group program.

Permanent party, student Soldiers and their Family members receive monthly education in areas such as employment and relocation readiness, and financial management.

Patriots recently hosted a 'Parking Lot Party' emphasizing voter registration and safety. Guests included the Fort Gordon Fire Department and Installation Safety Office; with company voting assistance officers providing valuable information on absentee ballots. There were hamburgers, hotdogs, air jumpers for the kids, and a fun chance to mingle for all. October yielded the chance to raise morale even higher with the 'Trunk of Treat' Halloween celebration.

The car decorating contest, chili cook-off, bouncy castle, and costume contest provided a safe and exciting atmosphere for Families. The upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays will give Patriots a chance to re-emphasize safety and focus on the importance of Families. The 551st Signal Battalion understands that Families come first, and that a healthy Family is imperative to mission success.