FA M I LY RE A D I N E S S G RO UP
Spring 2014 491st Military Police Company 14941 Riverside Drive Riverside, CA 92518
Message from our Rear Detachment Commander Dear 491st MP CO Family,
return to civilian life.
It's going to be a busy summer for the 491st! First and foremost, the 124PAX Main Body will be returning in mid-June. We are working now to finalize the date and details for the Welcome Home Ceremony. We know that Families and Soldiers cannot wait to reunite after a long deployment! We intend to welcome our Soldiers home with all of the honor and dignity due to a unit which has accomplished its mission so admirably, and then promptly release Soldiers to their Families for a well-deserved break and
Meanwhile, Rear Detachment MPs will be leaving in mid-June for a security mission in North Carolina, and Rear Detachment Support Soldiers will be leaving in late June for a training mission in Texas.
FRG Treasurer Lorna Burton Cell: 951-768-3134
FRG Meeting & Planning of 124PAX Homecoming
Your FRG Needs You
FRG Secretary Kari Macias kmacias@ltic.com Cell: 562-244-3170
All Soldiers and Families are invited to attend our monthly FRG meeting at the unit to get information and stay connected. We also need help planning the homecoming ceremony for the 124PAX main body.
FRG Family Sponsorship Chair Veronica Ovalles vmovalles@yahoo.com Cell: 951-660-6623
Date: June 8, 2014 Time: 9:30am-11:00am
Unit Leadership: Rear Detachment Commander 1LT Ryan Ashker Rear Detachment First Sergeant MSG Gregory Chandler Family Readiness Liaison SGT Bobby Miller bobby.r.miller.mil@mail.mil
FRG Key Volunteers: FRG Leader Charlotte Gadsby cgadsbyfrg@gmail.com Cell: 909-226-4185
FRG Newsletter Chair Jhoselyn Ramirez jhoselynfrg@gmail.com Cell: 310-357-4917 FRG Special Events Chair VACANT FRG Publicity Chair VACANT FRG Facebook Page Admin Ray Macias, Kari Macias, Charlotte Gadsby, Jhoselyn Ramirez
Full-time FRG Support Staff: Family Readiness Support Assistant VACANT Office: 562-795-2351
Let's take care of business, then relax and spend some quality time with our loved ones. Wishing you a fun and safe summer, 1LT Ryan Ashker
All Soldiers and Families are invited to show support by getting your snacks and refreshments at our SNACK SHOP. We’ll be open every Battle Assembly (BA) weekends. All donations go toward the 491st MP CO FRG funds, used for the unit’s family-oriented events and activities.
Offer your time and talents! Everyone has a gift, a given talent or a skill. For example, you can help with organizing activities and events, call Family members, coordinate fundraising activities, write articles for the newsletter, take photos at unit and FRG events, attend meetings and activities, and more. Staying involved in the FRG ensures success of everyone in the unit. The best way to ensure the FRG meets your and the unit's needs is to let the FRG know what you want and keep the FRG informed. It’s entirely up to you how much time you want to volunteer. Incentives, awards, recognition are given based on volunteer service. Opportunities available now!
Family members and friends can sign up for a shift to help keep our SNACK SHOP open every BA. Please email cgadsbyfrg@gmail.com.
Please help our FRG grow! Call (909) 226-4185
You’re also welcome to participate via conference line:
Dial 1-866-910-5169, Enter pass code 9231199#
FRG Snack Shop is Open!
Stay updated on FRG activities, events, and other valuable information for Soldiers and Families. Please visit and “Like” our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/491stMPcoFRG
491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group, Gladiators Gazette
Letter from our Commander in GTMO, Cuba Greetings from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba! I want to extend my gratitude to all the family members, spouses, friends, employers, and community members for their continued support to the Soldiers of the 491st MP CO. Your Soldiers have been tasked with a difficult and challenging mission here in GTMO and everyday they perform their duties with the highest degree of professionalism, honor, and service. The support from our loved ones provides the Soldiers with the motivation and commitment to duty that is necessary for them to accomplish the mission. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage are the Army Values. These values are embodied daily by your Soldiers. More importantly, not only do Soldiers live by these values, I also
believe that our spouses and family members represent and emulate these values. You all stand side by side with each and every Soldier in service for our County. Sacrifice is not only made by the Soldiers, but also by our spouses and family members. Courage and Strength is required to accomplish the mission for both the Soldier and the family member. As we draw closer to the end of our deployment, it is important to recognize and thank those back at home who have served and sacrificed with us. We look forward to the moment when Soldiers reunite with their loved ones. We will all see each other soon. Respectfully, CPT Tommy Menga
Photos from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
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Spring 2014
Military Children Ages 9-17 Yrs Old Needed for Department of Defense Research Study MilitaryKidsConnect (MKC) is an online community of military children (ages 6-17 years old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parent's or caregiver's return. http://militarykidsconnect.t2.health.mil/
Friends Research Institute, Inc. is sponsoring a research study evaluating the Department of Defense (DoD) website http://militarykidsconnect.t2.health.mil/. We are looking for military families (active duty, national guard, and reserve) with children ages 9-17 years old to volunteer to participate. Total time involved will be no more than 1.5 hours. The study will involve children watching videos, listening to audio clips, and watching animated features describing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These clips are meant to be educational and help children understand this condition as it might apply to adult service members with this condition. Children will answer questions about what they learned and understood after watching these materials. We are looking for 50 total children of active duty, national guard, or reserve service members. We will be using Nexus tablets with a wireless hotspot. Children will receive promotional items including a hoodie sweater, USB flash drive dog tags, ear buds and other items with Military Kids Connect (MKC) branding. They will also receive a signed certificate thanking them for their service to DoD and MKC. The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and requires a signed parental consent and participant (youth) assent to participate. The survey will be anonymous and no identifying information will be linked in any way to responses to the study. If interested, please contact Jhoselyn.Ramirez@gmail.com and use email subject line: MILITARY KIDS CONNECT SURVEY. Please share with other military families with children ages 9-17 years old. The study is administered by Dr. Gregory Leskin, PhD. It can be administered for groups of 4 children at a time, scheduled at a date, time, and location that is convenient to the families within Southern California (it can even be done during a battle assembly, family day, or FRG meeting). We can even schedule it at the comfort of your own home. Resources, refreshments and snacks will be provided for the youth participants, in addition to the promotional items mentioned above. We very much appreciate your time and effort to support this project. We hope to learn a lot about how our military youth can use technology to learn more about behavioral health and resilience.
Message from our Family Readiness Group Leader Dear Friends & Families of the 491st MP Company, What an exciting time for all of us!!!! The 18PAX Detachment 2 Soldiers arrived in April and the 124PAX Main Body Soldiers should be home soon. Soldiers, thank you for your service on our behalf. Families and friends, thank you for supporting each one of your Soldiers during this time. On behalf of all us in the FRG, I just want to say it has been a blessing to work with the Families. I encourage each one of you to remember that the FRG is here if you need anything, even after your Soldiers are home. ~Charlotte Gadsby Page 3 [Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by the Commander]
491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group, Gladiators Gazette
Homecoming Photos of Det 2 (18PAX)
Strong Bonds - Building Ready Families Visit www.strongbonds.org for more information, schedule, and to register for workshops in your region.
Weekend Retreats for Single Soldiers Married Couples Families Page 4 [Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by the Commander]
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Coming Home: Reunion and Reintegration The excitement surrounding a homecoming and reunion can create a well-deserved honeymoon phase that allows families to reconnect before getting back to business as usual. When the newness has worn off, and you and your family fall back into usual habits and routines — or face new challenges, like separation from the military or relocation — there are programs and resources available to make the reintegration process a little smoother on everyone. Reunion and reintegration programs, including non-medical counseling, the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP), and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), are available to make sure service members and families have access to the support that is necessary to the reintegration process. Non-medical counseling Short-term, confidential counseling is available to all service members and their families through Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs). Issues that are non-medical in nature are those that are typical to daily life, like relationships, stress management, grief and loss, and returning from deployment. They do not require a medical diagnosis and may be effectively solved through a series of non-medical counseling sessions. Military OneSource offers service members and families access to a maximum of twelve free sessions per person, per issue. These sessions can be carried out face-to-face, over the phone, or online for your convenience. For more information visit www.MilitaryOneSource.mil and select from the Counseling Options menu on any page, or call toll-free (800) 342-9647. MFLC sessions are also free of charge for active duty service members, National Guard members, Reservists, and family members. Contact information for MFLCs is usually distributed during key military events, like reunions, but you can always find contact information through your Military and Family Readiness Center. Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program addresses issues specific to National Guard members, Reservists, and their families throughout the entire deployment cycle. The program's goal is to ensure that these service members and families get the attention and support necessary throughout a deployment, especially during the critical reintegration process, regardless of their distance from a military installation. Your command can provide contact information for your unit’s YRRP. Transition Assistance Program The Transition Assistance Program is intended for separating service members and their families as they make the transition into civilian life and the civilian workforce. Trained TAP facilitators lead a three-day workshop at selected installations that address career choice, the current job market, and the application and interviewing processes. For more information, visit the Department of Labor's TAP information section at http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/ or check out TurboTAP at http://www.turbotap.org/ or speak to your command. With the right support the reunion and reintegration process can be relatively smooth. Remember that each member of the family is adjusting to changes, and support is ready when you are. Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647 TTY/TDD: 1-866-607-6794 En español llame al: 1-877-888-0727 https://www.militaryonesource.mil Page 5 [Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by the Commander]
491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group, Gladiators Gazette
Free Parenting Course for Service Members and Veterans Parenting for Service Members and Veterans was built by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Health Services in partnership with the Department of Defense National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) as part of a coordinated public health initiative to help Veterans and Service Members who are having difficulties. This free online course provides military and veteran parents with information and strategies to improve their parenting skills.
Social Media Alert! Here are some Social Media links we recommend you “Like” and “Follow” to stay on top of news, information, and happenings that relate to you as a 491st MP Company Soldier or Family member. www.facebook.com/491stMPcoFRG www.facebook.com/491stMPcoDet2 www.facebook.com/200MP www.facebook.com/FamilyPrograms www.facebook.com/ArmyReserveFamilyPrograms
They include: Parenting information and strategies for Service Member and Veteran parents. Guidance to help you reconnect with your children after a deployment and beyond. Videos of real families' stories, helpful exercises and practical parenting tip sheets. To Access Go To http://militaryparenting.t2.health.mil/
www.facebook.com/TeamMarch www.facebook.com/domadPAO www.facebook.com/63dRSCyellowribbon www.facebook.com/dodYRRP
www.facebook.com/ArmyOneSource www.facebook.com/Military.1Source
Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) About the SECO program The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Program provides expert education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide. The program offers comprehensive information, tools and resources to support career exploration, education and training, employment readiness and career connections. Online, in the community or on the phone, SECO ensures spouses have all the opportunities and connections they need to find a career they love that fits their mobile military life. Who is Eligible for SECO services? Military spouses meeting the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program: Spouses of active duty, National Guard and reserve component military members in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force Spouses of military members separated from active duty, National Guard and reserves for less than 180 days Surviving spouses of military members who died while on active duty The following military spouses are not eligible to participate in the SECO program: Spouses who are also active duty military members themselves Spouses of Coast Guard military members Visit https://myseco.militaryonesource.mil/ or speak to a SECO counselor (800) 342-9647 Page 6 [Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by the Commander]
Spring 2014 Spring 2014
A Legal/Financial Checklist for Newlyweds Now that love has brought you together, don’t let financial and legal issues get between you. Here’s a list of questions to ask to help your marriage get off to a good start. Saving and spending Have we agreed on financial goals, such as buying a house in 5 years? Are we saving 20 percent of our take-home pay? Are we taking advantage of 401(k)s or similar plans? Do we track our spending on food, housing, transportation, utilities and other items? Have we agreed on a budget? Are we following that budget? Being prepared Do we have an emergency cash fund equal to at least 3 months of expenses? Do we have adequate life insurance coverage? Do we have long-term disability insurance? Do we have family health coverage? Have we both made out wills and durable powers of attorney? Have we updated beneficiary designations on insurance policies and retirement plans? Have we notified the Social Security Administration of any name changes? For a recent move, have we told the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS about our new address? For any children from previous marriages, have we made estate-planning provisions for their support and/or inheritance? Do we have a plan in place for times of deployment? Working together Do we know which of us will be responsible for paying bills, balancing the checkbook and keeping us on budget? Are we committed to communication, so that we both know at all times how our money is being spent, saved and invested? Have we agreed on how many checking accounts and what type (joint or separate) to have? Does either of us have credit-card balances that are not paid off each month? Do we have a plan to pay off those balances? Have we reviewed our credit reports to see if we’re starting our life together with a clean slate? By Tom Gray © 2006 Achieve Solutions Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647 TTY/TDD: 1-866-607-6794 En español llame al: 1-877-888-0727 https://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesolutions/en/militaryonesource/ Page 7 [Family Readiness Newsletter Approved by the Commander]
491st MP CO, Family Readiness Group, Gladiators Gazette
Place Stamp Here
491st Military Police Company Family Readiness Group 14941 Riverside Drive Riverside, CA 92518
To the Family of: