Family Readiness

AUSA’s Barron Joins Family Readiness Council

March 24, 2020
Patty Barron, director of Family Readiness for the Association of the U.S. Army, was sworn in March 24 as a member of the Defense Department’s Military Family Readiness Council. The swearing-in happened via teleconference because of coronavirus-...

Rule Change Gives Troops Priority for Child Care

March 10, 2020
Children of active-duty troops will get “priority access” to Defense Department child care programs beginning June 1, according to a policy change signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. As a result of the new policy, some families may be bumped...

DoD ‘on Track’ to Improve Military Family Moves

February 27, 2020
Big improvements in accountability, transparency and quality from the companies that move household goods are on the way for military families who will be transitioning to new locations at the peak of next year’s moving season, a senior official...

Less Stress Is Goal for Exceptional Family Member Program

February 13, 2020
Improvements are coming to the Army’s Exceptional Family Member Program that provides educational and medical help to special needs dependents, said Col. Steve Lewis, deputy director of the Army’s quality of life task force. Testifying before the...

Housing Surveys Coming to Army Families

November 6, 2019
Families living in Army housing will have another chance to rate the quality of their living conditions and housing services in two confidential surveys set to be emailed on Nov. 7 and Nov. 12. The first survey going out Nov. 7 will pertain to Army-...
With her husband, MSG Gustav Anderson by her side, Krista Anderson asks a question to the panel at the Family Forum II: Army Housing and PCS at the 2019 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center on Oct. 15, 2019.

Leaders Promise to Continue Working on Housing, PCS

October 16, 2019
Army leaders heard a torrent of complaints from soldiers and family members over challenges they’ve faced with poor housing conditions and permanent change-of-station moves during a family forum Oct. 15 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual...
Flanked by Secretary of the Army Ryan Mcarthy, left, and Sergeant Major Michael Grinston, Army Chief of Staff James McConville speaks at the Family Forum IV: Senior Leaders Town Hall at the 2019 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition.

McConville Supports Longer Tours, Fewer Moves

October 15, 2019
The Army is looking for ways to make PCS moves easier for soldiers and families, but Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville is not in favor of moving families during off-peak season. “[S]ome people are talking about, ‘Hey, we’ll move soldiers off...
Dee Geise, left, Chief of the Soldier & Family Readiness Division, moderates the AUSA Military Forum II: Military Spouse Deployment, at the 2019 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center on Oct. 15, 2019.

Army Offers Variety of Spouse Employment Resources

October 15, 2019
Army spouses looking for employment can face challenges—frequent moves and state licensing requirements, for example—but they have a community of resources and opportunities available to help, experts say. “Family wellbeing is holistic and requires...
Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness, speaks Oct. 14, 2019, during a family forum at the 2019 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. Other panelists include retired Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, Col. Steve Lewis and Robert McCartney.

Army Refocuses Soldier and Family Readiness Groups

October 14, 2019
The Army recognizes the need for community support as it shifts away from spouse-only programs to all-encompassing soldier and family readiness groups. “Social support and connectedness are critical for family readiness and we recognize that,” Col...

AUSA 2019 Offers Several Family Forums

October 3, 2019
This year’s Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition will feature several family readiness-focused events. “This is an important time for Army families,” said Patty Barron, director of AUSA’s Family Readiness directorate. “With so...