AUSA Family Readiness is dedicated to providing Army families the tools and resources they need to help them manage the challenges of the military life cycle. 

Army Leaders Announce Family Support Initiatives

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Army Leaders Announce Family Support Initiatives

Army leaders announced some major new policies on housing, moving, spouse employment and child care aimed at improving the welfare of soldiers and their families, and they promised much more to come.

Speaking at a family readiness initiatives forum hosted Feb. 5 by the Association of the U.S. Army, Army Secretary Mark T. Esper, Vice Chief of Staff James C. McConville and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey said they’ve done a lot of work to start addressing major complaints from soldiers and spouses and are ready to hear more ideas.

Three Family Forums Scheduled at AUSA 2018

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Three Family Forums Scheduled at AUSA 2018

Three family focused forums are scheduled during the Association of the U.S. Army’s October Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

On opening day, Oct. 8, an afternoon forum will discuss 16 indicators of success or failure in policy and programs for Army families. Stacy Ann Hawkins, a research scientist specializing in the health and well-being of military families, will lead the examination of issues such as physical and mental health of family members, marital strain, finances, social support networks and a family’s deployment experience.

AUSA 2017 Features Family-Focused Events

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AUSA 2017 Features Family-Focused Events

The Association of the U.S. Army plans three days of forums and events aimed at Army families as part of its 2017 Annual Meeting and Exposition.

On Monday, Oct. 9, Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West will be the key speaker at an afternoon forum focusing on health care issues. Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, Defense Health Agency director, will also talk about changes in military health care and there will be a panel focused on family and soldier wellness initiatives.

New Edition of 'Your Soldier Your Army' Is Out

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New Edition of 'Your Soldier Your Army' Is Out

The daunting task of trying to understand the ways of the Army has been made easier for the families of soldiers by this easy-to-read guide.

Your Soldier, Your Army: A Family Guide

Read Your Soldier, Your Army: A Family Guide

If you are reading this book, you probably have a loved one serving in the Army. This is the new and revised edition of my original book, Your Soldier, Your Army—A Parents’ Guide, published in 2005. A lot has changed since then and I, along with the Association of the United States Army’s Institute of Land Warfare, decided it was time to update the original book.

Help! I Need to Find Childcare Off Post!

Over the past month, the federal hiring freeze has become a challenge for some Army families. At least three child care centers on three different Army installations have been forced to reduce child care slots due to the inability to hire employees.

Child care staff positions are paid through nonappropriated funds and are usually exempt from hiring freezes. However, the Implementation of Workforce Hiring Freeze memorandum, issued Feb. 3 by the Department of Defense, clearly states that “the freeze impacts all Department of Defense positions, regardless of funding source.”

Cessation of Hourly Care: There Goes My Sanity

My hands shook as I read the letter for the fourth time, trying to wrap my mind around what it was saying. “Effective immediately, the Childhood Development Center will no longer provide hourly care or drop-in services”. Due to the Federal Hiring Freeze, there weren’t enough providers to go around, and priority had to be given to children with dual military, single, or working parents.

AUSA Hosts Military Family Research Institute

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AUSA Hosts Military Family Research Institute

The Military Family Research Institute and the Association of the U.S. Army hosted a Nov. 16 event where research into the value of GI Bill education benefits received the Excellence in Research on Military and Veteran Families Award. The winning study found unexpected gains in marriage and family life for World War II veterans who used the GI Bill.

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