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Health & Fitness

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and THEIR FAMILIES

Support Our Troops and Their Families - they all make a sacrifice.

Many of my friends in the community know that in 2009 I started volunteering, along with Amy Lovato, as the Family Readiness Group Leader of HHT 1-102nd Cavalry Squadron, Army National Guard based out of the Westfield Armory.  I had no idea what the upcoming years would bring and how involved I would get with the Soldiers and their families – but it has been an AMAZING experience.  As the FRG leader (it is almost like a “class mom”-not really sure how else to explain) – we offer a lot to the Soldiers and their families.  As issues arise we help to lead them to someone who can help them with a solution.  It all could not be done without the AMAZING VOLUNTEERS we have (soldiers, family members, and community residents).

I invite you all to come to our 2nd Annual Support Our Troops Casino Night
on Saturday, October 15 at 7 pm at the Westfield Armory.
All proceeds will support the Family Readiness Groups of the entire 102nd Cavalry Squadron (over 500 soldiers & their families). 

TICKETS INFO: $ 50 General Public/$ 40 Veterans and Seniors (all tickets include Food, Beer, Wine, and $ 60 gambling chips).  It is a great casual event.  If you are unable to attend, please pass the word onto someone that you may think might be interested in attending.  We would like this event to bring people together to thank all Veterans, those serving or who have served, active or retired, and to raise our glasses to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. May they never be forgotten. 

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SO ARE YOU ASKING WHAT IS AN FRG?

For commanders, the unit FRG helps to lighten their workload, especially in the area of soldier and family readiness goals. The FRG can enhance camaraderie and unit readiness by promoting self-reliance and by helping soldiers and family members.

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For soldiers, peace of mind—soldiers can be assured that their family members will be more self-sufficient and will have reliable and friendly support while they are deployed. This peace of mind can help soldiers focus on their work, perform better, relate better to other soldiers, and be safer while they’re on a training or real-world mission.

For the military and civilian communities, a well established FRG program can help forestall serious family problems (FRGs refer family members to military or civilian community resources and help families develop coping skills and stronger family units). Effective FRGs also provide a positive environment for diverse cultures to thrive together and to truly become one Army family—an Army of One.

For the Army, successful FRG programs, combined with ample and available community resources, help the Army achieve its primary goals-including the all-important goal of attracting and retaining high-quality soldiers and families in the Army.

For the Army Family and society as a whole, peace of mind; togetherness; pride in ourselves as individuals, families, units, and a nation of diverse cultures; and confidence that our Army can promote a better and safer. Courtesy of The Army FRG Leader's Handbook.

In the past two years our Westfield FRG’s:

  • planned the Back from Iraq Celebration
  • organized the distribution of Christmas trees
  • organized the holiday party (food & toys for the children)
  • provided assistance for Soldiers whose home had burnt down
  • organized assistance during the holidays
  • helped in finding employment
  • assisted in finding affordable daycare
  • provide bagels & coffee during drill weekends
  • Support Our Troops Casino Night
  • mailing of packages to deployed Soldiers
  • And much, much more….

All of the above could NOT have been done without this Community’s support.


So THANK YOU…

For more information contact:

Danielle Bracco

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