Family Readiness letter from the Commanding Officer

When I think of family, it not only includes my wife and children, but also my parents, brothers, sisters, aunt, uncles, cousins and even friends. In the Marine Corps sometimes unmarried Marines feel that Family Readiness is only for the married Marines, that is not the case. All Marines have family and the Family Readiness Officer is there to support everyone’s family.

There is no more important resource to the success of our unit or the Marine Corps than the contribution of individual Marines and Sailors. Over time, each of us sustains our ability to make these contributions only through the support we receive from those we care about—our families. A family’s support, in turn, is highly dependent on how ready it is to deal with the ongoing challenges of military life.

As the Commanding Officer, I am ultimately responsible for our Marines and Sailors and part of that responsibility is helping to preserve this key base of support. To that end, this command will have a viable Family Readiness Program that supports our Marines and Sailors as they maintain their families’ readiness. Each of us has a role to play within this program.

Individual Marines and Sailors, especially those who choose to accept the added responsibility of having a spouse and children, must also accept the responsibility for their family’s care and readiness. A military family must be able to continue to care for itself even when it has a Marine or Sailor deployed overseas. To ensure their families’ well-being, all Marines and Sailors with families will maintain an accurate and up to date Family Care Plan.

The Family Readiness Officer (FRO) manages our Family Readiness Program. I expect him to maintain the highest level of training, and to be thoroughly familiar with all the services available to our families. He will respond to concerns quickly and will provide accurate answers or referrals as soon as possible. The FRO will serve as the primary link between the members of this command and the services available to our families. He will also ensure that the families of the Marines and Sailors that attach and deploy with us know all of the 3/1Family Readiness points of contact . Perhaps most importantly, the FRO will also serve as the primary communication link between myself and the families of 3rd Battalion, 1stMarine Regiment . To accomplish these responsibilities, the FRO is assisted by Family Readiness Assistants and Volunteers, and he works with other members of the Family Readiness Team: the Executive Officer, the Sergeant Major, the Chaplain and our Command Team Advisors.

Although the Family Readiness Team performs a key function within 3rd Battalion, 1stMarine Regiment , it is not a substitute for the Chain of Command. Our leadership at all levels must be engaged. Any spouse or family member who is in need of help will be treated respectfully and professionally. The FRO will ensure that problems are identified to the Chain of Command and the Marine or Sailor as soon as possible.

For information and assistance in all Family Readiness matters, contact the 3rd Battalion, 1stMarines Family Readiness Officer, Mr. Paul Walters (information can be found on the left-hand panel).

F. Fridriksson
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC

3/1 Family Readiness Useful Links

• 3/1 eMarine Sign-up Flyer
• PreDeployment Brief
• PreDeployment Brief Notes
• Readiness & Deployment Support Trainer
• Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) home page
• Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) Information Guide