Military Wives...?

Question

What do you think of your FRG (for Army), or similar for the other branches.
P.S. ~ FRG (Family Rediness Group), the group of wives who have meetings, that are usually manditory, and plan events and fund raisers.

that's good that most of you aren't required to go. I am not required to go but ONE of us is, and I'm not making my husband sit through those meetings with a bunch of other wives after a long hard day of work. So I suck it up and do the right thing, but I do feel that I did not sign on the dotted line, so why so I feel like Government property so much?

Answer 1

Omigosh, when my husband was in Iraq my Key Volunteers we're always doing this and that... Luckily none of it was required, however, if I ran into a KV (like at the dentist's office) she would ask me if I was going to this or why I hadn't gone to that... One reason why I never went to their functions, was because they made it all about the children. I don't have kids... so why should I go? The other women just flock to the other mothers and i'm left standing by myself. The one time I contacted my KV she gave me the most generic answer and didn't help at all. The only thing I can say good about them, is they did a few fundraisers that lowered the cost of our ball tickets.

Answer 2

Well, the first time my husband was deployed, the FRG was awful. I was 20 hrs away which didn't help. I mostly talked to Rear D or someone from a different FRG when I had questions. Otherwise, most of the info was gossip or not helpful. The second time my husband was deployed it was much better because there were different, better leaders and I knew more of the wives but still a lot of gossip and not valid info. I relied on my husband for news because he KNEW what he was talking about. I have only been to a few meetings and events while my husband was home. (I go stay w/ family while he's deployed.) Most of the meetings, I walked away confused or angry because it was a lot of BS. I guess it just depends on the people who are running the FRG. I feel that the Rear D is better.

Answer 3

WELL being an army brat i alway attended FRG meeting with my dad and mom i thougt for me and my family they were very helpful and fun

BUT now that im a marine wife the key volunteers we have SUCK they give me no info and never get back to me on question which is hard when im about to leave to boot camp and my husbands still in iraq and i have no means of communication with the KEY people jus with my husband through letters that take for ever!!!!

My opinoin Army FRG's are better

Answer 4

I'm not sure about the one with my husband's unit right now (we just moved here) but his last one was awful! The wives of the higher ranking guys looked down on the rest of us to the point we did not usually attend things. As far as the "mandatory" stuff...please please keep this in mind. When your husband signed up he signed HIS name not yours. I know if I don't want to go to something I don't and I'll be damned if I'll get pressured into going somewhere to get looked down on. There are some really cool women in them at times but you have to do so much buttkissing so your husband doesn't catch hell that most of the good ones stay away. And I know when my husband was deployed we were supposed to get called once a month by our key caller. I got one call the whole year and that was the day after they left. I haven't been too impressed from my experiences.

Answer 5

i have nothing personal against FRG's. some run like they are meant to. they are our support in times of need especially when the soldier is deployed. they keep us in touch with news from iraq and the command and provide activities and such for the families left behind and provide support when emergencies arise. however, some of the wives are gossipy, they love to talk about other people and the only thing they want from me is to babysit. sorry, but i have 5 children and i don't enjoy watching other people's kids all the time. they never did much for me as far as support goes. when i needed something, there was no one around to help me. my husband sadly is the training nco for his company and he has to set the meetings up, so he usually ends up going and passing on the info. i don't need their help, i've been doing fine with myself, my children and the few friends i've met at our post. some wives are all about their husbands rank and i have no time for that.

Answer 6

As a military wife, I am not expected to join my husband's FRG. When he was state-side, he was never made to attend them either. I wonder who made you feel "forced" to attend? When my husband deployed suddenly last year from Army Reserves to Active status, I actually reached out for help myself and called our local AF base. Their FRG took great care of me and helped me to understand more about my husband's deployment, dealing with DFAS, Tricare, etc... I felt that they helped me out and went the extra mile, even when my husband was not even deployed with that branch of the service! Perhaps you should consider telling your group how you feel and maybe even bring understanding of what they could offer that would truly benefit military wives and families!

Answer 7

mine is very informing..they have a bad rap sometimes though.i have never seen this myself in my 3 and a half years as a army wife but some say its no good,etc...like they will say there is alot of gossip and not very informing.Not so with mine..they tell us what needs to be told and thats it..it will differ with each units FRG.

Answer 8

The FRG is a support Group that provides for the spouse of the deployed service member . The support is in the means of providing current information as to the status of the spouse's unit and well being. It provides a forum for spouses to voice problems that may has arisen since the absence of the spouse and allows for the unit's leadership to help in providing solutions to the spouse. The FRG is vital towards the well being of the soldier and spouse . The deployed spouse can better concentrate on his / her mission knowing that his/ her spouse is being taken care of. The money raised is usually to support the deployed spouse..

Answer 9

eh.. my husbands frg is not that bad, but definately not mandatory. it's just super disorganized and kinda chaotic. i get like the same info emailed to me from 10 different people, 2 different newsletters. and they ruined my husbands surprise of coming home for thanksgiving. but in general they pass along some helpful info... just beware of gossip and rumors, it gets ridiculous

Answer 10

Being the father of a two year Iraqi War veteran and in constant contact with my daighter in law, I have it that most...most...FRG's aren't worth anything!