Family Readiness Groups Legal Issues MAJ Patrick Shane Office of the Judge Advocate U'S' Army, Europ

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Family Readiness GroupsLegal Issues MAJ
Patrick Shane Office of the Judge AdvocateU.S.
Army, Europe and 7th Armypatrick.shane_at_us.army.mi
lDSN 370-8775
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Background

• Paradigm Shift
• New application of old rules
• Current Guidance
• AR 600-20, Army Command Policy, para. 5-10, Total
  Army Family Program (7 Jun 06)
• AR 608-1, Army Community Service Center, Appendix
  J, Army Family Readiness Group Operations (6 Dec
  06)
• Be wary of smart books, SOPs, guides, etc. that
  pre-date 2006!

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On-Line Resources

• Army FRG http//www.armyfrg.org
• Commander Resources
• Info for RDCs
• LOI for FRG Supplemental Fund
• USAREUR Army Families
• Visit USAREUR Website and Scroll over Personnel
  then Army Families
• Spouses Corner (Community Visit Summaries)
• FRG Funds Handbook

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FRG Today

• FRG is an official government entity, may be
  funded like any commanders mission, and must
  abide by fiscal and ethical rules
• FRG is NOT a private organization, a
  non-appropriated fund instrumentality (NAFI), or
  Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Program

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FRG Mission

• Provide command information
• Provide mutual support between command and FRG
  membership
• Advocate more efficient use of community
  resources
• Help solve family problems at lowest level
• COMMUNICATION!

• AR 608-1, para. J-2a.

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FRG Resources

• FRG mission activities must be funded with
  Appropriated Funds (APF), which cannot be
  augmented
• Mission activities include
• FRG staff/committee/member meetings
• Publication/distro of newsletter
• Maintaining family rosters, member info, phone
  trees email lists
• FRG activity level may vary depending on unit
  mission and deployment cycle

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FRG Resources

• Authorized support includes
• Government office space and equipment
• Paper and printing
• Use of Official Mail Privileges
• Family Readiness Support Assistants
• Use of Government Vehicles
• Child Care
• Volunteers

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Budget Process

• FRG operations funded by units APFs
• Cdrs will consider FRG requirements when planning
  budget
• Budget Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
  required
• Must include process for requesting reimbursement
  of volunteer expenses and requesting command
  approval of purchase request forms

• See AR 608-1, para. J-6

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FRG Newsletter

• May use govt paper and printing supplies
• May distro through official channels
• Requires SOP
• Commander decides how frequent
• Unofficial info in newsletter allowed if
• 20
• No added cost
• No wanted/sale notices
• Disclaimer

FRG Meeting Tonight

• See AR 608-1, para. J-3 bc

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Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA)

• FRSA a.k.a. Deployment Support Assistant or
  Mobilization Deployment Assistant
• Works for Cdr to provide FRG admin support
• Duties not to conflict with volunteer FRG
  leadership
• WILL NOT be involved in FRG informal fundraising
  activities, casualty assistance, suicide
  prevention activities, teaching family readiness
  training, or family counseling

• See AR 608-1, para. J-5

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Use of Government Vehicles

• Govt vehicle use authorized in support of
  official FRG activities
• FRG volunteers may operate
• Must be in position description
• Weight limits/license reqs

EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

• See AR 608-1, paras. J-3d and J-4a(4)

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Child Care

• Depends on availability of funds
• Unit Commander authorizes
• To support
• Command-sponsored training
• Child Care for Armed Forces members in support of
  a contingency operation

• AR 608-1, para. J-3e

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Volunteers

• Commander accepts services IAW
  10 USC 1588 and AR 608-1, Chapter
  5
• May reimburse Volunteer expenses,
  depending upon availability of funds.
• Travel and training
• Incidental expenses
• Childcare while volunteering
• Not eligible for reimbursement during
  social functions,
  fundraising and other
  unofficial FRG activities
• Cdr may not approve travel/reimbursement for
  member of household or others that present COI

• See AR 608-1, paras. J-3f and J-4

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NAF Support

• FRG Supplemental Mission Account
• Unsolicited gifts or donations to Army intended
  for FRG support
• Appropriate acceptance authority (depends on )
• EC must be consulted
• Follow NAF accounting rules
• Do not expire, carry over to next FY
• NOT MWR NAFs or Informal Funds! No commingling.

• See AR 608-1, paras. 3-2 and J-9, and AR 215-1,
  paras. 5-13 and 5-10d(1)

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NAF Support

• FRG Supplemental Mission Account
• Supplements established FRG mission if APFs not
  authorized
• Unless for volunteer expense reimbursement, then
  may use if APFs not available
• 1st priority to encourage max attendance/participa
  tion at FRG meetings. Example Buy
  food/refreshments
• May not fund unit ball or lavish cruise.
• DMWR disperses FRG SM Funds equitably among
  garrison FRGs

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FRG Informal Funds

• FRGs may keep ONE Informal Fund
• Not APF, not NAF
• Funds voluntarily provided by individuals
• 10,000 Annual Cap recent increase
• FRG IF SOP required
• Purpose
• Disclaimer
• Approved by Cdr and majority of FRG members

• AR 608-1, para. J-7

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FRG Informal Funds

• FRG IF Purpose may be
• Holiday Parties
• Volunteer recognition
• Social Outings
• Send off and homecoming celebrations
• IF Purpose may NOT be
• Augment APF funds
• Unrelated to FRG activities (i.e. Fund units
  military ball)
• Pooling FRG IFs legal, subject to AR 608-1 and
  UR policy

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Fundraising

• FRG ?? Fund Raising Group!
• Solicitation and fundraising restrictions apply
• JER, AR/AER 210-22, AR 600-29
• FRG may conduct internal fundraising
• Internal fundraising means within the garrison
  community
• Broader scope than other IFs reflects community
  nature of Soldier Family readiness
• Know scope of your community
• FRG may NOT engage in external fundraising on or
  off post

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Fundraising

• FRG IF Fundraising must comply with AER 210-22
  rules for fundraising on-post
• Unit Commander approval
• Garrison Commander approval of time, place,
  manner
• Fundraising is not an official duty for FRG
  Volunteers
• Not eligible for reimbursement
• FRSA will not be involved in IF Fundraising

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Fundraising

• Gifts Donations
• To IF
• May be accepted by Commander
• Must not be solicited
• MUST consult with EC prior
• 1,000 limit (applies towards 10k cap)
• To FRG Supplemental Mission Account
• See earlier slide!
• Other options? (AR 1-100, AR 1-101)
• No Commercial Sponsorship

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FRGs and Private Organizations

• FRGs are not Private Organizations (POs)!
• PO may be established with charter to foster
  Family Readiness e.g., Friends of the xx FRG
• PO established IAW AR/AER 210-22 may fundraise
• FRG/PO Leadership separate to avoid COI
• PO funds raised can be channeled to FRG thru
  donation to Supplemental Mission Fund or IF, but
  caps apply OR
• PO can use for independent readiness purposes,
  e.g.
• Soldier Care packages
• Supplement child care and refreshments for FRG
  meetings

• AR 608-1, para. J-11

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Final Thoughts

• Stay up to date
• Educate your Commanders
• Know your ACS Program Managers, FRG Leaders, and
  FRSAs
• Coordinate News travels fast!

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