Welcome to FRO Training

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Welcome to FRO Training
Module 5 Family Readiness Deployment Plan
Updated April 2007
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FR Deployment Duties
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Pre-deployment Goals

• Elements of pre-deployment planning include
• Pre-deployment briefing(s)
• Team organization
• Communication

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Planning Meeting with Family Readiness Team

• Establish and express the COs guidance on
• Casualties
• Funding
• FRO issues
• Unit rosters
• Recruiting and training KVs
• Volunteer appreciation
• Dismissing KVs
• Family Readiness events
• Newsletter
• Unit 800 number/recorded message
• Unit website
• Supporting families of Individual Augmentees and
  Attachments
• Unit policy regarding support to families of
  single Marines
• Natural disasters

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Knowledge Check

• You are going to meet with the Directors of
  MCFTB, Marine and Family Services, command
  leadership, and the families to communicate the
  COs goals. What should you discuss with each
  team member? Match the appropriate discussion
  topics with each Family Readiness Team member.

Unit L.I.N.K.S. session, KV Training schedule,
Pre-deployment briefings, Military OneSource,
PREP, and CREDO.
Marine and Family Services
Through unit communications, youll communicate
the commands commitment, introduce Team members,
recruit KVs, review KV responsibilities, and
provide training dates for KV training.
MCFTB
Review Family Readiness goals, expectations,
participation, provide updates at staff meetings,
and introduce the Team to unit leadership.
Families
Crisis response center, New Parent Support,
Stress Reduction Counseling, Combat/Operational
Stress Control, and Critical Incident Stress
debriefing.
Command Leadership
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Pre-deployment Briefs

• Plan Pre-deployment briefings for the families
  with the following in mind
• Schedule a separate brief for single Marines
• Contact MCFTB for materials and/or assistance
• Schedule more than one brief so everyone can
  attend
• Hold one brief three months before departure and
  another one month before departure
• Include brief for children, including puppet show
  video

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Emergency Contact Information

• Emergency Contact Information Form
• Emergency Contact Information Card

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Emergency Contact Information Form
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Emergency Contact Information Card
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Knowledge Check

• What are you going to do at the upcoming
  Pre-deployment brief?
• Inform the families about the resources available
  to them.
• Plan the Welcome Home event.
• Discuss Emergency Contact Information.
• Allow the families time to ask questions and
  voice their concerns.

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Briefing Formats

• Fair or Expo
• Speakers Only

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Knowledge Check

• You need to select a location for Family Day.
  Given the facts about each location , which one
  is best?
• Usually, this facility is empty, so you are sure
  it is available. Its a bit of a drive, but at
  least it is large. You will have to supply any
  audio-visual devices to make presentations. Food
  and drink are not allowed.
• This facility is available to be scheduled
  immediately, but it is not located within the
  community. There is adequate air conditioning
  and audio-visual equipment is available. Food and
  drink are not allowed.
• While this facility is on the small side, the
  acoustics are so good that additional audio
  equipment is not necessary. Because you have
  checked so far in advance, it is available on the
  date you have planned. It is located in the
  community where most of the unit families live.

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Knowledge Check

• When you plan a meeting or event, you have many
  considerations to address. Choose the best
  options below.
• Time
• Location
• Environment
• Communication

Plan for a long meeting
OR
Keep it short and focused
Develop a sense of community
OR
Use the largest space possible
Arrange for child care for participants
OR
Leave child care to the parents
Use several different methods
OR
Use only one consistent method
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Team Organization

• If a Family Readiness Team does not exist, it is
  the FROs responsibility to assemble one. It
  should include at least
• Executive Officer
• Sergeant Major
• Chaplain
• KVC and KVN
• Higher Headquarters FRO
• MCCS
• MCFTB staff and programs
• Funding Manager
• Community Support Organizations

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Team Organization Goals

• Consider the following while forming the Family
  Readiness Plan and Family Readiness Team
• Review funding
• Establish a KVN
• Coordinate MCFTB programs

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Knowledge Check

• Select the best choice.
• Meetings
• Rosters
• MCFTB Programs

Conduct Family Readiness meetings at least every
other month if not deploying soon. Increase
frequency as deployment date nears.
OR
Conduct Family Readiness meetings quarterly.
Conduct unit roster verifications regularly and
establish a system for correcting errors to
assure accurate rosters and service record books.
Rosters are the commands responsibility.
OR
Conduct unit roster verifications as necessary.
Rosters are the KVNs responsibility.
Allow the families to research and coordinate
their own training in order to protect their
privacy.
Arrange a unit L.I.N.K.S. session, coordinate
CREDO participation and request PREP slots.
OR
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Communications

• Send a letter of introduction to families
• Communicate with families of Individual
  Augmentees, Attachments and Detachments
• If authorized by the commanders guidance and by
  the Marine (in writing), the FRO communicates
  with the designated family member(s) of single
  Marines

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Communication Plan

• Elements of a communication plan should include a
  variety of methods, including
• KV Phone Tree
• Toll free number/recorded message
• Newsletter
• Official e-mails
• Unit website
• Pre-, During and Post-Deployment Briefs

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Knowledge Check

• You need to schedule some meetings to prepare the
  families for the deployment. Which meetings
  should be held in the Pre-deployment phase?
• Meetings with the families
• Meetings with command leadership
• Planning Meeting with the Family Readiness Team
• Meeting with Base Facilities Maintenance

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Knowledge Check

• What is the minimum recommended frequency of
  Family Readiness meetings?
• Monthly
• Bi-weekly
• Weekly
• Every other month

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Knowledge Check

• One thing to keep in mind when supporting IA
  families is that
• They usually have the same lead time to prepare
  for deployment as other families.
• They shouldnt need a Newsletter.
• The gaining command should not need to provide
  any support to the family.
• They will need to be contacted by the gaining
  command FRO and assigned a KV, while retaining
  the support of their parent command KVN.

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Knowledge Check

• Match the type of briefing to the format.
• A limited number of key speakers, as determined
  by the unit.
• All selected representatives brief for the
  designated period of time.
• Limited number of key speakers. Other program
  representatives display their program resources
  on tables or booths.
• Minimal booths.

FAIR OR EXPO
SPEAKERS ONLY
FAIR OR EXPO
FAIR OR EXPO
SPEAKERS ONLY
SPEAKERS ONLY
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Deployment Task List

• The elements of a successful Family Readiness
  Plan during the Deployment phase include
• Team organization
• Communication
• Coordination

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Knowledge Check

• To protect Operational Security, which of the
  following must not be discussed or published?
• A. Unit family holiday parties.
• Family Readiness events, funding and fundraising.
• Welcome Home events, PME needs of the unit and
  the briefing agenda.
• Deployment areas and times, location of spouses
  during deployments, the planned return date, and
  any special pre-deployment training the Marines
  conducted.

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Communications During Deployment

• Maintain communications by supplying the families
  the information they need, and by managing
  communication within the unit.
• Inform the families
• Within the unit

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KV Phone Tree Guidelines

• No more than 10 families per KV
• Spouses are not required to provide their name or
  number
• Marines are required to provide certain personal
  information to the command
• It is extremely important to maintain current
  information, in case the need arises to contact a
  family immediately
• Trained and officially appointed KVs only
• KVs must follow privacy and confidentiality rules

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Knowledge Check

• Which of these statements are true concerning the
  telephone roster?

Personal information (name, address and phone
number) can be released only to authorized
personnel. This typically includes members of
the KVN and rear detachment.
Personal information (name, address and phone
number) can be released to all unit families.
OR
Spouses are required to provide their name and
telephone number.
Spouses are not required to provide their name or
telephone number.
OR
When arranging a telephone tree, callers should
be assigned to contact no more than 10 family
members.
When arranging a telephone tree, callers should
be assigned to contact no more than 20 family
members.
OR
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Coordination

• Coordinate the following during deployment
• Social activities
• Care for the Caregiver
• General Counseling support

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Knowledge Check

• Which of these tasks should you perform when the
  unit is deployed?
• Maintain unit (telephone) roster.
• Communicate with the families and within the
  unit.
• Maintain Operational Security.
• Hold a planning meeting with the Family Readiness
  Team.
• Coordinate social activities.

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Knowledge Check

• During a deployment, the families need to be told
  some important information in order to put their
  worries and anxieties to rest. Which of these
  will you tell them?
• Speak with each other before you ask the FRO.
• The unit arrived safely.
• The mission is the priority.
• Delays returning home may occur.
• Speak with Family Readiness Team members when you
  need support.

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Knowledge Check

• Social activities need to occur during the
  deployment, but do you understand why it is
  necessary to plan them beforehand?
• Family members are more likely to attend if
  events are planned and associated with a major
  deployment, are free or low cost, are held
  locally, and some form of child care is offered.
• Provides KVs the opportunity to discuss the
  personal problems of the families they support.
• Planned social activities before and during
  deployments are beneficial ways to share
  important unit information with service members
  and family members.
• These activities provide an opportunity for
  family members to meet unit leadership and other
  family members.

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Knowledge Check

• Over time, the stress and demands of caring for
  others and responding to their needs becomes a
  drain on those KVs supporting the unit. What are
  two possible resources that will rejuvenate and
  support the KVs and unit families?
• Care for the Caregiver
• General Counseling support
• KV Support Group
• Deployment committee

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Post-deployment

• To ease the transition from the battlefield to
  home, our returning Marines and their loved ones
  require adequate preparation and supportive
  services to avoid additional stress and emotional
  overloads.
• In addition to the prescribed support services,
  reunion planning can incorporate more social
  aspects of the Return and Reunion process such as
  a Welcome Home ceremony or celebration.

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Post-deployment Goals

• The reintegration process involves the Marines
  and their families preparing for inevitable
  changes and experiencing the adjustment period
  after the reunion occurs.
• Reintegration includes these elements
• Return and Reunion process for families
• Welcome Home celebration
• Coordinate briefing and communications

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Reintegration Process

• Make sure that Marines are aware of all guidance
  and support during the reintegration process.
• Some components of the reintegration process
  include
• Combat/Operational Stress Control (COSC) programs
• Return and Reunion
• Warrior Transition
• Support services

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Reintegration Process

• Additional components of the reintegration
  process include
• Command safety brief
• Counseling services
• Military OneSource
• Managed Health Network (MHN)

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Knowledge Check

• Match the names and descriptions of these
  components of the reintegration process.

This program must be delivered to each unit and
non-casualty individual prior to leaving the
theater of operations by the unit Chaplain or
CREDO trained Chaplains. Other available
Chaplains and medical personnel should be on hand
to help identify anyone exhibiting signs of
combat stress and offer supportive services as
needed.
Command Safety
Warrior Transition
A presentation for this program has been
developed for delivery in theater by Chaplains or
other qualified personnel. It is posted on the
MCFTB section of the MCCS website. All unit
commanders, installation commanders, and the CG,
MARFORRES are tasked to assure Marines receive
this brief before returning home.
Combat/ Operational Stress Control
Return and Reunion
Upon arrival at the home location, this brief
will go prior to Marines being sent on liberty.
It should include aspects such as domestic
violence and child abuse issues, alcohol,
driving, health, seatbelts, and general
behavioral issues.
This program includes the symptoms and risks of
untreated combat stress, how to recognize it, and
both in-theater and home base resources to assist
in its treatment.
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Return and Reunion

• The following resources are available to help
  with the Return and Reunion phase
• Return and Reunion Guide for Marines and Families
• Return and Reunion Brief for Marines
• Return and Reunion Workshop for Spouses
• Care for the Caregiver
• Installation Marine and Family Services
• Military OneSource

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Post-deployment Goals

• For a memorable Welcome Home celebration,
  consider the following
• Disseminate the reunion plan to the rear
  detachment personnel, KVN and unit family members
  in a timely manner.
• Games and activities can be planned to entertain
  children (and adults) in conjunction with the
  Welcome Home celebration.

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Post-deployment Goals

• Coordinate the briefings and manage
  communications when the Marines return.
• The Family Readiness Team debrief should include
• Review successes and failures.
• Review any readiness trends experienced by the
  unit.
• Review Readiness Plan. Share changes made with
  MCFTB for use by other units.
• Re-address frequency of unit communication.
• Decide if unit and/or families need
  post-deployment debrief.
• Hold a KV recognition event upon return of the
  deployed Marines.
• Recruit new KVs.
• Record pertinent information/lessons learned in
  Turnover Binder.

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Knowledge Check

• Here are some problems that Marines and their
  families might experience during the Return and
  Reunion phase after a deployment. Match the
  problem to the resource.

My husband just came home and I dont know where
to begin to explain the little things that have
happened since he left. I need to tell him about
our finances, the yard, the kidsits
overwhelming.
Care for the Caregiver
Return and Reunion Workshop for Spouses
As a KV, I never realized how busy I would get
while I helped support the units families.
Return and Reunion Guide for Marines and Families
My dad just came home from deployment, and I
dont always listen to him like I used to. Im
used to Mom telling me what to do.
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Knowledge Check

• Which of the following statements describe the
  kind of help that Military OneSource can give the
  Marines and families after a deployment?
• Utilizing Military OneSource is ideal for Marines
  and Marine Reservists (and families) needing
  counseling services but who are not located near
  an installation.
• Marines and family members are allowed six
  face-to-face counseling sessions per incident
  with a civilian mental health practitioner for
  free.
• Military OneSource can help with deployment
  related issues, reunion concerns, parenting, and
  child care.
• If on-base resources are not available, the
  OneSource consultant will provide the caller
  counseling over the phone.

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Knowledge Check

• The Marines have returned and its time to
  discuss how well you and your Family Readiness
  Team handled the Pre-deployment, Deployment and
  Post-deployment. What will you discuss?
• Review successes and failures.
• Record in Turnover Binder.
• Re-address frequency of unit communication.
• Review any readiness trends experienced by the
  unit.

ALL OF THE ABOVE
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Knowledge Check

• You think you would like to meet with the CO for
  a post-deployment debrief. Which of these are
  you likely to say when discussing the need for a
  post-deployment debrief for the units Marines
  and families?
• Id like to talk about relocation services.
• I noticed quite a few families need help with
  financial management.
• Now is NOT the time to recognize KVs.
• Several of the families need legal services.

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Family Readiness Officer Training