ARLINGTON, Va. - The Department of Defense announced recently its top Guard and Reserve family readiness groups for 2009, and the awardees include an Army Guard group from Wisconsin and an Air Guard group from Minnesota.
Family readiness group members from both states will be honored at the DoD Reserve Family Readiness Awards ceremony at the Pentagon Feb. 12. They will receive an engraved plaque and a cash award from the Military Officers Association of America.
The Army National Guard’s top family readiness group represents the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Wisconsin.
"It's pretty exciting," said Janell Kellett, lead volunteer for the 32nd Brigade's family readiness group. "I've been calling all my volunteers."
Kellett oversees volunteers representing family readiness groups for 27 units deployed with the 32nd Brigade - including units from the 64th Troop Command and the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade - along with some additional groups representing units that provided individual Soldiers to augment the brigade.
"I am so thankful our Red Arrow Soldiers have the best family readiness program in the nation," said Col. Steven Bensend, commander of the 32nd Brigade from Iraq. "Our soldiers did a great job over here because of the great work done to support their families back in Wisconsin."
The Air Guard’s award-winning family readiness group is located at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Minn.
"The 148th Fighter Wing 'Bulldogs' are very honored to be selected for this award," said Col. Frank Stokes, the wing commander. "Our mission success is critically dependent on the training and well-being of our Airmen. Whether they are preparing to leave, currently deployed, or returning, our members & their families need & deserve the very best care and support. It's imperative that we do all we can to take care of them, and ensure their families are supported."
The family readiness group is currently supporting the deployment of civil engineers from the wing to Afghanistan and a group of security forces specialists, who deployed to Southwest Asia in October for six months, among others.
Earlier in 2009, the Wing’s FRG also supported the return of 60 Airmen conducting theater airborne reconnaissance from Joint Air Base Balad, Iraq. At that time, it was the Wing’s third deployment there since 2005.
The DoD FRG awards were established in 2000 to recognize the top unit in each Reserve component that demonstrates outstanding family readiness while maintaining superior mission readiness.
Each Reserve component selects its winner from among a large pool of nominees; final nominees are forwarded to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs for final approval.
The panel that determined the final Army Guard selection said the Wisconsin Guard’s FRG "exceeded their criteria guidance.”
"The incredible amount of time and effort our family volunteers gave is overwhelming," said Bensend. "There is no award that can adequately thank them for that sacrifice."
Kellett said that the award shows the volunteers that their hard work is recognized.
"This reinforces that they've done phenomenal work,” she said. "Everyone pitches in to have a successful program. This shows that the Army National Guard leadership here appreciates what we do. We want to serve the families; we want to serve the community."
"When our Soldiers know their families are being supported back home, they can focus on their missions overseas," said Kellett. "Family readiness groups are really supporting the mission too.”