Second Infantry Division soldiers and family members listen to plans to create Family Readiness Groups within the division during a rally at Hansen Field House, Camp Casey, South Korea. (Seth Robson / Stars and Stripes)
CAMP CASEY, South Korea — The 2nd Infantry Division is creating Family Readiness Groups to provide support for soldiers and their families in Area I or during possible future deployments.
During a Family Readiness Group rally held at Camp Casey’s Hansen Field House on Wednesday, 2nd ID commander Maj. Gen. George A. Higgins told soldiers and their families that FRGs — which support many U.S.-based units — will help keep the division ready for combat.
“Family readiness is about combat readiness. If soldiers are concerned about their spouses and children or anything else — then our readiness is going to go down,” he said.
The groups, which are usually organized by soldiers’ spouses to provide support at company, battalion, brigade and division levels, are particularly important with the Army engaged in so many overseas missions, Higgins said.
The first 2nd ID group was formed when the 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq last year. A second group was recently established for the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Officials stressed, however, that establishing an FRG doesn’t mean the unit is going to deploy.
The 2nd BCT deployment and the movement of 2nd ID units south of Seoul this year means family groups will need to reach out to families all over the world, Higgins said.
“We have to figure out how to help families no matter where they are. It doesn’t matter where that spouse or family is located,” Higgins said. “They are part of our family and we owe it to them to help them.”
Higgins attributed much of his success as a soldier in the past 29 years to his wife, Marilyn.
“There have been some really tough times in my life and this woman has stood by me and gotten me through. Whatever we do is about teamwork. Family readiness groups are about teamwork,” he said.
Marilyn Higgins also addressed the rally, telling soldiers and family members about 2nd ID’s Yongsan-based group, which meets once a month and caters to about 110, mostly command-sponsored spouses.
The group raises funds, hosts a children’s Christmas party, organizes farewell gatherings for members and disseminates information about activities in Areas I and II through a newsletter, she said.
“The reason for FRGs is not to get information out about the division but to get to know each other. When a deployment occurs that is not the time to establish a Family Readiness Group. During that time things are chaotic enough. The FRG should be established long before that time,” she said.
Bronwen Pence, 29 of Ann Arbor, Mich., whose husband Capt. Scott Pence commands Company C, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, came away from the rally motivated to establish a group, which she thinks would be useful for spouses when they first arrive in South Korea.
“When I first came to Korea it was very difficult just to get groceries. You don’t know where to get your ration card and what your healthcare is like,” she said. “Especially when husbands are in the field it is very helpful to have other wives (for support).”
