Family Readiness Brief 3rd LAR Battalion

1. Family Readiness Brief3rd LAR Battalion 

2. Family Readiness Command Team

3. Family Readiness Command Team

4. MCFTB Staff

5. Marine Corps Family Team BuildingVillage Center, Bldg. 1551760.830.3110 L.I.N.K.S. Life Skills Readiness and Deployment Support Family Readiness Program Training �Giving Marines & Families Tools to Thrive.� Marine Corps Family Team Building wants to be here to support you and your family throughout this journey of deployment. Your command will schedule several workshops to support you. Beyond the Brief � As we cover more information here tonight, you may see that there are some topics that you would like to receive more information on, for example the money. Seven months is a good amount of time to get use to the extra money that is coming in. Once the deployment is over, the money stops. One of the weeks in BTB is �Understanding the Money�. This week covers the money and how you can make it work for you. This is just one of many topics covered in the Beyond the Brief workshops. Kids-N-Deployment � This is a workshop that is designed for both the children and their parent or caregiver. Parents will learn about different emotions and feelings that their child may experience during a deployment as well as how to help them cope during the deployment. The children will experience different activities during their workshop to help them to talk about their feelings and learning some new coping skills. In The Midst � We will meet you again in the middle of your journey with a workshop that is designed to increase your energy level. This workshop is designed off of the �FEAR Not� acronym. Fun, Educational, Avenue for Communication, Relaxing, and Networking. There are different themes that take you away and reenergize you. Kids In The Midst � As our energy levels go down so do our children�s. We have a workshop for their mid journey. Kids In The Midst will have them feeling like, living like, acting like, and chilling like a STAR � Standing Together And Reaching KIDS! Return & Reunion for Spouses � As you come close to the end of the journey we will meet you at your Return & Reunion Workshop. This workshop will talk about where you have been and where you are getting ready to go. Kids-N-Reunion � As we prepare spouses, we also need to prepare kids. This workshop is similar to the Kids-N-Deployment workshop. Set up as two workshops, one for the parent and one for the children. This also assists the parent with helping the child and the parent that is deployed reconnect. Family Readiness Program Training � MCFTB also offers other training opportunities. They provide training for your Command Team and Volunteers. LINKS � Lifestyles Insights, Networking, Knowledge, and Skills. This is a great military 101 for all spouses. Learn about the military lifestyle while you network with other military spouses. LifeSkills � Your MCFTB has a LifeSkills Trainer on staff that is there to support you and your family too. This person will coordinate the resource education and training needed to meet the changing challenges of the military lifestyle. LifeSkills resource education and training addresses life competencies such as stress management, parenting teens and tweens, financial management, and elder care. Marine Corps Family Team Building wants to be here to support you and your family throughout this journey of deployment. Your command will schedule several workshops to support you. Beyond the Brief � As we cover more information here tonight, you may see that there are some topics that you would like to receive more information on, for example the money. Seven months is a good amount of time to get use to the extra money that is coming in. Once the deployment is over, the money stops. One of the weeks in BTB is �Understanding the Money�. This week covers the money and how you can make it work for you. This is just one of many topics covered in the Beyond the Brief workshops. Kids-N-Deployment � This is a workshop that is designed for both the children and their parent or caregiver. Parents will learn about different emotions and feelings that their child may experience during a deployment as well as how to help them cope during the deployment. The children will experience different activities during their workshop to help them to talk about their feelings and learning some new coping skills. In The Midst � We will meet you again in the middle of your journey with a workshop that is designed to increase your energy level. This workshop is designed off of the �FEAR Not� acronym. Fun, Educational, Avenue for Communication, Relaxing, and Networking. There are different themes that take you away and reenergize you. Kids In The Midst � As our energy levels go down so do our children�s. We have a workshop for their mid journey. Kids In The Midst will have them feeling like, living like, acting like, and chilling like a STAR � Standing Together And Reaching KIDS! Return & Reunion for Spouses � As you come close to the end of the journey we will meet you at your Return & Reunion Workshop. This workshop will talk about where you have been and where you are getting ready to go. Kids-N-Reunion � As we prepare spouses, we also need to prepare kids. This workshop is similar to the Kids-N-Deployment workshop. Set up as two workshops, one for the parent and one for the children. This also assists the parent with helping the child and the parent that is deployed reconnect. Family Readiness Program Training � MCFTB also offers other training opportunities. They provide training for your Command Team and Volunteers. LINKS � Lifestyles Insights, Networking, Knowledge, and Skills. This is a great military 101 for all spouses. Learn about the military lifestyle while you network with other military spouses. LifeSkills � Your MCFTB has a LifeSkills Trainer on staff that is there to support you and your family too. This person will coordinate the resource education and training needed to meet the changing challenges of the military lifestyle. LifeSkills resource education and training addresses life competencies such as stress management, parenting teens and tweens, financial management, and elder care.

6. How many of you have children? As we have concerns about deployment so do our children. Here are some helpful tips for helping your child with deployment: Talk with your child about the location: Let them know what the climate or weather is like or what types of animals are there. Show them on a map what where you will be. Make a DVD of the deploying parent reading a book, a special message, or a song to give to the child or children. Take a t-shirt or pillow and sleep with it for several nights. This leaves your scent on this and may be a comfort item for the child. Who cares if the child sleeps in it for the next 7 months, hopefully they were clean when they went to bed too. Plan your exit strategy. How will you say goodbye to your family? How will you support your spouse through the initial �departure blues�? In planning the departure, acknowledge the additional stress your spouse and children will experience immediately after the departure of the Marine. Do not leave the family without some kind of a goodbye. This physical act will be crucial to the family in the return. Although the goodbye may be difficult on all involved, it is essential to say goodbye to children especially. They will recover from the crying and not getting a full night�s sleep, they will not recover so well when a significant member of their life just disappears one night and is not there for breakfast. United Through Reading � Individuals who are separated from their families due to deployment are recorded reading stories to send home to the child. In order to gain full benefits from the program, we encourage participation from both the deployed participant and at home. Loved ones that receive recordings could provide feedback to the deployed member- in the form of letters, email, photographs or even videotape of the child watching and interacting with the recording. WWW.READ2KIDS.ORG Then most importantly, ensure that you and your child/children attend your units Kids-N-Deployment workshop for parents and kids in addition to Kids and Reunion for parents and kids.How many of you have children? As we have concerns about deployment so do our children. Here are some helpful tips for helping your child with deployment: Talk with your child about the location: Let them know what the climate or weather is like or what types of animals are there. Show them on a map what where you will be. Make a DVD of the deploying parent reading a book, a special message, or a song to give to the child or children. Take a t-shirt or pillow and sleep with it for several nights. This leaves your scent on this and may be a comfort item for the child. Who cares if the child sleeps in it for the next 7 months, hopefully they were clean when they went to bed too. Plan your exit strategy. How will you say goodbye to your family? How will you support your spouse through the initial �departure blues�? In planning the departure, acknowledge the additional stress your spouse and children will experience immediately after the departure of the Marine. Do not leave the family without some kind of a goodbye. This physical act will be crucial to the family in the return. Although the goodbye may be difficult on all involved, it is essential to say goodbye to children especially. They will recover from the crying and not getting a full night�s sleep, they will not recover so well when a significant member of their life just disappears one night and is not there for breakfast. United Through Reading � Individuals who are separated from their families due to deployment are recorded reading stories to send home to the child. In order to gain full benefits from the program, we encourage participation from both the deployed participant and at home. Loved ones that receive recordings could provide feedback to the deployed member- in the form of letters, email, photographs or even videotape of the child watching and interacting with the recording. WWW.READ2KIDS.ORG Then most importantly, ensure that you and your child/children attend your units Kids-N-Deployment workshop for parents and kids in addition to Kids and Reunion for parents and kids.

7. Budget and Bills - Currently how are your bills paid? How do you make sure that they get paid during a deployment? Take a look at your bills and budget for expenses during your deployment. MyPay Allotment � If you set up allotments through MyPay, then you will make sure that your bills get paid. Setting up allotments through your bank may not always process. For example, if your pay gets messed up or does not go through for some reason, the bank is not going to pay your bills if there is not enough money in your account. The allotments established through MyPay will still ensure your bills are paid. Contact the FRO or the Personal Financial Manager for more information on the types of allotments available through MyPay. Saving Money �A deployment may be a good time to create savings goals for the additional entitlements you will receive and the money you will not be spending at your home location. Set both short and long term goals. By establishing these goals, you may be able to pay off debts early, plan for a new vehicle purchase, or save a large amount of money for your return from deployment. Budget and Bills - Currently how are your bills paid? How do you make sure that they get paid during a deployment? Take a look at your bills and budget for expenses during your deployment. MyPay Allotment � If you set up allotments through MyPay, then you will make sure that your bills get paid. Setting up allotments through your bank may not always process. For example, if your pay gets messed up or does not go through for some reason, the bank is not going to pay your bills if there is not enough money in your account. The allotments established through MyPay will still ensure your bills are paid. Contact the FRO or the Personal Financial Manager for more information on the types of allotments available through MyPay. Saving Money �A deployment may be a good time to create savings goals for the additional entitlements you will receive and the money you will not be spending at your home location. Set both short and long term goals. By establishing these goals, you may be able to pay off debts early, plan for a new vehicle purchase, or save a large amount of money for your return from deployment.

8. Taxes Power of Attorney and Wills* Family Care Plan Pending Legal Obligations Record of Emergency Data (RED) Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Power of Attorney and Wills � Will you need a Power of Attorney during your deployment? You may or may not, however a good rule of thumb is it is better to have one and not need it then to need it and not have it. As a single marine, do you need a will? If you want to have a say in who receives your belongs if you should pass away, then you need a will. If not, the state will decide who will be given your belongings. Ensure you have a current Will or Power of Attorney. Most of this documentation requires updating about every two years. Pending Legal Obligations � Make sure that you take care of any pending legal obligations. If you have a traffic ticket(s) or a court date(s) for any reason, ensure these are addressed of prior to your deployment. It is much better to take care of these items in advance then to have legal authorities waiting for your arrival during homecoming. Taxes � If you need assistance with filling your income taxes, your base tax office can provide assistance. If you are deployed during tax season, you have 180 days upon return to file your taxes. Contact your unit FRO for information on how to complete your taxes through the base tax office or Military OneSource free of charge once you have returned and are ready to file your taxes. Record of Emergency Data (RED) - Make sure information in your Record of Emergency Data is correct. Verify all names and contact information are current and accurate. You can update your RED through your FRO or OIC. Servicemember Group Life Insurance (SGLI) � When verifying information in your RED, also make sure your SGLI is current and correct as well, especially if you have a major life changing event has occurred. Updating your SGLI is a different form than updating your RED. Contact the FRO or your OIC to update your SGLI. Power of Attorney and Wills � Will you need a Power of Attorney during your deployment? You may or may not, however a good rule of thumb is it is better to have one and not need it then to need it and not have it. As a single marine, do you need a will? If you want to have a say in who receives your belongs if you should pass away, then you need a will. If not, the state will decide who will be given your belongings. Ensure you have a current Will or Power of Attorney. Most of this documentation requires updating about every two years. Pending Legal Obligations � Make sure that you take care of any pending legal obligations. If you have a traffic ticket(s) or a court date(s) for any reason, ensure these are addressed of prior to your deployment. It is much better to take care of these items in advance then to have legal authorities waiting for your arrival during homecoming. Taxes � If you need assistance with filling your income taxes, your base tax office can provide assistance. If you are deployed during tax season, you have 180 days upon return to file your taxes. Contact your unit FRO for information on how to complete your taxes through the base tax office or Military OneSource free of charge once you have returned and are ready to file your taxes. Record of Emergency Data (RED) - Make sure information in your Record of Emergency Data is correct. Verify all names and contact information are current and accurate. You can update your RED through your FRO or OIC. Servicemember Group Life Insurance (SGLI) � When verifying information in your RED, also make sure your SGLI is current and correct as well, especially if you have a major life changing event has occurred. Updating your SGLI is a different form than updating your RED. Contact the FRO or your OIC to update your SGLI.

9. This is the number to the United States Postal Service. You can contact them to order free postal boxes, custom forms, and pre-printed mailing labels with your home address. FREE!!!!!!!! This service is also available to parents and extended family members not located at an installation. What can I mail? You can go to the United States Postal Service website for items that you can and can not send. Things that you can not send are pornography, fire arms or explosives, or live animals. Talk about several items that they may want to receive. You may also get flat rate boxes that are one rate to mail no matter if you fill them with feathers or bricks. This is the number to the United States Postal Service. You can contact them to order free postal boxes, custom forms, and pre-printed mailing labels with your home address. FREE!!!!!!!! This service is also available to parents and extended family members not located at an installation. What can I mail? You can go to the United States Postal Service website for items that you can and can not send. Things that you can not send are pornography, fire arms or explosives, or live animals. Talk about several items that they may want to receive. You may also get flat rate boxes that are one rate to mail no matter if you fill them with feathers or bricks.

11. Navy Marine Corps Relief SocietyVillage Center, Bldg.1551 760.830.6323 Assist with financial difficulties Provides Loans and Grants Assists with budgeting Pre-Authorization Forms

13. This chart displays the topic headings of the broad scope of services offered by MCCS OneSource. MCCS programs on base provide the core of support to Marines and their family members, but the services of MCCS One Source can expand the availability of assistance. The extension of services provided by MCCS One Source not only applies to the hours and means of accessing the service, but to the topic areas and additional community resources available as well. Here are a few examples of how this service can help military service members and their families: Relocation: A Marine receives PCS orders. He can get information from his local relocation assistance office, a SITES booklet and attend a Smooth Move Workshop. MCCS One Source can add to that assistance by providing a �Know Your Neighborhood� report about the local area, and a list of specific after-school child care providers in his price range that have openings for his 8 year old. He can also receive a list of orthodontists for his 11 year old who is in Phase 2 of orthodontic treatment, and the name of a local karate dojo that specializes in the Kempo Karate technique, which his son has been studying for the last three years. Family support: A Recruiting Commander on the East Coast described how one of his men came to him saying he needed to take leave to set up care for his mother who had a stroke and lived alone in Iowa. The Commander recommended that the recruiter use the service to line up assisted living resources. While the recruiter traveled home, the service researched the resources. When he arrived, the recruiter had three valid referrals for assisted living programs for his mother. He was able to secure care for his mother quickly, thereby making efficient use of his emergency leave and allowing him to get back to duty much sooner than expected. Education: A Marine moved to a new duty station. He had a special needs child. The local public schools maintained that they were not able to provide educational services for the child. The service was able to guide the Marine through the process of the writing letters to deal with the school district. The end result was that the school district realized they were legally obliged to provide services. The school hired two teachers to provide education for the child. In the end, the family actually got more services than they were originally looking for. This chart displays the topic headings of the broad scope of services offered by MCCS OneSource. MCCS programs on base provide the core of support to Marines and their family members, but the services of MCCS One Source can expand the availability of assistance. The extension of services provided by MCCS One Source not only applies to the hours and means of accessing the service, but to the topic areas and additional community resources available as well. Here are a few examples of how this service can help military service members and their families: Relocation: A Marine receives PCS orders. He can get information from his local relocation assistance office, a SITES booklet and attend a Smooth Move Workshop. MCCS One Source can add to that assistance by providing a �Know Your Neighborhood� report about the local area, and a list of specific after-school child care providers in his price range that have openings for his 8 year old. He can also receive a list of orthodontists for his 11 year old who is in Phase 2 of orthodontic treatment, and the name of a local karate dojo that specializes in the Kempo Karate technique, which his son has been studying for the last three years. Family support: A Recruiting Commander on the East Coast described how one of his men came to him saying he needed to take leave to set up care for his mother who had a stroke and lived alone in Iowa. The Commander recommended that the recruiter use the service to line up assisted living resources. While the recruiter traveled home, the service researched the resources. When he arrived, the recruiter had three valid referrals for assisted living programs for his mother. He was able to secure care for his mother quickly, thereby making efficient use of his emergency leave and allowing him to get back to duty much sooner than expected. Education: A Marine moved to a new duty station. He had a special needs child. The local public schools maintained that they were not able to provide educational services for the child. The service was able to guide the Marine through the process of the writing letters to deal with the school district. The end result was that the school district realized they were legally obliged to provide services. The school hired two teachers to provide education for the child. In the end, the family actually got more services than they were originally looking for.

14. Other Resources� Chaplain 830-6304 Duty Chaplain P.R.E.P. C.R.E.D.O. Counseling Services 830-6345 Open Door Counseling Family Advocacy Program Substance Abuse Counseling Center

15. Information, Tickets, & Tours 830-6163 x252 Armed Services YMCA 830-7481 Lifelong Learning 830-6881 Information & Referral 830-6344 Career Resource Office 830-7225 *Microsoft Certification Relocation Assistance 830-4028 New Parent Support Program 830-7622 Exceptional Family Member Program 830-7740 www.mccs29palms.com Other Resources�

16. Please let us know if you have any questions. Make sure that you know who your Unit Family Readiness Officer (FRO) is before leaving tonight. This will be your main point of contact during the deployment. Also, take note of the Family Readiness Advisor(s) and Family Readiness Assistants that were introduced at the beginning of this brief. Thank you for your service as a Marine Family. Please let us know if you have any questions. Make sure that you know who your Unit Family Readiness Officer (FRO) is before leaving tonight. This will be your main point of contact during the deployment. Also, take note of the Family Readiness Advisor(s) and Family Readiness Assistants that were introduced at the beginning of this brief. Thank you for your service as a Marine Family.