Recruiting | Family Programs | ESGR | Funeral Honors Program | Army Reserve

FRA | FRSA | FAC

Army National Guard Family Readiness Support Assistants (FRSA) Program

The purpose of the FRSA program is to provide support to commanders in their duty to deliver family programs and insure the readiness of soldiers and families within their units. FRSAs are full-time employees assigned as special Command Staff in select Army National Guard units throughout the United States. A force of over 100 FRSA are currently working in their areas of assignment.

Among many other things, FRSAs assist with the start up and maintenance of unit Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) which includes recruiting and training of volunteers, coordinating resource and space for FRG meeting and events, and tracking resolving issues that might occur within the FRG. FRSAs work closely with State Family Programs in these activities.

FRSAs are given the special task of preparing and executing the Commander’s Family Readiness Plan and the Unit’s Family Readiness Communication plan as means to fully support and reach out to families during all phases of the deployment cycle. FRSAs provide briefings, education resources to families during pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment phases to help soldiers and families become ready for the unique demands and challenges that are inherent to military life.

The FRSA team is also given the assignment of providing assistance to Rear Detachment Commanders in the identification and monitoring of family needs, problems, and emergencies, and developing a post-deployment reunion plan. This includes issues related to a Soldier’s employment, single returnee monitoring and follow-up, and assisting those on R/R leave, emergency leave, and medical hold.