Reserve/Gaurd Units FRG

[Ameranne]

We just got done with John's units Christmas party which is hosted by the FRG so I just had a few questions for the other gals on here that have reserve/guard members.

Does your so's unit have an FRG and are most of the women members? Our FRG has three women in it the mother of a solder and to wives of retired soldiers. I wondered if that was normal. They want volunteers but I would be the only women with a husband in the unit to join.

The other thing I noticed is that none of the wives seem to know each other. I know that we kinda stay within our ranks in John's unit but there is only one other married person with Johns rank and I just met his wife yesterday. Is that normal for reserve/guard units?

The unit is looking for some ideas and volunteers and I kind of want to help but I just wanted to know what it was like in other units?!?

[Belinda]

Well, as far as I've heard, once I marry Erik, I will be the third wife in his whole unit...so, I'm not sure how off the ground this FRG unit is going to get. Last I heard, they were looking for volunteers to be a leader (I didn't feel I had enough experience for the position, plus I don't live on base) and they'd get back to me when they knew more...that was about two months ago. So...don't know what to tell you, sorry.

[Tissa]

My hubby's been in the guard for 3 years now and I've only ever heard from the FRG twice once right before he was suppose to deploy and once because they wanted help with gift baskets or something. And both those times they sent email to him which he forwarded to me.

So as far as I can tell we don't really have an FRG except for when the guys are deployed and since my guy hasn't deployed I never hear anything from them.

As for meeting other wives I met a few at the big meeting they had right before the guys were meant to deploy but there we didn't have time to get to know each other.

I think its hard because at least with my hubbys unit everyone is spread out all over two or more counties so when they have a family day or something the wives that have to travel more then 10-15 miles just don't bother. Last family day he said 12 guys brought their family, I didn't go because I already had plans.

[68WhiskeyWife]

My guys unit seems to have the same problem. At his Christmas party they were asking for volunteers to be a leader of the FRG but noone stepped forward and while I would like to be more involved I'm new to the group and don't know anyone and noone is stepping forward to make me feel welcome so I didn't feel comfortable enough to step forward myself. Also I have no idea what the job entails. The group is basically run by the higher ups. Does anyone know what the group is or what it's responsible for? At the party I basically just hung out with the medics and their significant others, but since only one other showed up I learned a lot about her. They made me feel a part of the group though. It's like I ws one of the boys for six long mind numbing hours. Maybe we should all do some digging, find out what's up, and just take over. We can rely on each other right?

[dawgangel24]

My husband's former guard unit was REALLY active, but once we got married, they refused to acknowledge my existence (which was fine because I didn't care for a single ONE of them, the NCO wives would "pull rank" on the lower enlisted, that kind of crap) and I don't think my husband's reserve unit even HAS an FRG because it's a brand new unit. I don't really care that much, I have these fantastic ladies on here, that's all I need!

[Kira]

Well I just volunteered to be a POC ( Point of Contact ) for our FRG. I don't think our FRG was the well together at first because they were looking for a leader, co leader, treasurer, newsletter coordinator, etc..lol. I don't think DH's unit is huge and therefore that poses as a problem trying to find volunteers. My DH is only an E-2 so everyone is above him..lol... and no other "wife" issues with me being a POC. Plus that's my husbands job not mine.

Belinda you could volunteer, you have to go to a one day class for a position like leader or POC but they let anyone volunteer even if you are distant!

[ReginaCherie]

well we dont have an FRG we have Family Readiness officer, whos a marine. and key volneteers who come from every det. but scotts det druing the deployment there were only 3 of us who were real wives. there were 3 that were contract wives. but we did group things with the whole batillion during the deployment. we've never really been ones the keep with in our ranks. the guys do but the wives dont. we just hang around with who ever we want.

[MrsJoey]

my experience with FRG hasnt been great-- when he was active i never heard from them...sad.

now he's reserve and i didnt even know if there WAS an FRG with guard/reserve, if ours has one i havent heard a THING. stinks bc id love to be involved, and get to know some of the other wives :(

[Ameranne]

Our FRG apparently gets together and makes the guys breakfast every drill and/or lunch but as I said before it is three ladies that are all friends two of whom have retired unit members and the other is the mother of one of John's superiors. They send out letters and emails that I never see because they get sent to John. They were begging for volunteers because some of the women want to quit but they are kind of looking for someone to take over I think. And they kept asking for more ideas. I feel awkward cuz no one will volunteer and I am the youngest wife and the youngest mother in the unit now that Willow is here. I just feel like I don't belong. However John's unit is really weird about rank and stuff there are only a few guys that really like to pull rank most of John's superiors see me around town and talk to me about John and the baby and we have gone to their houses and stuff outside of drill. On drill weekends they are more formal but not much. In fact the head of John's unit came and took Willow away from us at the Christmas party and told us eating together was an order, he then held Will until we were both done eating. I feel like the guys are more welcoming and less likely to pull rank on John and I than some of the wives! I want to be more involved but I am just not sure how to go about it

[68WhiskeyWife]

What the hell is a contract wife? I feel so dumb not knowing this stuff, but I guess I'll learn as I go and you ladies have helped a great deal so far. I would also love to be more involved, but I have the same problem some of you guys do. I don't know anyone except the medics and I don't know how well I would be accepted because I'm new. I keep saying that like it's my first day of school or something but I still feel a little out of place because I wasn't there with him from the beginning. His unit is a HQ unit so they have guys coming in for drill from everywhere are there are like a million of them just wandering aimlessly around. I felt so lost when I wasn't with him and that did happen once or twice because they picked that day of all days to give the H1N1 vac. His unit is so undersupplied too. They don't have a PA so they can't request medical supplies. Sometimes the government confuses the hell out of me. How can they take care of us if we don't take care of our boys?

[ReginaCherie]

around here a contract wife are the wives of the guys who just do it for the money. the girls that live back home and have boyfriends and just got married to these guys so they can get health care or pay.

[68WhiskeyWife]

Once again I don't want to offend but this sounds like another type of groupie to me. They just do it for different reasons. Good to know though.

[ReginaCherie]

yea i guess your right. they do sound like groupies to me.

[Kira]

I was thinking contract wives were the civilian contractors, DH works with a ton but their wives do not get involved with the FRG at all.

[GuardWife]

here I am supposed to be introduced to our FRG with my husband when he returns from AIT, but I needed to try and get a hold of him and all the numbers listed for them or even others in his unit would just ring and ring forever, I finaly had to call AIT myself to get it straightened out... (our home number had changes and the mail i sent came back returned! and he has no cell phone with him, so loss of contact had me in a panic!) the nice soldier on the other end of the phone gave me the correct address!!
anyhow, the FRG, i hope since we are in las vegas, that it is active I really want to get involved.... we will see.....