III MEF

Family readiness is a combat multiplier, equally as important as individual, equipment and combat readiness. It is the ability of the individual Marine and their family to successfully balance life, career and mission events, through active and reserve service, and is supported by the enduring partnership between the unit's Family Readiness Command Team and Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS). It is an obligation between the Corps and the Marine and their entire family. The individual Marine is responsible and accountable for his personal and family readiness. The Unit Family Readiness Program is the responsibility of the Commanding Officer (CO). MCCS is responsible to support both the individual Marine and their family and the Unit Family Readiness Program.

Family is defined as all members of a Marine’s family. Marines have three families: the family they are born into, the family they are sworn into, and the family they are married into. Therefore, family support shall be accessible and provided to Marines (regardless of marital status), spouses, children, wards, and the designated parents/extended family members of Marines.

The Unit Family Readiness Program does not replace small unit leadership. The commander and other members of the Family Readiness Command Team leadership must instill in subordinate leaders of all ranks, down to the lowest levels, a sense of the gravity and urgency involved in requiring their Marines to sustain themselves and their families in a constant state of readiness. The Marine and their family are supported in their goal of attaining and maintaining readiness by the commander and other members of the Family Readiness Command Team, and by small unit leadership, but the ultimate responsibility rests with the Marine.

The goal of personal and family readiness programs is to provide resource information and training in addition to support services to enhance a Marine’s personal and family readiness. A Marine must ensure their personal and family affairs are in order so that they will remain fully focused on the mission, whether in garrison or in combat. A ready Marine and family:

• Understand the additional responsibilities that will fall on the family when the Marine departs
• Are knowledgeable of and able to utilize information about benefits, entitlements, programs, and services provided through the Department of Defense, the Marine Corps, and the community
• Are knowledgeable of command structure and resources available to assist and contribute to personal and family readiness goals

Note: This extended definition of family does not override the Marine Corps legal definitions of family and loco-parentis regarding emergency leave, DEERS enrollment issues, etc.

The Unit Family Readiness Program provides support through proactive outreach methods and intervention in the form of the following functions: Official Communication; Information and Referral; and Marine and Family Readiness and Deployment Support (RDS).  Each is defined below:

• Official communication - Facilitating two-way communications between the command, Marines, and families (as defined above) regarding unit, personal and family readiness information and requirements. This function is performed through various methods such as:
  • Mass Communications Tool
  • Unit Newsletters
  • Unit Website
• Information and Referral - Providing Marines and their families (as defined above) with information regarding, and answering questions relating to, the many services and resources available through DoD and MCCS, as well as the community to support unit, personal and family readiness.
• Marine and Family RDS - Marine and Family RDS provides resource information and training in addition to support services that enhance a Marine’s personal and family readiness. Information and training support are classified in three areas:
  • Skills development
  • Prevention and intervention
  • Self help education

The Unit Personal and Family Readiness Program (UPFRP) is a program I have a personal interest in and is one of my top priorities. As our marines and Sailors train and prepare for combat missions, III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Bases Japan (III MEF/MCBJ) commanders, leaders Marines and Sailors will ensure that their families are prepared to thrive while balancing the demands of family life, careers, and separations due to deployments.  This is a program that we can continuously improve in a manner that fosters operational readiness, and empowers active duty service members and their families with the skills to balance life, career and mission events.

Commanders, the UPFRP is your program.  With the support of the Commanding Officer's Command Team, the Commanding Officer (CO) will ensure the families of the Marines and Sailors are informed in a timely manner of events, issues and activities that affect the lives of their Marines and Sailors.

Commanders, educate all service members on the importance of family readiness.  The service member remains ultimately responsible for personal and family readiness, to include the extended family.

Your Family Readiness Officer (FRO) is a Special Staff Officer.  Ensure your FRO maintains skills required of a Staff Officer.  Ideally, FROs will attend development training offered through III MEF and other professional organizations.

Installation Commanders, your Marine Corps Commuity Services and Marine Corps Family Team Building capabilities will support the unit Commanders Family Readiness Program by providing standardized training to Family Readiness Command Teams, Marines and families.  The FRO is the program manager for the CO; by supporting the FRO you are supporting the Commander's Family Readiness program.

My Family Readiness Command Team's role is to advise Command Teams within III MEF and MCBJ Family Readiness program.  I will work diligently with my command team to ensure the III MEF Family Readiness program becomes the model for the Marine Corps; one that III MEF Marines, Sailors and families deserve.

For assistance, contact your unit Family Readiness Officer or you can contact Denise Loftesnes, III MEF FRO at 622-7213 or denise.loftesnes@usmc.mil

Kenneth J. Glueck
Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force