Deployment Readiness
Deployments present unique challenges to both the Soldier and their Families during their time of separation. Explore these resources to succeed during your Soldier's deployment.
• Hearts Apart – Military Family members often know that staying busy is key during a deployment, temporary duty or unaccompanied tour. Fort Riley’s Army Community Service program - Hearts Apart - can help boost morale and pass the time during one of these circumstances. Hearts Apart brings several free, Family-oriented events to the installation every year to build resilience and keep spouses connected with friends while their Soldiers are deployed. For more information about Hearts Apart, call ACS at 785-239-9435.
• Mailing overseas during deployments – How long does it take for the mail to arrive, what customs forms do I need to fill out, how do I get free shipping boxes from the Post Office? These and other questions are answered on the ACS Deployment and Mobilization Family Readiness article Postal Service Tips for deployment mail.
• USO program available at Fort Riley - The USO partnership with United Through Reading® allows our deployed troops the ability to read their kids a bedtime book and virtually be there, even when they can’t be there in-person. Service men and women simply read a book aloud while being recorded on DVD for their child. The DVD and book are mailed to the child and family back home. All recording equipment, books, packing and shipping materials are supplied by the USO. Visit www.uso.org or contact the Fort Riley USO at 785-240-5326 to see what other programs may be available.
• Predeployment and ongoing readiness checklist.
• AtHoc – How to sign up for AtHoc severe weather notification.
• Ready Army – Ready Army is a community awareness campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of severe weather preparedness amongst all those who live and work on Fort Riley.
• Stay In Touch with Fort Riley – Sign up to Stay In Touch with Fort Riley using our email notification service to get information about upcoming events and services on post. All it takes to sign up is an email address to receive updates on topics from (Road Closure) Advisories to (1ID) YouTube Videos. You choose the topics to be informed about. You can choose immediate delivery, daily or weekly digests, or even a personalized RSS feed. In addition to information about Fort Riley you will have the opportunity to sign up for information provided by other agencies including DoD, VHA, TRICARE, FEMA, and more.
• Military & Family Life Consultants (MFLC) – Fort Riley’s Military & Family Life Consultants are available to military personnel and Family members. They provide short term, situational, problem solving, non-medical counseling through informal support, coaching, education and consultations to all service members and Family through the cycles of deployment and reintegration. The consultations are free, anonymous, and confidential and no records are kept.
• Fort Riley’s Family Life Ministries Center stands ready to help Soldiers and Families when marriage and Family questions arise, providing both marriage and Family counseling and individual counseling. The Family Life Ministries Center is located in 510 Grimes Hall. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Special arrangements for evening appointments can be made. Schedule an appointment by calling (785) 239-3436.
• Post Deployment Support For Service Members & Family Members - Several Fort Riley agencies are offering information and assistance for returning Service members and their Family members. Individuals and Family members are encouraged to contact any of the following agencies for assistance:
- Irwin Army Community Hospital – Behavioral Health Deployment Cycle Care Management Program
600 Caisson Hill Road, 785-239-7208
- Chaplains 24-hour Help Line, 785-239-HELP (4357)
- Military One Source: 24 hour toll free help line 1-800-464-8107, off-post confidential counseling, 6 in-person sessions, Consultants who speak Spanish and other languages.
• The Fort Riley American Red Cross office provides coordination of the American Red Cross volunteer programs on the installation, information and referral services including information about the local American Red Cross blood drives, health and safety courses, disaster assistance and emergency communication. The Red Cross office is located at 510 Huebner Rd, call 785-239-1887 or 1-877-272-7337, or email riley@redcross.org.
• Resilient Spouse Academy (RSA) - The Resilient Spouse Academy is a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity offered free of charge to all military spouses to create a network of well trained spouses who feel better prepared and motivated to truly make a difference in the lives of our individual Soldiers and their Families. The spouses become knowledgeable in high-risk situations before, during and after deployment. The academy is five days and provides eight-hour classes of intense resiliency training covering topics including suicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse and finance. The class is offered once a quarter. For more information, call Army Community Service at 785-239-9435.
• Resilient Youth Academy (RYA) Along with the normal struggles growing up, military children also may go through many of the same stresses as their parents. The Resilient Youth Academy helps students learn about coping with these stresses. The one-day RYA features subject matter experts working throughout Fort Riley giving classes on specific resiliency skills. Topics cover bullying, peer pressure, suicide prevention, dating abuse, transitioning, employment and finance. For more information, call Army Community Service at 785-239-9435.
Continue learning about Fort Riley. View these related items:
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