WHAT IS OUR MISSION?
To establish and facilitate ongoing communication,
involvement, support and recognition between Maryland Guard families and the
Maryland National Guard in a partnership that promotes the best in both.
An enhanced quality of life for Maryland
National Guard members, their families, and the communities in which
they live.
WHAT IS OUR FAMILY PROGRAM
ALL ABOUT?
To educate and inform.
Through a variety of means, the Maryland National Guard Family Readiness Program
strives to provide information to members and their families.
Our goals are:
1. To ensure family members understand the organization of the military
unit and its mission.
2. To provide family members with information about their benefits and
entitlements.
3. To familiarize them with the mobilization process.
4. To make them aware of changes in benefits which may occur with
changes in military status, such as deployment overseas.
To help families prepare for
mobilization.
Much of the information we provide is to help prepare family members for
separation and/or mobilization and to make them aware that we can help if there
is a crisis. We also provide information to improve readiness and
preparedness of all family members with regards to personal affairs that could
impact their lives during a separation or mobilization.
To communicate with and provide support to
families. Our overall communication goal is achieved through:
1. Providing a communication network from
the Commander to the families and from the families to the Commander.
2. Developing family support networks through which families mutually
support each other.
3. Welcoming family members to participate in unit activities and increase
family members’ identification with the Unit and the Maryland National Guard.
4. This web page.
Key Points To Remember for
Mobilization
1. Ensure your military spouse
enrolls you and your family into the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS for short. Without this enrollment, an
identification card cannot be issued to you or your family nor will you be
eligible for TRICARE medical benefits in the event of mobilization. Remember to update DEERS when
your eligibility and personal information changes. These include changes in your military career, address, and/or family status (marriage,
divorce, birth, adoption, etc.)
2. Keep in mind that
dental care is separate from medical care. Click on our
Links Page for the link to TRICARE Dental for complete
information on how to enroll in the TRICARE dental plan.
3.
Take care of your
legal needs. This may include having a will done, obtaining
power of attorney,
providing for guardianship of dependents and
any other family legal matters.
4. Be familiar with basics of military pay.
Click on our
Links Page for the link to My Pay or the
Defense Finance and Accounting Service homepage for complete
information.
5.
Know who your sources
of information are to include you spouse's unit commander,
full-time unit
readiness non-commissioned officer, family
readiness group volunteer leader and supporting
Family Assistance Center.
Second Lieutenant Jennifer Hahn