Celebrate Valued Volunteers

 “Our Soldier and Family Readiness Group volunteers are an extension of unit command. They are the communication bridge between the command and the families in the unit,” said Jennifer Lucero, Director of State Family Programs.

Lucero explains SFRG reps across the Army help provide social and emotional support to the Soldiers and their families, especially during times of separation from deployments and other military commitments for the family. The supportive program helps enhance camaraderie, unit readiness, and retention of Soldiers said Lucero.

“Having a unit volunteer takes a load off the full timers in our unit,” said Brandon. “My wife, handling our unit's family needs, helps the commander quite a bit. It allows leaders to take care of Soldiers, while she is there to support the families.”

Brandon speaks proudly of his wife’s contributions. “She connected with the Veterans of Foreign Wars for our summer family day; and they sponsored food for the family picnic as well as an opportunity drawing at the end of the day.”

 

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Amber Field is a Soldier and Family Readiness Group representative, commonly called SFRG volunteers. She is the wife of Army Sgt. Brandon Field, the unit’s full-time supply sergeant with 14 years of military service, and an overseas deployment in 2017. Although they have a busy life with two small children, ages four and eight years old, Amber volunteers as his unit’s SFRG representative.

 Her volunteer duties fall under the oversight of Cal Guard’s Family and the Child and Youth Programs. Her direct benefactors are the Soldiers and their families of Cal Guard's Higher Headquarters Company, 1–184 Infantry Battalion, 79^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Modesto, Calif.

Amber explains her role is not only to plan Soldier and family events for the unit, for example, coordinating school supply donations in August, but to offer deeper resources year-round and especially when service members are away from their families.

When working with so many moving pieces from family needs, resources for unit leaders to pass on and running her own family, patience and flexibility is a must, Amber explains.  ““Everything may be subject to change at a moment’s notice.” 

For Army Staff Sgt. Nicole Linsday, the idea of volunteering began in her 30’s when she sought out opportunities with personal meaning and included enjoyable tasks. Linsday works full-time with the Counter Drug Task Force and drills with Alpha Company, 223^rd Military Intelligence Battalion in addition to volunteer opportunities.

From spending time with others who have common interests like building hiking trails, serving holiday food, or contributing skills such as home improvement, tax preparation, or teaching, there are many opportunities to find something with personal meaning for anyone with an inclination towards volunteering, said Linsday.

One of her first experiences in giving back to others unfolded when friends invited her to join them at charity events and on a post-hurricane rebuild project.

 Linsday said she has been inspired by the support she’s received during hard times in life. Her favorite organizations are those who help people learn life skills and advocate for life improvement.

“Most recently, I started cooking for an organization called Lasagna Love,” said Linsday. “It lets me use my love of cooking to spread a little kindness.”

She shared how volunteering is a good way to do something that benefits and connects one with people who have similar values.