EDITORIAL COMMENT:
In Our Opinion

It is no secret that the sacrifices military families make in support of their loved ones — whether deployed or relocating from one base to another — cannot be put into words.

How family members cope with the separation from their husbands, wives, sons, daughters, siblings, aunts, uncles, you name it, can take its toll. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan can take as long as 18-20 months. As a result, servicemembers will not witness the births of their children, or be present for their first words. They will not see their sons or daughters graduate, or celebrate their birthdays with them. They will not be home for the holidays.

The support that these wives, husbands and children need, day in and day out, has to come from the programs and services that you, as Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) professionals provide throughout the year. It is that diversion from the realities of conflict that truly enhances their quality of life as their loved ones fight for our freedoms thousands of miles away.

There are more than 3 million family members of active-duty troops, Guard and Reserves. That's 3 million family members who need lifelines of support to get through each day, and thankfully, the Department of Defense (DoD) is taking the necessary steps to ensure proper funding for the essential quality-of-life programs these families need.

Art Myers, Principal Director, Military Community and Family Policy, recently testified before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Military Personnel Subcommittee about the crucial role families play in supporting servicemembers on the battlefield.

Myers noted that the fiscal 2010 Defense-wide Family Assistance budget request is $472 million, which would fund programs such as childcare expansion, counseling and access to training and certification for spouses. He stressed that “It is clear, at a time of increased deployment and demand on our servicemembers and their families, there is need for consistent, commensurate family support.”

Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Executive Director John Nerger, in an interview in this issue, pointed out that the command's principal goal over the next few years is to provide a complete range of services, programs and facilities that support soldiers and their families.

In fact, the Army's commitment to families is outlined in the Army Family Covenant, which is essentially a pledge, in writing, to provide soldiers and their families with a quality of life commensurate with their service. Now in its second year, the covenant was the brainchild of Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., USA. Commanders at each Army installation sign the covenant in the company of soldiers and families to show their commitment to meet their needs with quality programs and services.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution declaring 2009 the “Year of the Military Family,” recognizing the resilience that family members have when their loved ones are defending our country in another part of the world.

As wartime efforts continue, Congress must maintain funding for family support. Whether it's a barbecue, a concert, a fitness center, a library or a playground, your role is critical in providing these essential quality-of-life programs, services and facilities for parents and their children, in order to ensure a temporary respite from the daily stresses of war.

Nerger said it best in summing up his thoughts on providing family support on a daily basis — “I may go to bed tired, but I wake up absolutely enthusiastic about what I get to do each day.” If that statement does not define the MWR community, we don't know what does.