Source: 2010 Army National Guard Posture Statement

From the 2010 Army National Guard Posture Statement: Strong Bonds.

Army National Guard (ARNG) Strong Bonds Program

What is it?

The Strong Bonds Program began in 1999. Originally known as Building Strong and Ready Families (BSRF), the Strong Bonds Program is a unit-based, Chaplain-led process that helps Soldiers and their Families build strong relationships. 

Training events include Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage, Preparation and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), Couples Communication, Active Relationships, Strong Bonds Deployment, Premarital Interpersonal Choice and Knowledge (PICK), Eight Healthy Habits of a Successful Family, and Family Wellness.

What has the Army done?

The Army National Guard executed $7.3 million in FY 09 in support of this program. Strong Bonds events have been developed for all Soldiers. This includes marital programs for married Soldiers and premarital programs for single Soldiers. FY 09 funding supported nearly 340 events for almost 15,000 Soldiers and their spouses throughout the 54 states and territories. 

Funding provides for training materials, fees, transportation, food, lodging, and childcare for members of the armed forces and their Family members. In FY 09 the ARNG conducted two Strong Bonds training events for Title 10 Soldiers.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

The ARNG received budgeting validation in the FY 10 Program Objective Memorandum (POM) for $7.4 million for the program. The ARNG will continue to conduct Strong Bonds events during 2010 as funding levels permit.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army National Guard supports missions around the world as well as domestic missions by mobilizing and deploying forces in the highest state of readiness possible. The Army National Guard coordinates the reset of its units and Soldiers returning from deployments. Since September 11, 2001, the Guard has deployed more than 345,000 Soldiers on Federal orders. 

In FY 09, over 9,000 Army Guard Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and over 43,000 Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. With such an intense OPTEMPO and with so many Soldiers going into harm’s way, it is increasingly critical that the Army National Guard deploy ready Soldiers with the strong bonds they and their Family members need to survive and thrive before, during, and after deployments.

Updated as of: 5 Jan 10

Army National Guard
(703) 607-7710
http://www.strongbonds.org