Vol. 6 No. 1 • www.arfp.org

Month of the Military Child

yellow ribbon

Support during deployment

getting ready for college

Sergeant audie 

murphy club

family support is key
IN THIS ISSUE

ARMY RESERVE COMMAND TEAM

Jeffrey W. Talley

Chief of Army Reserve 

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson 

Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army 

Reserve 

Command Sgt. Maj. James Lambert

Interim Command Sergeant Major of the Army 

Reserve

Family strong STAFF

Sonia I. Wriglesworth 

Director, Army Reserve Family Programs 

Lt. Col. William Ritter

Branch Chief and Creative Director

Melissa Russell 

Editor-in-Chief, Family Strong 

Hatch Creative

Design and Layout Services 

SUBMISSIONS • Family Strong invites articles, 

story ideas, photographs, and other material of 

interest to the members of the U.S. Army Reserve. 

Manuscripts and other correspondence for the 

editor should be addressed to Commander, U.S. 

Army Reserve Command, Attn: Public Affairs 

(Family Strong), 4710 Knox Street, Fort Bragg, 

NC 28310-5010. All e-mail submissions should 

go to mailcall@arfp.org. All articles must be 

submitted electronically, on disk or CD; unsolicited 

manuscripts and photographs will not be returned. 

Query by letter. 

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magazine. TPU Soldiers should notify their Unit 

Administrator or Unit Clerk. Members of the IRR and 

IMA should contact their Personnel Management 

Team at U.S. Army Human Resources Command, 

ATTN: IRR/IMA Personnel Management, 1600 

Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122. 

AGRs should contact their PMO/PMNCO. Special 

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directly. 

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OUTREACH & SUPPORT CENTER:

866-345-8248

Vol. 6 No. 1

Vol. 6 No. 1 • www.arfp.org

Month of the Military Child

yellow ribbon

Support during deployment

getting ready for college

SergeaNt audie Murphy Club family Support iS key

Contents

FEATURED

Message from the Top: Linda Talley............................................................3

The Journey of an Army Reserve Family.....................................................4

IN THIS ISSUE

Chaplain’s Corner: Parents Should Practice What They Preach ...................5

Mission Readiness: It’s a Family Affair .......................................................6

Army Reserve Teen Panel...........................................................................8

Sergeant Audie Murphy Club ....................................................................10

Fort Awesome ..........................................................................................14

Buzzworthy

College Selection Process ........................................................................12

U.S. Army Reserve Family Program Directors...........................................15

ON THE COVER

A Soldier attached to the 411th Engineer Brigade 

receives a pre-deployment hug. Soldiers from 

the 411th are returning home after a year-long 

deployment to Afghanistan.

Photo by Spc. Timothy Koster
Message from the Top

Appreciation for Army 

Reserve Children

Linda Talley

FEATURED

www.arfp.org 3

Army Children are often their Soldier’s greatest supporters 

- the wavers of the flags and artists behind the banners 

at countless Welcome Home Warrior ceremonies. But 

as a mother of four children and spouse of an Army Reserve 

Soldier, I understand that the lifestyle of our littlest patriots can 

also include significant challenge and sacrifice. 

Deployments and lengthy absences are just two of the stressors 

that impact our Army Reserve children today. It is important 

that parents know there are innovative and effective programs 

designed to strengthen and nurture our children.

One of the most successful DoD-wide efforts I have seen is 

the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. This comprehensive 

program promotes the well-being of reserve component Soldiers, 

their Families and their communities. Through YRRP events, 

service members and their loved ones can connect with local 

resources before, during and after deployments.

We also have several internal programs geared specifically for 

Army Reserve youth. The Army Reserve is unique in that many 

Soldiers and Families live far from military installations – and 

the challenges of military life can 

sometimes be difficult to explain 

in non-military communities – especially for school-aged children 

trying to fit in with their peers. 

The Army Reserve Youth 

Leadership Education and Development program tackles this 

head-on. One of their main objectives is to reduce feelings of 

isolation by connecting Army Reserve youth to peers within 

their region.

I have seen the difference these youth programs make, turning challenges into strengths and cultivating resilience in our 

future leaders. 

The spirit and strength demonstrated by Army Reserve youth 

as they represent themselves in programs such as the Army 

Reserve Teen Panel is a testament to their great potential. The 

Teen Panel focuses on fostering communication between Army 

Reserve teens and Army Reserve leadership on the issues youth 

face in today’s society. 

As parents, we must continue to look for programs that are 

available to help and nurture our children. Stay informed with 

Army Reserve Family Programs, 

Army One Source, Military 

One Source and other great 

resources. It is inspiring to watch 

children grow while participating 

in these programs. Watching a 

child, shy at first, open up and 

truly communicate his or her 

concerns would warm the heart of any parent. 

It’s also important to recognize that the service and sacrifice 

of our Soldiers extends to the whole Family. Jeff and I would like 

to express our gratitude to all of our Army Reserve children. We 

are proud of you and all that you do for your parents and your 

nation. You are our future leaders, future Soldiers and future 

innovators. 

Linda Talley, wife of Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, Chief, U.S. Army Reserve and 

Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command. 

Photo by Monica King

Both YLEAD and the Teen Panel are Army Reserve Family Programs initiatives and can be accessed at: 

http://www.arfp.org/index.php/programs/child-youth-a-school-services

“It’s also important to recognize that 

the service and sacrifice of our Soldiers 

extends to the whole Family.”
FEATURED

My husband and I are blessed with the opportunity to 

represent, serve and advocate for all of the Soldiers, 

Families and civilian employees as the interim senior 

noncommissioned officer and spouse of the Army Reserve for 

the past five months. 

Working alongside Mrs. Talley has been a rewarding experience: 

from visiting our wounded warriors and their Families and seeing 

the determination they have to move forward through the healing 

process to advocating for our Families as we work to ensure programs, support and assistance are available to help them through 

life’s many challenges. 

One of the great challenges the military faces 

is the rising suicide rate. 

I have learned that connectedness to someone, 

something or some cause 

can be the difference that 

redirects our thoughts 

toward life when we feel 

our world is starting to 

fall apart. Together, we 

can make a difference. I 

encourage you to check 

out www.sprc.org, the Suicide Prevention Resource 

Center to learn about the 

Real Warriors Campaign, 

a program designed to 

encourage help-seeking 

behavior among service 

members, veterans and 

military Families coping 

with invisible wounds. 

I believe challenges can 

also present opportunities and like many Army 

Reserve Families, we have faced both. By the time our identical 

twin daughters Jessica and Jamie were 18, they had been to all 50 

states. They experienced deployment life when they were 2 years 

old, attended school in nine different locations from New York to 

Seattle, moved more than 16 times, and became accustomed to 

their father’s frequent travel for missions and training. We have 

served in 13 different Army Reserve commands. 

I have developed my own coping mechanisms for when Army 

Reserve life throws curve balls - usually it’s ‘hurry up and wait,’ 

mission first, always be on the lookout for the next set of orders, 

and fear of the unknown. Positive visuals, sounds, nice fragrances, 

exercise and healthy eating are an important part of my life and help 

ward off stress and frustration. It’s amazing how simple changes 

can quickly brighten the mood, just like laughing. I challenge you 

to change up your world with something fun - call a friend, make 

a new friend, take a hike, write down something you like about 

yourself, and find humor along the way. Get involved with something 

you want to see 

changed. Smile 

often - it is a free 

gift! 

We can choose 

to think the best. 

Think about the 

special relationships you have 

developed, your 

friends, and the 

value you have 

added to someone else’s life. 

And think of the 

fun adventures 

you have had and 

are going to have 

in the future. 

It has been an 

amazing journey. Jim and I are 

very proud of our 

daughters, and 

while it wasn’t 

always the easiest lifestyle, we 

all worked together as a Family to make the best of it and our 

daughters are doing great as they make their own path now. 

We look forward to seeing where we will serve our country next. 

Humbled and thankful for this experience,

Denise Lambert, 

Senior Command Sergeant Major Spouse

The Journey of an Army Reserve Family

4 Family Strong

A Message from Denise Lambert

Interim Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve James Lambert and Denise (foreground) 

with Jessica Lambert, Robert Solan, Melvin Flores and Jamie Flores. Jamie and Jessica are the 

Lambert’s twin daughters.

Photo Illustration
5

IN THIS ISSUE

Chaplain’s corner

www.arfp.org 5

“Train up a child in the way he 

should go; even when he is old 

he will not depart from it.”

—Proverbs 22:6

Leaders set the values and priorities 

in their organizations more by their 

actions than by their words. If a leader 

says he or she is “pro-Family,” and then stays 

late at the office, then the spoken value is not 

supported by action, and subordinates will 

see that. The same is true for our children. 

Parents, as leaders in the home, set the values 

and priorities for their children, based in 

large part on their own actions.

As I write this, my wife and I are busy 

with last-minute details regarding our eldest 

daughter’s wedding. As our daughter has 

done much of the planning and coordinating for her wedding - it has been wonderful 

to see how my wife’s sensitivity to cost is 

now evident in our daughter’s desires for 

her wedding.

Our second-oldest daughter is graduating 

from college this spring. We’re all excited 

that she has a job already lined up to work 

with Child Evangelism Fellowship, really 

her dream job. As a chaplain, having a child 

involved in ministry is very satisfying.

The bad values we model are also caught 

by our children. After speaking harshly to 

correct one of my children, I have grieved 

and sought God’s forgiveness as I heard 

another of our children speak to the same 

child using the same harsh tone of voice.

Army Reserve Soldiers generally model 

selfless-service, duty, loyalty and other Army 

values not only at the unit, but also at home. 

These values are absorbed by their children 

and perpetuated in future generations. The 

book of Proverbs puts it this way, “Train up 

a child in the way he should go; even when 

he is old he will not depart from it.”

Good training requires both words and 

examples. As many of us have deployed 

several times in our careers, and been away 

from home, let us draw some comfort from 

the example of positive values that these 

actions of military service impart to our 

children. Let’s pray that our children adopt 

these values instead of negative values from 

outside influences.

Parents

Should

Practice

what

they

preach

Story by Col. Charles Lynde, USARC Chaplain
Aspouse of a deployed Army Reserve Soldier recently 

pawned her engagement ring to help cover an auto repair 

bill. Another paid out of pocket for a child’s dental work. 

These are a few of the disheartening, yet familiar, deployment 

experiences of Army Reserve Soldiers and Families unfamiliar 

with assistance available to them. As dependents of a deployed 

Soldier, Family members are eligible for Army Emergency Relief. 

AER is one of few required and recommended training programs in “event one” of the Yellow Ribbon Integration Program.

With the help of Family Programs at each level, from company 

to command, they have developed the Yellow Ribbon Program 

to assist Soldiers and their Families in providing resources and 

benefits that they are entitled to. 

The Yellow Ribbon Integration Program is now in its fifth 

year and has supported more than 1.1 million reserve component 

Soldiers and their Family members. 

The program is broken down into six events: alert/preStory and photos by 

Sgt. 1st Class Andy Yoshimura, 

USACAPOC(A) Public Affairs Office

6 Family Strong

IN THIS ISSUE

Mission Rea

It’s a Family 

First Sgt. Nicholas Moore holds his daughter Alexis before departing for mobilization 

training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and deployment to Afghanistan as 

the 303rd Tactical Psychological Operations Company first sergeant.
deployment stage, 30 to 60-day post-mobilization stage, 30 to 

60-day prior to demobilization stage, a 30-day post deployment, 

60-day post deployment and a 90-day post deployment. 

 “All six events are crucial because of timing,” said Sherreé 

Jones, Family Programs Director for the U.S. Army Civil Affairs 

& Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). “For most 

this is a Family member’s first introduction to Army programs 

as their spouses are gearing up for deployment.”

Organizing a Yellow Ribbon event is no easy task, said Spc. 

Christie Chester, a Yellow Ribbon Representative for the 303rd 

Tactical Psychological Operation Company out of Coraopolis, Pa. 

The challenge of communicating between the unit and Families 

is compounded by often-conflicting schedules.

“The logistics portion is the most difficult thing to manage 

when it comes to organizing a Yellow Ribbon event,” said 

Chester. “Getting everyone on the same page and talking to so 

many people at the same time was tough.”

The 303rd held their Pre-Deployment stage event three days 

prior to their mobilization.

Family members will attend events “two” and “three” during 

the deployment of their spouses. These deployment events are 

done to assure the Families are connected and remain connected 

with their unit/command and Family Programs. These events can 

also identify at-risk Family members for referral to appropriate 

community agencies as necessary. 

 Chester says the ultimate goal is to ensure Families are 

provided with all the information they need to ensure they are 

best-prepared to take care of themselves.

According to Chester, Family-preparedness is significant on 

multiple levels. 

“Family readiness plus Soldier readiness equals mission 

readiness.” 

www.arfp.org 7

IN THIS ISSUE

adiness: 

y Affair

Sgt. Matthew Parson receives a pre-deployment hug at the mobilization ceremony. 

Parson will spend approximately nine months in Afghanistan conducting military 

information support operations with the Marines.
8 Family Strong

IN THIS ISSUE

After a long and active day, 18-year-old Katie Harris bids 

goodnight to nearly a dozen younger teenagers and takes 

advantage of a quiet moment in an empty hotel conference 

room to prepare for the next day. 

Unlike the majority of her friends, the high school senior 

isn’t planning Saturday-night charades and outings. As a 

volunteer leader of the Youth, Leadership, Education 

and Development Program for the 200th Military 

Police Command, Harris is planning the next day’s 

agenda for youth with parents who are deployed or 

about to deploy in support of Operation Enduring 

Freedom.

Developed as a means to give voice to the 

thousands of children of Army Reserve Soldiers, 

YLEAD facilitates communication between 

young Family members and military leaders. 

The goal is to ensure children who bear the 

burden of a parent going to war understand the 

larger reasons for their parents’ absence, and to 

provide commanders visibility into the unique 

challenges military children face. 

Harris is also the only 200th MPCOM representative on the Army Reserve’s Child, Youth & 

School Services’ Teen Panel which allows teens 

an opportunity to develop effective strategies 

and implement solutions for issues they face as 

military youth. 

Both parents served in the Army. Harris 

was born on Fort Bragg, N.C., and has a birth 

certificate proving she is an “82nd baby.” She 

volunteered after attending a workshop last 

summer and now works with other military 

High School Senior 

Reaches Out to Others

Story and Photos by Sgt. Marc Loi, 200th Military Police Command

children to address their needs and concerns as well as help 

them through the deployment process.

“When I was a child and my dad had to deploy, it definitely 

didn’t occur to me that there were others like me,” said Harris, whose father deployed to Bosnia when she was a child. “I 

definitely saw a little bit of a younger me in them – I was an 

only child, too, so it was just me. So I definitely understand 

what they’re going through.”

A sense of patriotism and volunteerism came as a secondnature to the Harris Family. Even after both parents left the 

service, they remained engaged in military activities, volunteering in local parades and commanding local Veterans of Foreign 

Wars and American Legion. 

“It’s not something that I picked or [begrudgingly] volunteer 

for,” Harris said. “I enjoy doing it.”

Volunteerism, in this case, often means traveling across 

the country, talking to other teens during the Yellow Ribbon 

Reintegration Program.

Though the job comes without pay, Harris said the joy is in 

connecting other children with one another and ensuring they 

know there are others like them during the loneliest times of 

deployment.

“The challenges kids face have always been the same,” she 

said. “It’s learning to be without a parent and to cope with 

that – but it’s also about being resilient and making it through 

the deployment.”

Another additional challenge for military children – 

especially those whose parents serve in the Army 

Reserve – is that they are often removed from a 

system of support that children of active-duty 

military children often enjoy. Despite more 

than a decade of war, a cultural gap 

between the military and the 

civilian population it serves 

still exists, and as a result, 

even those who are wellArmy 

Reserve 

Teen 

Panel 

“It’s not something that I picked 

or [begrudgingly] volunteer for,” 

Harris said. “I enjoy doing it.” 

Photo illustration
www.arfp.org 9

IN THIS ISSUE

Katie Harris, 18, an Army volunteer with the 

Youth Leadership and Education Development 

Program gets recognized Feb. 16 at the 

11th Military Police Brigade’s Yellow Ribbon 

Reintegration Ceremony for her work with 

children of Army Reserve Soldiers.

intentioned often lack an understanding of what it means to be 

supportive.

 “Programs [like these] help teens connect with those who 

understand them.”

YLEAD helps give teenagers a voice, she said. 

 “I think it’s really important because they can go from being 

kids and letting off steam to being serious if given the opportunity,” 

Harris said. “But it’s more than that, it’s also ensuring that when 

our parents are gone, that we are the next generation to do the same 

things they were doing and to make things better.”

This perspective, along with the firsthand experience of a deployed parent, have given Harris an almost-instinctive ability of 

knowing when to stand back and watch the group and when to step 

in and be a leader, demonstrating depth well beyond her 18 years.

“When I came back from my first deployment, Katie didn’t 

know who I was,” said her father, Jeff, who now works as an Army 

civilian for the 200th MPC. “Intellectually, she knew who I was, 

but we had to learn to get to know each other again.”

“The readjustment period can be smooth or hard, but it takes 

time,” said Jeff. “It’s not an automatic given that you insert yourself 

back into someone’s life and it’s going to be smooth.”

“I learned from my father and mother that your communication 

is your relationship – if you want to be successful, you’ve got to 

communicate.”

Despite these surprising bits of wisdom, Harris hasn’t made 

any long term plans. 

“I am 18, I have all these experiences, and I am excited to put 

them to good use,” said Harris as she thumbed her phone. “The 

only thing I know for sure is that I want to go to college. I am not 

sure what I want to major in or if I want to be in the military – I 

just want to help.

“I am not sure about going down in the history books, but I know 

if I just make a difference in one person’s life, it’ll make me happy.”

Altruism and a sense of community and obligation, said her 

father, are things he and Marilyn aimed at instilling in Harris, and 

as she enters adulthood, they feel they have already been successful.

“We’ve always taught her to live in the world rather than on the 

world,” he said. “It excites us that she’s taking on our values and 

going out into the world and making them her own.”

“A parent’s job is to ensure their kids fly,” Harris’ mother said. 

“This just validates the hard work that we put in for the last 18 years.”

Having already taken flight at such a young age, Harris sometimes 

misses out on the normal teenagers’ activities and rites-of-passage 

milestones that her peers are known for, yet the teenager said she 

wouldn’t have it another way. Volunteering with the Army Reserve 

is something that’s a part of her, she said.

On a recent Saturday – perhaps an all-too-perfect day for a 

high-school senior to prom-dress shop, Harris was in another hotel 

room lobby, getting ready to share her experience with more young 

teens, as well as help them through the process of deployment.

“On a normal Saturday, if I weren’t doing this, I wouldn’t know 

what to do,” she said, laughing. 

Yet, Harris hasn’t quite forgotten what it means to be a teenager 

and still manages a close network of friends. As she prepared 

schedules and lesson plans for the next day, Harris was looking 

ahead to Sunday evening and her flight back to Southern California.

“One of my friends is turning 18,” Harris said. “When I get 

off the plane, I am going to put on a nice dress and go see her.”
Story and Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Eugene 80th Training Command Public Affairs

10

IN THIS ISSUE

Family Strong

Three Citizen Soldiers inducted into the Sergeant Audie 

Murphy Club each credit their Family members with 

helping them attain membership.

The level of commitment required to prepare for, and participate 

in, events like the SAMC makes Family support almost mandatory, according to Sgt. 1st Class Martin Rodriguez, acting first 

sergeant of the 1/104th Military Police Company.

Rodriguez said that Nicol Zumpf, his fiancée and mother 

of his two children, maintained their household while he was 

away competing in the 80th Training Command’s Best Warrior 

Competition which the command integrated into the SAMC 

board process, and she also helped him prepare. 

 “We ran together, we worked out together, she drilled me,” 

said Rodriguez. “She was patient. When I was gone she took 

care of the bills and everything.”

Sgt. 1st Class Mark Mackey, a platoon sergeant with A 

Company 3/379th Battalion, said his wife supports his efforts 

much like Rodriguez’s fiancée, but his Family also gives him a 

reason to succeed.

“My wife and child are one of the main reasons why I try as 

hard as I do,” said Mackey. “I don’t want to go home and tell 

them that I didn’t achieve something.” 

During the time leading up to the board proceedings, Sgt. 1st 

Class Jennifer Reisert’s parents and her friends would quiz her 

Command Sgt. Maj. James Wills, senior enlisted leader, awards the Sergeant 

Audie Murphy Club medallion to Sgt. 1st Class Mark Mackey during the United 

States Army Reserve Command’s SAMC induction ceremony hosted by the 80th 

Training Command (TASS) at Marshall Hall, Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 11, 2012.

Sergeant Audie Murphy Club 

Inductees attribute success to support from loved ones
www.arfp.org 11

whenever she called home. The 

Army Guard and Reserve Soldier 

also had to recite the Audie Murphy 

creed before they’d engage her in 

regular conversation. 

“I get 150 percent support from 

my Family and friends,” said 

Reisert, the executive NCO to the 

Army Reserve’s command sergeant 

major. “If I’m feeling down and out 

they encourage me, they’ve supported all my military decisions.”

The Soldiers were inducted 

during a ceremony hosted by the 

80th Training Command at Fort 

Knox, Ky.

The Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, 

named after the United States 

military’s most decorated veteran, 

is a private Army organization for 

enlisted noncommissioned officers 

which began at Fort Hood, Texas, 

in 1986. 

Candidates are formally recommended to compete for membership 

based on their leadership abilities, 

and for showing genuine concern 

for Soldiers and their Families. 

The competitors then appear 

before a panel of senior NCOs for 

a painstaking verbal examination.

According to Rodriguez, Family 

support is a big part of the equation 

for participants trying to maintain 

a clear focus. 

By supporting their Soldier’s 

endeavors and providing an environment free from distractions, 

Families can make all the difference, whether their Soldier 

is preparing for a competition, 

mission or deployment.

“I get 150 percent 

support from my 

Family and friends,” 

said Reisert, 

executive NCO to 

the Army Reserve’s 

command sergeant 

major. “If I’m feeling 

down and out, they 

encourage me – 

they’ve supported 

all my military 

decisions.”

The newest members of the United States Army Reserve Command’s chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club during a ceremony hosted by the 80th Training Command (TASS).

And the inductees are...

Sgt. 1st Class Mark 

Mackey, A Company 

3/379th Battalion

Sgt. 1st Class Martin 

Rodriguez, 1/104th 

Military Police Company

Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer 

Reisert, Office of the 

Chief, Army Reserve
12 Family Strong

The start of high school is not too 

early for students to start planning 

for their next stage of life – College. 

This simple checklist can help keep track of 

what students should be doing each year to 

prepare for college. Taking these actions will 

reduce the chance of unexpected roadblocks 

that can impede attending the college of 

their choice.

Ninth Grade

Choose high school classes carefully, with 

your future in mind. Students should make 

sure they are on track to not only complete 

all graduation requirements but also college 

admission requirements. Often, these two 

sets of requirements are not one in the same.

Students looking at more selective colleges and universities should challenge 

themselves academically with a rigorous 

course load throughout high school.

Start a binder, spreadsheet or other system to keep track of all academic awards, 

extracurricular activities and awards, community service projects, and anything else 

that will be helpful when filling out college 

or scholarship applications in the future.

Tenth Grade

Take advantage of the PLAN test, a 

college-readiness test produced by ACT. 

Most schools offer this test to sophomores.

Sign up for the Preliminary SAT/National 

Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Not only 

does the test give you real-world practice 

for the SAT, it gives you access to National 

Merit scholarship programs.

Begin compiling a list of colleges and 

universities you’d like to learn more about 

or visit.

Eleventh Grade

Create a testing plan for the SAT and/or 

ACT. Find out which tests the schools you 

are considering require. Take the tests junior 

year so you have time to retake if you are 

not satisfied with your scores.

Consider taking AP or CLEP tests to earn 

college credit.

Work with your guidance counselor to 

search out local and national scholarships.

Decide who you’d like to write recommendations for you, including teachers, 

coaches, activity leaders, or other adults 

who know you well. Plan on asking for 

the letters the spring of your junior year 

so the individuals have plenty of time to 

COLLEGE

SELECTION

PROCESS

Things to Consider

By Jason Follett, School Services Specialist, Army Reserve Child, Youth & School Services

BUZZWORTHY
www.arfp.org 13

write well-thought-out recommendations. 

Make sure to clearly understand how the 

colleges and universities you are applying 

to want to accept these recommendations. 

You do not want your recommendations to 

be mailed when the college or university 

uses an online system. 

Apply for a summer job or internship.

Write rough drafts of your college application essays. Have a teacher read through 

them for feedback.

Start visiting colleges and universities. 

Choosing the best post-secondary institution can be tricky. Exploring what multiple 

colleges and universities offer through visits 

will help with the decision-making process. 

Five Things to Consider During 

College/University Visits

1. Proximity to home. It seems simple, 

but students have to decide if they want to 

stay close to home or not. Keep in mind 

though, a college that is nearby can seem far 

away, since the atmosphere and lifestyle is 

different than living at home with parents. 

If possible, arrange an overnight visit to 

get a sense of “I can do this” and “I feel 

comfortable doing this”.

2. Do you want a big or a small institution? Prospective students have to figure 

out what size means for the classroom 

experience and one-on-one relationships 

with professors, what that means for their 

social life, and what that means if they’re 

an athlete. Smaller schools have similar 

research and internship opportunities as 

big schools but the competition is less 

aggressive.

3. What is the student hoping to get 

out of the experience? Academically 

driven students should find institutions that 

support their career goals. For example, 

if the student wants to be a doctor and go 

to medical school, the institution needs to 

help them build a resume, apply to medical 

school, and develop a relationship with a 

professor who can write a good letter of recommendation. If the student is undecided, 

look for an institution that will guide and 

help him/her choose what to study. If the 

prospective student has always dreamed of 

studying abroad, ask about what opportunities are available.

4. Cost. Since student debt can be a 

big factor for some Families, comparing 

financial aid packages is important. Families 

should weigh the pros and cons of the cost.

5. Will it prepare the student for what 

he/she wants to do after college? Students 

need to pay attention to those in the field 

they plan to study and ask where they got 

their degrees. Also, find out what alumni are 

doing post-graduation. Make sure they’re 

finding jobs, doing well and speaking 

positively about their alma mater. Admissions staff and faculty should be able to put 

students in touch with successful alumni.

Twelfth Grade

Continue visiting prospective colleges 

and universities.

Create a calendar so you don’t miss 

important deadline dates for admission, 

financial aid, and scholarships.

Fill out financial aid paperwork with your 

parents. They can’t be processed, however, 

until after 1 January of your senior year.

Consider taking AP or CLEP tests to earn 

college credit.

Narrow your list of schools, and make 

your final decision. Be sure to send your 

deposit and ask your guidance counselor 

to send your final transcript in June.

BUZZWORTHY
14 Family Strong

Without Family support, it would be hard 

for any of us to achieve our dreams. Let 

your Family know that you want to go to 

college and what you might want to be 

when you grow up. Show your Family how 

smart you are by sharing these activities 

with them and talking about the things you 

need to do to achieve your dreams!

 College

 Application

 Grades

 Skills

 Book

 Education

 Career

 Study

 Extracurricular

 Reading

 Sports

 Music

 Scholarship

 Tuition

 Degree

 Volunteer

WORD

SEARCH

WORD

SEARCH

CROSSWORD PUZZLE! CROSSWORD PUZZLE!

Hey, kids! 

Do you know what you want to do when you 

grow up? Whatever you want to be, going 

to college is an important step in 

achieving your dreams! It’s never too early 

to start preparing for college. Students 

who work hard can get into the college 

they most want to attend and even earn 

scholarships! So grab a pencil and get 

busy with your Fort Awesome college 

training!

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TPPYREERGEDUCATIONSTCN

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Across

2. Reading one of these every day is a great way to improve your 

vocabulary and prepare for college.

3. If you want to go to college, you should develop strong study 

_______.

6. In addition to good grades, colleges look for students with 

___________ activities, like sports, music, academic teams, and civic 

clubs.

8. To be competitive in the world, the United States needs more 

students to earn a college _________.

9. Before you can be accepted into college, you have to fill out an 

_____________.

Down

1. Doing this can also help you because most colleges look for students 

who have helped others and worked to make their communities better.

3. College is expensive, but students with high grades and talents often 

receive ____________.

4. Making good ______ will help you get into the college.

5. You should limit ________ time to 30 minutes per day.

7. This is the education you receive after high school that prepares you 

for a successful career.

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U.S. Army Reserve Family Program Directors

We’re available 

24 hours a day, 

7 days a week! 

Army Reserve Medical Command

Bernard Goss

2801 Grand Ave.

Pinellas Park, Fla. 33782-6140

727.563.3798

Bernard.k.goss.civ@mail.mil

Military Intelligence 

Readiness Command

Anette Ellis

8831 John J. Kingman Rd.

Fort Belvoir, Va. 22060-6208

703.806.6934

anette.ellis.civ@mail.mil

U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological 

Operations Command (Airborne)

Sherreé Jones

2175 Reilly Rd, Stop A

Fort Bragg, NC 28310-5200

910-432-3766

sherree.l.jones.civ@mail.mil

63d Regional Support Command

W.K. Jones

153 Dailey Rd.

Moffett Field, Calif. 94035-1000

650.625.9623

William.k.jones.civ@mail.mil

81st Regional Support Command

Christa Burns

1525 Marion Ave.

Fort Jackson, S.C. 29207-6070

803.751.9914

christen.l.burns.civ@mail.mil

88th Regional Support Command

Rochelle Wheeler

60 S. O St.

Fort McCoy, Wis. 54656-5137

608.388.0447

Rochelle.c.wheeler.civ@mail.mil

99th Regional Support Command

Cheryl Davis

5522 Nashville St.

Fort Dix, N.J. 08640-5730

609.562.7507

Cheryl.e.davis.civ@mail.mil

79th Sustainment Command

Maritza Ramirez

FP Director

4201 Saratoga Ave

Los Alamitos, CA 90720-5162

562-936-7612

maritza.l.ramirez.civ@mail.mil

108th Training Command

Christina Daily

1330 Westover St.

Charlotte, N.C. 28205-5122

704.342.4237

christina.l.daily.civ@mail.mil

11th Theater Aviation Command

Brenda Andreotti

1160 Brandenburg Station Rd., Bldg. 237 

Fort Knox, Ky. 40121-5000

502.626.5741

Brenda.andreotti@ang.af.mil

1st Mission Support Command

Elsa Cortes

218 Brook St., Bldg. 1021

Fort Buchanan, P.R. 00934-4602

787.707.4082

elsa.f.cortes.civ@mail.mil

200th Military Police Command

James Cousar

1250 Annapolis Rd.

Fort Meade, Md. 20755-5610

301.677.1221

james.c.cousar.civ@mail.mil

335th Signal Command (Theater)

Rejoice Bolware

2323 Dauphine St.

East Point, Ga. 30344-2503

404.559.3790

rejoice.bolware.civ@mail.mil

377th Theater Sustainment Command

Fay Ferran

400 Russell Ave., Bldg. 492

Belle Chase, La. 70143-5077

504.552.5833

fay.m.ferran.civ@mail.mil

3d Medical Deployment 

Support Command

Patricia Jordan

5015 N. 34th St., Bldg. 900

Forest Park, Ga. 30297-5122

404.469.4119

patricia.h.jordan4.civ@mail.mil

412th Theater Engineer Command

Brenda McWilliams

1265 Porters Chapel Rd.

Vicksburg, Miss. 39180-5790

601.631.6160

Brenda.s.mcwilliams2.civ@mail.mil

416th Theater Engineer Command

Tamra DeBenedetto

10 S. 100 South Frontage Rd.

Darien, Ill. 60561-1780

630.910.3213, ext. 303

tamra.a.debenedetto.civ@mail.mil

75th Battle Command Staff 

Training Division

Scheyda Stasik

14555 Scholl St

Houston, TX 77034-5617

832-380-7207

Scheyda.stasik3.civ@mail.mi

7th Civil Support Command

Vacant

Unit 23152

APO AE 09227

DSN 314-483-4753

807th Medical Deployment 

Support Command

Kathryn Stetson

SADAFRC, Bldg. 106

Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-5007

801.656.4046

Kathryn.m.stetson.civ@mail.mil

80th Training Command

Nydia Negron

6700 Strathmore Rd.

Richmond, Va. 23237-1100

804.377.6428

Nydia.e.negron2.civ@mail.mil

84th Training Command 

Kim Franklin

230 Brandenburg Station Rd.

Fort Knox, KY 40121-4132

502-624-7636

Kimberly.a.franklin.civ@mail.mil

9th Mission Support Command

Kevin Gilbert

1557 Pass St.

Honolulu, Hawaii 96819-2135

808.438.1600, ext. 3191

Kevin.j.gilbert4.civ@mail.mil

76th Operational Response Command

Vacant

SADAFRC, Bldg. 103

Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-5007

801-656-3386

Our Army Reserve Family Programs Outreach and Support Office is available to Soldiers, civilian employees and their Families...

www.arfp.org 15

24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 866-345-8248
Office of the Chief, Army Reserve

ATTN: Family Programs Directorate

6075 Goethals Road

Building 1901, Office 100-32

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5231

 PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID

Lebanon Junction, KY

PERMIT #12

Family Strong is published quarterly. The contents are informative and not regulatory or directive. Viewpoints expressed are those of the authors and 

do not necessarily reflect the policy of the Army Reserve.