Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 National Guard part of pilot program aimed to link Service members with local resources By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard is taking part in a three-year pilot program designed to increase access to financial advisors, mental health providers, education and other opportunities for Service members assigned to locations away from large military installations. Called Building Healthy Military Communities, the pilot is part of the Department of Defense's Total Force Fitness Program and builds upon family support elements already in place throughout the Guard, said Guard officials. "The pilot aims to increase awareness of and access to military and community financial, health and wellness resources for Service members and their families in order to improve readiness and resiliency," said Army Brig. Gen. Ivan Denton, the director of manpower and personnel at the National Guard Bureau, in a memo to Guard elements taking part in the pilot. Access to those resources may be difficult to come by for many Service members who aren't near large military bases, said Anthony Wickham, the programs chief at the NGB, adding that's where the Guard comes in. "If a Service member is, say, a recruiter in Iowa — there are no active component bases there — the nearest asset closest to him is probably a National Guard armory with a Family Assistance Center in it," said Wickham. Staff members at Family Assistance Centers and Air National Guard Airman and Family Readiness Program Managers are well versed in resources available nearby, said Wickham. "We're already in the local communities and we know what the local resources are," said Wickham. "Since 9/11, we've referred families [of deployed Guard members] to these local resources." The BHMC program streamlines efforts by providing a coordinator who can identify gaps and coordinates with local governmental and non-governmental resources to fill those gaps. "We have multiple silos of excellence out there and [the program] brings these silos of excellence together so they talk with each other," said Wickham. "We're not replacing anything, it's trying to bring things together to coordinate the various assets that are out there." Wickham stressed that while the coordinators and assistance personnel may be located in Guard facilities, it's not just for Guard members. "We turn no one away," he said. "Our FACs and AFRPMs do information or referral and it's for any Service member or military family who walks in the door." The important part is making sure Service members and their families have access to needed resources when they need them, said Wickham, adding those include resources for family readiness, education and employment, physical, spiritual and behavioral health. For those serving in areas away from large military bases, traveling to use on-base resources may prove difficult. "Anything beyond about a 30 minute driving time, they're probably not going to use that service," said Wickham, adding the program fills in those gaps. "The program is designed to tailor service to the unique needs of the military community and try and be more efficient in providing these services," said Wickham. The end result is to the ability to build greater resiliency and readiness. The program means the family "isn't flailing out there trying to find an asset or resource," said Wickham. "It's an approach that provides resources and programs that support the well-being and readiness of families and Service members," he said. "That's what we're trying to do. Ultimately, it revolves around readiness and retention of our families and Service members."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 3 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 11 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil