IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 408 

Recognizing the vital role family readiness volunteers play in supporting 

service members and their families. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 6, 2009 

Mrs. DAVIS of California (for herself, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. WILSON of South 

Carolina, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. JONES, Mrs. 

MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 

BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. WALZ, Ms. GIFFORDS, and Mr. BARTLETT) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the vital role family readiness volunteers play 

in supporting service members and their families. 

Whereas since 2001, nearly 2,000,000 active duty and reserve sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard 

personnel have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas the more than 1,800,000 family members of regular 

component members of the Armed Forces and an additional 1,100,000 family members of reserve component 

members make significant sacrifices on behalf of the 

United States in support of their loved ones deployed 

overseas; 


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•HRES 408 IH 

Whereas the readiness of the United States Armed Forces is 

predicated on the ability of each member of the Army, 

Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard to focus on 

their mission during deployments; 

Whereas the military necessity of long and often unpredictable deployments, frequent relocations, and infrequent 

family contact for members of the Armed Forces can be 

extremely challenging for members and their families; 

Whereas, in response to these sacrifices and challenges, family readiness volunteers from each branch of the Armed 

Forces have stepped forward to provide critical support 

during deployments to service members and their families; 

Whereas the family readiness volunteer programs in each 

service help commanding officers have a better understanding of the welfare of the families within his or her 

command during a deployment and allow families to be 

informed about the status of their loved ones’ unit overseas; 

Whereas family readiness volunteers consist of Army Family 

Readiness Volunteers, Navy Ombudsmen, Coast Guard 

Ombudsmen, Air Force Key Spouse Volunteers, and Marine Corps Key Volunteers; 

Whereas the thousands of family readiness volunteers are 

generally spouses of members of the Armed Forces who 

provide assistance to military families while also enduring 

the challenges of military life; 

Whereas these volunteers are motivated by the desire to improve the lives of other military families and to assist future generations; 


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•HRES 408 IH 

Whereas family readiness volunteers also connect the community with military families and local military installations, 

often leveraging donations and resources for military 

families; 

Whereas family readiness volunteers provide their services on 

a voluntary basis, with little public recognition and financial assistance, and often contribute their own resources 

to help other military families; and 

Whereas the outstanding performance of our service members 

is a testament to the great success of family readiness 

volunteers: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes and honors the family readiness volunteers of each 

3 branch of the Armed Forces who selflessly devote their 

4 time, talent, energy, and resources in service to the United 

5 States and commends family readiness volunteers for their 

6 dedicated contributions to the quality of life of members 

7 of the Armed Forces and their families. 

Æ 


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