Department of Defense

Family Support Groups

On January 27, 1988, the State Adjutant General (TAG) authorized and encouraged the formation of Family Support Groups throughout the Hawaii National Guard. The text of his instruction to the general officer heads of the Army and Air Divisions is summarized below:

Ground rules for formation “The Family Support Groups (FSG) are defined as an organization of volunteer spouses of both officer and enlisted members of the Hawaii National Guard (HNG) . .. organized in one of two models as appropriate to the situation.”

• Community model: organized in a community or geographical area where an armory exists with which to affiliate, and may consist of spouses of any Hawaii Army or Air National Guard (HIARNG. HIANG) unit. (e.g. Guard members residing in Windward Oahu members might choose to affiliate with the Kaneohe HIARNG Armory)
• Organizational model: based on specified military organization (at any level company/ flight, battalion/ squadron. etc.) and affiliate with the headquarters armory of the parent unit. (e.g. spouses of Troop Command and 298th Engineer Detachment could meet at the Pearl City Waiawa armory)

There are pros and cons of each model. normal tendency being the organizational lines (three groups are forming presently).

Commanders are directed to provide enthusiastic and genuine support to those spouses (who are volunteers) attempting to form a FSG by:

• providing a meeting area
• providing a unit point of contact (POC) to ensure close and effective communication

The FSG is a volunteer membership organization

• There are no mandates in forming a FSG Organizers and leadership roles may be held by any spouse with a desire to help and should not be limited to a commander or senior enlisted personel’s spouse

(Hawaii State Family Program Coordinator’s role (HISFPC)

• Provide sound advice and recommendations for both Guard organizations and spouses in the formation of FSG and in their development and activities after the formation
• Provide recommendations to the TAG on how to provide funding other support to each FSG, based on method of organization and specific situation
• Assist units and FSG to develop joint requests to the TAG for an official sanction (organization charter)

TAG-sanctioned FSG may be eligible for assistance after the FSG has an approved charter. Request will be submitted jointly from the affiliate organi1ation and the FSG to this headquarters. ATTN: HISFPC. for approval by TAG. Provide funds for:

• supplies
• postage
• other federally- funded support

The involvement and support of our Guard families are essential to the overall readiness of the command. FSG can be visible proof of the commitment and effectiveness of the partnership that exist between the Hawaii National Guard and its families. (end of memo)

Family Support Groups can form one of the pillars of our overall quality of life within the Guard. For more information on the specifics of forming and developing a group of your own, call Dave Price, State Family Program Coordinator, at 732-1823 (Oahu).

– 1988 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 6

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS are the hottest activity taking place right now in our Hawaii National Guard Family Action Program and the NEIGHBOR ISLANDS are leading the way. As I write this column on May 13th, six groups have applied to the State Adjutant General for their charters. A rundown on those groups who have organized is shown below.

Congratulations to those family member volunteers who have led the way in establishing their groups. And many thanks to the commanders who have been so receptive to this initiative. The partnership between the Guard and its families can only grow stronger as a result of this effort.

We expect to hear shortly from other groups who wish to apply for official recognition. And by the time this issue of PUPUKAHI arrives in your mail box, the list of Family Support Groups below will be incomplete. Such is the business of newspaper deadlines. We’ll see to it that those groups get listed in the next PUPUKAHI.

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS

Location	FSG Name	Affiliated Unit	Key Person & Alt.
Hilo*	Second Battalion Ohana	2nd Bn, 229th Inf (HIARNG)	Deanna DeMello Lillian Tamaye
Hilo	E HOOLAKO MAU “Continued Unity”	291st CCSQ (HIANG)	Gwen Thornley Susan N. Damo
Kailua – Kona	Bravo Ikaika Ka. Ohana	Co B, 2nd Bn, 229th Inf (HIARNG)	Cheri Mandaquit Marcia Yanagi
Maui	292nd Maui Ohana	292nd CCSQ (HIANG)	Marcelina Keiser Viola Quitazol
Maui	Naleo’ Okekoa Ohana “The Voices of the Warriors Families”	Co. C, 1 st Bn, 299th Inf (HIARNG)	Cheryl Nagasako Kanani Kahalehoe
Molokai	To Be Announced	Det I, CSC, 1st Bn, 299th Inf (HIARNG)	Jo Manaba Arline B. Harris

– 1988 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 6

FROM HILO

By May Navarro

“E HOOLAKO MAU” (Continued Unity) is the name of the newly formed Family Support Group of the 291st Combat Communications Squadron (Hilo), Hawaii Air National Guard.

The first meeting of E Hoolako Mau was held on Friday, May 6, at the 291st CCSQ unit classroom. David Price, State Family Program Coordinator and Liz Taga, State Volunteer Representative, conducted the meeting along with the group’s Key Person, Gwen Thornley. About 25 people attended the meeting, including the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. William Wright.

Lt. Col. Wright spoke briefly to the group and assured them of his support and encouragement. He said he was encouraged by the response to the program and the genuine enthusiasm of those who attended the meeting.

As one of its first events, E Hoolako Mau sponsored a Team Spirit 88 Welcome Home Potluck. The event was held on May 22 and attended by many of the unit’s members, their families and guests.

E Hoolako Mau has applied for its official charter from the State Adjutant General.

– 1988 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 7

Seven new groups have organized and Joined the growing Family Support Group program. We now have thirteen FSG’s in being and expect to have seventeen by year’s end making, a group available to any family member who wants to participate in this worth while program.

Charter presentations

One of the most pleasant tasks for me during the past few weeks has been accompanying the State Adjutant General, MaJ. Gen. Alexis T. Lum and his wife Momi, as they formally presented the FSG charters.

The charters officially recognized the existence of the groups and serve as tangible evidence of the partnership of the Hawaii National Guard and its families The TAG and his wife have devoted much of their busy schedule to attend FSG functions to personally express their support of the families involved their commitment to the Family Action Program is evident in its present progress.

Pre-workshop training

Liz Taga, FAP State Volunteer Representative, continues her tireless efforts assisting groups in organizing. Taga, along with Deanna DeMello, SECOND BATTALION OHANA and Marci Keiser, 292nd MAUI OHANA attended a volunteer management course at the University of Colorado for a week in June. Their training was utilized at the September’s Family Support Group Workshop.

Support Groups in action

Hawaii Army National Guard’s MOBEX ’88 (Mobilization Exercise) recorded major progress in family readiness for mobilization. The June 25-26 exercise included Family Assistance Centers set up on each island and staffed with recruiting personnel and supported by FSG key persons and their alternates.

Group key persons were able to disseminate information on unit briefings and activities held specifically for family members. Especially successful at bringing in numbers of family members to MOBEX ’88 were MALAMA PONO O KAUAl’s Irwette Santiago (Kauai) and BRAVO IKAIKA KA OHAN A’s Cheri Mandaquit (Kailua-Kona) efforts.

Continued success

Our Family Action Program’s success is also due to many who are not mentioned here due to space constraints. Thanks and congratulations to you for your support of the Guard family. Remember, as coordinator, I am here to serve you. The program belongs to you, the Guard family. If you have any
questions or comments about our program, please let me know.

– 1988 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 8

Workshop assists family support groups

“Family Support Group” is a new term quickly being added to the vocabulary of the soldiers and airmen of the Hawaii National Guard. However, for their family members, it is a welcomed addition, and it has brought about a new focus reemphasizing the importance of the family to the military.

A workshop for HING Family Support Groups was held Sept. 10-11 at the Outrigger Prince Kuhio Hotel on Oahu bringing together nearly 50 HING FSG key persons and alternates from every island. This also included those planning to organize a Family Support Group for their National Guard Unit.

Program’s roots

In the 10 months since the first HING Family Conference was held November 1987 in the Turtle Bay Hilton Hotel, 13 FSG have sprung up on each island throughout the state. Each group was organized by a group of dedicated spouses, primarily women. However, with the changing demographics, husbands of women in the HING are also included

From information and comments gathered at the Turtle Bay conference, it was evident that spouses of National Guardmembers were not getting sufficient information about their soldier or airman, the unit, or the National Guard in general. Additionally, conferees wanted to become more involved with the National Guard and develop a statewide FSG program to deal with the special needs of National Guard families.

Call-up of 1968

To better understand this special need, one has to flashback to more than 20 years ago when the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade was mobilized and called up to active duty. While the headquarters of the Hawaii Army National Guard units were busy getting soldiers and their records ready to be transferred to the Army, many families felt the trauma of having a major change impact their lives. Many family members did not know where their husbands and fathers where going or what to expect. Many questions by family members went unanswered. It was a time of uncertainty and confusion for the family. With their husbands gone, many wives had to make hard decisions and manage their families on their own. Many families also suffered a sudden decline to their income.

However, family members now have a support group which they can have a definite role in developing to meet their special needs. In fact, family members of the Hawaii National Guard are lucky because Hawaii, under the guidance of Maj. Gen. Alexis T. Lum, state adjutant general, and his wife, Leimomi Lum, Hawaii is the leader in developing FSGs within the National Guard across the country.

Workshop organized

The recent workshop was organized by the Family Action Office and Mrs. Liz Taga, state volunteer representative, with the assist of Mrs. Deanna DeMello, 2nd BATTALION OHANA; and Mrs. Marcelina Keiser, 292nd MAUI OHANA. By the interaction between workshop attendees, FSGs have arrived and will definitely continue to grow in the HING.

In her opening remarks during the workshop, Mrs. Lum, official hostess of the workshop said, “I was moved by the spirit of oneness … of caring and sharing. As we enter these workshops together, remember our goal, remember the years when there was no family programs … when the family, especially the spouses of the guardmember, was not included in planning nor participation in improving the readiness of the various National Guard units.”

Workshop report

As part of the workshop and its main guest speaker, Marilyn J. White, president of Performance Skills Inc., a consulting firm based on the mainland, presented training on communications, group dynamics and organization. She was joined by Taga, De Mello and Keiser who passed along information they gained by attending formal training classes in volunteer management earlier this summer at the University of Colorado.

During the evening’s banquet, Maj. Gen. Lum was the keynote speaker. In his remarks, the general said, “When we joined the Hawaii National Guard, we made a commitment to be a part of the defense of the United States. But how many of us as members of the Hawaii National Guard have stopped to think that when we made that commitment, we also committed our families. The commitment of our family may be indirect, but it is a commitment nonetheless.”

The general continued by describing what actions the HING took to keep family members better informed about what’s taking place in the HING.

“The heart of the effort to involve the family, however, is the Family Support Group Program … something which most of you present have been a major part of. Those of you that are already involved .. .literally took the ball and ran with it. You understand the need, you volunteered to get the program off the ground in your community … and above all, you brought your friends and neighbors who are also guard members on board.” commented General Lum.

Mrs. Lum praised the gathering saying, “You (the leaders of our Family Support Groups) are the backbone of our state family program. Be proud of your achievements. You are part of an important program, it is your program, and you are here to share and get ideas on how to do it better.”

Each participant departed the workshop with many new ideas of how to develop or improve their FSG. Additionally, each participant left the hotel with a group photograph of all the participants signed by many new friends from the different neighbor islands.

If you or members of your unit are interested in having your spouses organize a FSG, call 732-1823 for information and assistance.

By Staff Sgt. Dennis Y. Fujii
117th PAD

– 1988 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 9

Our FSGs have been busy with all sorts of activities.

Maui FSGs are supporting the Guard’s 111th Army Band Christmas Concert on that island with decorations, goodies for the kids, and a potluck for the band afterward.

E HOOLAKO MAU (291st CCSQ, HIANG) on the Big Island sponsored a great halloween patty in October, and conducted a very successful food drive for needy families before Thanksgiving.

KA PO’E HA’AHEO E MALAMA (H HC, 29th lnf Bde, Troop E, and 129th Sig Det) turned out in support of the Army Guard’s Fun Run at Bellows on Oct. 30, including providing a potluck breakfast. December activities include a family day on Dec. 11. (contribution from Paulette Chaves, key person)

The December calendar is rapidly filling with FSG activities from both forming and established groups. Be a part of this exciting trend in the Hawaii Guard. Get involved, meet people just like you, have fun, and learn about the National Guard. There’s lot in it for you.

– 1988 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 8

Another significant accomplishment was the formation of 23 Hawaii National Guard Family Support Groups. These groups are made up of volunteer family members and are designed to assist Guard families during State or Federal mobilization.

– 1989 Annual Report pp. 1

The mission of the Hawaii National Guard Family Support Program. in operation since it’s inception in 1987, is to serve as the Commander’s primary source for programs which enhance readiness of service members and their families. contribute to the overall morale and welfare. and establish pre- and post-mobilization family assistance support requirements. responsibilities. resources, and procedures to support the mission of the Hawaii National Guard.

The heart of the program resides at the unit levels where key unit members and family volunteers join together to form a Family Support Group that involves. informs, prepares. and integrates them into the same team to support the family and the Guard missions. For the family member, this serves to create a network of communication and support, improve awareness and helps develop a positive attitude towards themselves, the unit and the Guard. For the unit member, this provides the assurance that family members will have support and be provided for in the event of their absence and commitment among unit members and lessens distracters in accomplishing the mission. For the Guard. this helps to make family members truly a part of the Guard team and results in retaining quality unit members. Activites such as the annual conferences, island workshops, newcomer and family member briefings, Family Team Building and Parent training, family activities, and homecoming events help to facilitate the Family Support Group success.

The HIANG Family Support Group helped coordinate collection of “Christmas Care Packages which were sent to loved ones of the 154th Wing who were participating in the HIANG”s first real world deployment” in lncirlik, Turkey. Christmas cheers were captured on film as the Visual Information Flight filmed family members who wanted to wish their loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This video was sent with Col. Mike Tice as he visited with the troops during the Christmas holidays in Turkey. The Family Support Group played a major role during the planning stages of the welcome home ceremony and program when the HIANG returned from lncirlik. Family members waited patiently with signs and banners at the AMC Terminal anxiously a waiting the return of their loved ones.

The State Family Support Group Program Coordinator. Maj. Marty St. Louis, is the Adjutant General’s special staff officer for family matters. MSgt. Rose Vendiola, 154th Mission Support Flight. is the Air Guard’s point of contact for the Family Program.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 80