July 28, 2003


Who the hell is she?

via Blah3

Seems that one of the Army units over in Iraq has a little wife-wanting-to-be-the-Gestapo problem going on. Seems the spouse of soldier attached to the 400th Military Police Battalion heard about a blast near where she thought the unit was. She apparently sent an e-mail asking if anyone had more information. What she got back was a bit of a shocker:

But when she read her e-mail July 15, she was appalled at what she saw. Group leaders were playing what one later called "hardball" with the Columbia mother of two and other 400th family members.

"OK this has gone far enough!" they wrote. The message said that "certain people are getting their soldiers in trouble" and that the unit's e-mail list had been sent to the Pentagon "for possible security violations and will be closely monitored."

Whoopsie...seems she said asked the wrong question. More to the point, she did not ask it in an "approved" forum...like the next months wives club meeting or something.

But wait, it gets better, here's the 220th Military Police Brigade's "Family Program Coordinator", who is Civlian Volunteer. Not an official Army spokesperson, liason, officer or even Dept of the Army Civilian; a Civiilian Volunteer.

Lisa Torey, the family program coordinator for the 220th Military Police Brigade, which oversees the 400th, said in an interview that there were no injuries in the blast Peacock was asking about. Peacock's e-mail, she said, was distressing to many families who don't watch the news and don't want bits of information dripping in from unofficial sources. They have a right, she said, not to be disturbed with troubling news.

She added that there had been several other "violations" regarding use of the e-mail chain. Torey, a civilian volunteer whose husband is deployed in Iraq, wouldn't specify what those were, but she said she had to put a stop to them.

"We have 150,000 troops over there," she said. "Someone could say something, and that information could get to the wrong person. And then ultimately you could have the worst-case scenario, and we have a dead soldier on our hands."

Follow that? Ms. Torey, Family Readiness Program Civilan Volunteer is now the arbiter of e-mail for the entire US Army. She has the wisdom to know all there is to know about COMSEC, OPSEC and troop movements, press relations, and strategys for war-fighting in Iraq. Quick! Don't let this multi-talented woman get away! Why she probably just single handedly saved the lives of hundreds if not thousand of soldiers with her quick intuitive crushing of all questions of Fearless Leader and the Neocon Strategery.

Women like this are going to help ensure that retention will hit the crapper sooner than later. Troops who hear about women like her will hope their wives are not having to deal with similar mini-minds back in the world. The married guys I remember as having the happiest spouses were the ones whose wives stayed the hell away from the Officers Wives Club when the ship was gone for more than a month. The politics, carping and attitude of some of the women were too similar to Ms. Torey's, give them a little power and they turned the into Banana Republicans...

In a follow-up e-mail to the family members of the 400th on Tuesday, Torey backed off, writing that "no one is in trouble with the Pentagon or Higher Headquarters." She wrote that she "had to play hardball and get you to stop immediately because that fine line regarding breach of security was almost crossed."
Sounds like someone in their chain of command might have thought she was a little....zealous too. Good.


Update Comments have been "turned off" for this thread. The person who was commenting (as one or more folks..the IP addresses all seem to be dynamically assigned from similar or adjacent blocks of IP addresses) as "no author" was being both mean and rude. I have deleted those comments which were directly calling various people "liers" (invest in a dictionary). If you are so compelled to call someone names, get your own blog. Blogger is free.

For those who want to make legitimate comments, please email them and I will add them, anonymously if you wish. Thanks. I have never had to go to this extreme, but it was getting out of hand.

posted by Jo Fish on 07.28.03 at 02:44 AM





Comments:

"that fine line regarding breach of security was almost crossed."

Huh???

If the Iraqi guerillas made an attack, they know it. Letting families in the U.S. know there was an attack isn't giving the Iraqis any intelligence. It's amazing this jerk could get away with harassing these families.

The only "security" here is George Bush's job security.

posted by: Socrates on 07.28.03 at 09:33 PM [permalink]



I happen to know that not only did this "gestapo" wife post the emails that made the news she also posted an email on a supposedly "official" email list that criticized the us postal service for issuing a stamp honoring Muslims and encouraging all members of the email list to complain to the post office about honoring a group that we are "at war" with. She was rebuked for this by members of the list and later printed an apology. Apparently she had forgotten that it was "terrorist" and not Muslims that we are at war with. The email was filled with pretty vicious racial stereotyping.

It would seem that it is OK with the Army if their official list is used to spout racism but not if it is used to question the veracity of the Army's account of events in Iraq that affect their loved ones.

posted by: Family Member of 400th MPB Soldier on 08.28.03 at 08:52 AM [permalink]



First off to the member of the 400 mpb wife who posted a link stating I signed something regarding a postal stamp. YOU DO NOT KNOW ME AND I SIGNED NO SUCH DOCUMENT!!! NOR DID I PRINT AN APOLOGY FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT DO. Many of you "people" forget that there is a WAR ON TERRORISM and just how many families are losing loved ones because of stupidity. This was stupidity. I do not appreciate the slander which has been brought against me. Many of you do not help out your FRG's because you cannot handle the job and then you want to say "what did the army do for me when I needed them?" I do a job and sometimes my job requires me to do things bluntly, and guess what, that is what I have to do! I am a patriot and I love my country and the people who defend it, and will do what it takes to protect those families and soldiers and prevent additional stress and HOSPITALIZATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS because of things like this (guess someone forgot to mention that!). Thank you very much to those of you who have supported me and for those of you who didn't YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WHOSE BLOOD BOUGHT YOU YOUR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!

posted by: Lisa Torey on 10.08.03 at 12:58 PM [permalink]



Just one more thing...I would love to thank Chris Davenport for an exceptionally written article (he is a very good journalist). And I would also like to thank Jo Fish for making such hysterical comparisons and allowing everyone to express themselves. I am being honest, I really did enjoy the commentary!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!!!!

posted by: Lisa Torey on 10.08.03 at 01:10 PM [permalink]



Well first off, the great people who run this site and criticize people over things they dont know and dont understand need to get a life, Second you all dont know what was taking place or what was at hand during this, what went on with the families because of the emails that were being sent out. So if you think you have it all figured out sitting in your nice warm, T.V. watching houses,with your families and nothing to fear, enjoying the country that true vets have given you the right. Then get a real life and leave the military and families alone you are all pathetic and show the weak side of America. Thank you for showing me and other US Military vets that what we do, we even do for the ones (like you)who will never be happy in this great Country of ours that I proudly defend.

posted by: SSG Torey on 10.08.03 at 01:22 PM [permalink]



Hello, I am Elaine Rollison, a daughter of an FRG Coordinator. I normally do not state my opinions on matters that are related to FRG issues. I just wanted to remind you of a few things. Thank you to all who support your FRG coordinators. They spend endless hours a day dedicating thems to you and your soliders. As for those of you who do not support your FRG coordinator, why do you feel the need to make personal opinions about them and then broadcast it over the internet? If you have issues with your FRG coordinator, be an adult over the matter, and give her a call. The issue may be a little easier to resolve. I feel that some of the family members are acting as children. I know for a fact that when an email is sent out, that it is not at all intended to discriminate or to hurt someones feelings. These FRG coordinators are only human. They make mistakes too. Just as a closing reminder; These leaders are not paid to assist you and your families. They do so, because they love what they do, and they care. I really do not feel like they need to be condemned for their actions. They are here for you. The unsupportive family members need to realize that having an FRG coordinator, yes, it is a privilege.

posted by: Elaine Rollison on 10.08.03 at 03:23 PM [permalink]



I would like to say that I have known Ms. Torey for 3 years and she is one of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have ever met. The FRG is lucky to have her. My husband was also deployed overseas and no one from his company contacted me to make sure my children and myself were okay. I've personally witnessed Ms. Torey make phone calls and visits to other family members in the 220th. She has worked tirelessly to ensure family members are updated with information, while dealing with the separation of her own husband.

If anyone has a problem with the way Ms. Torey has handled herself during this difficult time, I suggest you find out "Who the hell she is" and attempt to handle some of the mess she's taken care of. I once told Ms. Torey to quit working for the FRG and concentrate on her family, since YOUR problems were causing her so much stress. Do you know what she said? She said that she loved her job, and enjoyed helping people and getting involved. How many of you are involved? How many of your wives are getting off their fat asses and getting involved in the FRG? I didn't think so. Shit or get off the pot people!

posted by: pissed off military wife on 10.08.03 at 06:03 PM [permalink]



Damn, what a graffiti board. Wish we'd had such a thing when I was stationed in Subic Bay; 'twould have been an endless source of amusement, no doubt.

Congrats to "distraught husband" CAPT Cary on his career high (as of that post) 1,000,000 on Tony Hawk Pro Skater. You've given me a new ambition in life.....

posted by: Len Cleavelin on 10.09.03 at 12:41 PM [permalink]



All I have to say is, if you want the reconstruction of Iraq done right...and with the help and support of our allies and the United Nations...vote George W. Bush out of office.

The sooner Bush and his incompetent crew are gone, the sooner we can get down to eventually bringing our troops home in a safe manner, that does not cause a new conflagration in Iraq.

Incidentally, I appreciate that people are putting their lives on the line in Iraq.

But, you are not over there fighting for the freedom of a single person here in the United States.

They are fighting for the freedom of the IRAQI PEOPLE.

That may well be a laudible goal, but do not throw it back in the faces of critics of Bush administration policy.

Especially in a hypocritical, passive agressive manner where you say things like:

"Even treasonous, evil bastards like you...who should be locked up or shot...are free to express your opinions thanks to the sacrifice of brave soldiers like me, who never use the brains God gave us to question the policies of the Commander in Chief...no matter how addle-brained they may appear to be."

Your DUTY is to Constitution of the United States. NOT to George W. Bush.

Remember that.

posted by: Hesiod on 10.10.03 at 03:29 PM [permalink]



Lisa,
I do not know you but I wish you well. I for one want to thank you for volunteering your time to support the family and friends of deployed soldiers. Not everyone cares enough to devote their time and energy to help others. Leadership can be difficult and unfortunately there are those that no matter what you do or don't do they would rather spend their time criticizing the volunteers instead of helping out. Instead of understanding that you are trying to help, it is their nature to be negative. It is also in their nature to blame others. "because of her example my wife cheated on me the first week I was deployed." How wonderfully ludicrous! It is hard to believe that there are people out there that find it is easier to blame you than taking responsibility for their own miserable lives. And the stupid ass that started this all. "the married guys having the happiest spouses were the ones whose wives stayed the hell away from the Officers Wives" Who the hell does this person think they are?? Sounds like a disgruntled sad sack to me. When you wrote that "no one was in trouble" - the stupid ass thought YOU were in trouble - never once thought that maybe you cared enough to let them know no one was in trouble. Any way God Bless you for volunteering your time and sacrificing your family life to help others (even those who are thankless). AND please don't take all of these negative comments to heart. They are just the thoughts of very ignorant, vindictive and miserable people. Not worth anyone's time!

posted by: Tammy Vining on 10.14.03 at 09:47 PM [permalink]



Jo Fish,

God will bless you and the whiny members of that unit for all of your ignorance. You all need help. You have no clue what really went on when Lisa tried to help the family members of this unit. YOU have heard a one sided story and haven't bothered to get the facts straight. These people were not asking questions, they were complaining, putting out hurtful misinformation and sending out personal attacks to the whole FRG. And when the FRG put out information they wrote to all of the famlies that the information given were lies. They complained about living conditions, pay, the rear detachment, the FRG, ideas and suggestions, updates etc… you name it they complained. BUT NEVER ONCE DID THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP! You have almost single handedly, with the help of some very vicious members of this unit, caused the resignation of an FRG Leader who really cared, who selfishly gave of her time. Many of the soldier’s family members depended on and appreciated her. You and those few whiney people lead a shameful existence. You all need to get off of your lazy vindictive fat asses and volunteer to help instead of spending all of your energy delighting in causing pain to the family members of the soldiers that are selflessly risking their lives to serve our Country. YES THAT MEANS OFFFICERS AND THEIR WIVES TOO……..

posted by: on 10.16.03 at 07:13 AM [permalink]



Jo Fish,

God will bless you and the whiny members of that unit for all of your ignorance. You all need help. You have no clue what really went on when Lisa tried to help the family members of this unit. YOU have heard a one sided story and haven't bothered to get the facts straight. These people were not asking questions, they were complaining, putting out hurtful misinformation and sending out personal attacks to the whole FRG. And when the FRG put out information they wrote to all of the famlies that the information given were lies. They complained about living conditions, pay, the rear detachment, the FRG, ideas and suggestions, updates etc… you name it they complained. BUT NEVER ONCE DID THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP OR OFFER VIABLE SOLUTIONS! You have almost single handedly, with the help of some very vicious members of this unit, caused the resignation of an FRG Leader who really cared, who selfishly gave of her time. Many of the soldier’s family members depended on and appreciated her. You and those few whiney people lead a shameful existence. You all need to get off of your lazy vindictive fat asses and volunteer to help instead of spending all of your energy delighting in causing pain to the family members of the soldiers that are selflessly risking their lives to serve our Country. YES THAT MEANS OFFFICERS AND THEIR WIVES TOO……..

posted by: on 10.16.03 at 07:14 AM [permalink]



First of all, you guys have misunderstood who the so-called "gestapo" wife is. It was not Lisa Torey (though her posts would seem to indicate she suffers from the same sort of maniacal nationalism) but Paulette Dahms, the FRG co-ordinator for the 400th mpb. Torey was the FRGC for the 220th and mainly served as Paulette's headquarters "muscle".

In addition to the emails in the original article there were emails from Dahms on this chain which urged family members to boycott the us postal service for issuing a stamp honoring Muslims because "we are at war with Muslims". The email was vile, racist and illustrates the kind of blind ignorance the email chain represents.

Lay off of Torey. She has a big mouth and wraps herself in the flag and doesn't seem to understand that our soldier's loyalty is to the constitution and not the current administration, but the real problem was Dahm's.

Someone at the Pentagon needs to investigate why an "Official Army" mailing list being used to disseminate racist emails is OK, but family members questioning the Army or the Administration on this list is not.

It is hard enough to have family members caught up in this debacle of a war without having to deal with this kind of crap on an email list that is supposed to provide support and information to family members.

posted by: pissed off in virginia on 10.19.03 at 09:37 AM [permalink]



To pissed off in Virginia,

Who the hell are you to tell everyone to lay off Lisa Torey and then announce she has a big mouth?? You pretend to be high and mighty but you are no better than the rest of the ilk. AND your assertion that the family members were only questioning the Army and it's administration is a lie. Be a big person and tell the truth. You weren't questioning the Army, you were spreading hurtful and UNTRUE information to all family members and you were criticizing Paulette and the command every chance you got. Everyone makes mistakes but not everyone is big enought to apoligize for their mistakes. I am sure you are one of those who sat on your ass and continues to sit on your ass and doesn't volunteer to help but does a good job at spending all of your dark hearted energy bitching and complaining! Go ahead and be pissed off in Virginia, but tell the truth while your at it!!

posted by: on 10.19.03 at 10:26 AM [permalink]



Please STOP putting out hurtful information about those who are only trying to help the families of those deployed. Paulette is another FRG leader that has tirelesly given up her free time and energy in an effort to help us who have soldiers deployed. She is human is is trying to do her best to help. You in the meantime are doing everything you can to make people hate her and get her to quit. If she quits are you willing to step up to the plate and be the new FRG leader?? If so show yourself and volunteer to be the new FRG leader, yep, I didn't think so. You would rather coward behind your email and spit out slander and hate. Why don't you invest more of your time thanking those who try to help instead of ruining it for the rest of us? Paulette has agreed to do this hard work because she cares about the family members and the soldiers. Put your claws back in and do something useful with your life. You think everyone thinks like you, think again. Granted their are more of you that find it easier to criticize than to help, but many family members would be pissed at you for ruining it for them......They appreciate her time and efforts. Many family members support what Paulette is trying to do...Why don't you take a vote of all of the family members if you want to know the truth. Paulette and Lisa deserve more than the thankless slander they get from you. Stop your wicked meanspirited attacks and do something helpful for once in your life!!

posted by: on 10.19.03 at 10:53 AM [permalink]



You know I read these comments above and I think to myself most of them are done by the people who do not want to help and do not want to get involved in the unit other then destroy what they can. The FRG people who are VOLUNTEERING there time is to help one another get through this at home and when you have IGNORENT people running there mouths and trying to make it harder on the families then what are you to do.. Try to hurt and disrespect people that are there to actually help. But instead you ruin a good thing for the people in the unit and there families cause you are to STUPID to tell the truth and not lie, So the way I see it is that Most of the 400th MP families that are in on this thing to get rid of Lisa and Paulette are nothing but Back wood hillbilies who sit on there asses and eat bon bons all day in front of the CPU looking for someone or something to sture up problems. My opiniun is mine from what I read and see. Oh one more thing, for the one who said lay off Lisa you all are ready F#@$ed it up she resigned from the postition and so the little whiny bitches who were throwing out lies and miss information so they can now sit back and try to figure out what are they going to do for the families if Paulette resignes as well you are all stupid and need a life

posted by: cannot hang on 10.20.03 at 08:42 AM [permalink]



Pissed off in Virginia...so you feel it necessary to post the name of an FRG leader and then defile her character over the Internet for all to see. Let me get the story straight for all of you reading the crap on this message board. There are about five or six people in the whole FRG that have done nothing but put out lies to the Press, put out lies about the FRG, put out lies about the command and bitched and moaned to the whole FRG group and anyone who would listen. They are all too stupid to realize that their so called "bond" or "support" for each other is no more than negative and evil energy. The aura around them all is so dark that God help any positive person trying to do good in this world. Susan Peacock lied about contacting the FRG for help. She wasn't asking for help. She was upset that the Commander said the "soldiers were all fine". The soldiers were all fine taking into consideration that they are in a war zone! Susan believed she knew better because she listened to news reports! Instead of contacting the FRG leader (Paulette) she deliberately contacted other sources and then she went to the media for her day in the sun. One family member was so distressed by the news these people kept putting out that she sent out an email to all saying she did not wish to get emails unless it was officially sent out from the FRG.

Lynn Brinker :( is another miserable person that felt it necessary to go to the press and complain that the ARMY was being unfair because they had the nerve to deploy her husband. I couldn’t believe it! My husband, Paulette’s husband, Lisa’s husband and many loved ones are deployed because they are in the ARMY. Did she forget to read the not so fine print that said they may be called up to duty??? And the honorable mission they were sent to accomplish is why they have spent many years in training.

There are many people who agree with Lisa, these guys signed up and have been receiving good money (for which we as taxpayers pay for) to do the job they signed up to do. Now their wives are taking up their “woe is me” banner proud of themselves because they supposedly speak out for their husbands. They treat the Officer’s wives like the enemy and try to get people to join them in their hate campaign. Too bad they are so selfish, they can’t see past their own misery and have the compassion to understand that we all worry everyday about the welfare of our soldiers, even the Officer’s wives. Suck it up people, stop blaming other people for the situation we are in. There are others who don't spend their energy bitching and moaning, their husbands are deployed too!! But like Lisa and Paulette instead of bitching, blaming others, lying and spreading hate and slander they are sacrificing their own time to try to help people.

Lisa and Paulette, I am just one of many members of the FRG who sincerely thank you both for helping the families of those deployed. Keep up the good work :o)

Fed-up FRG Family member...

posted by: on 10.21.03 at 08:44 AM [permalink]



i fail to see how threatening family members with pentagon investigations and sending out hurtful emails about Moslems is "helping" the families.

many members of the e-mail group have left and formed their own group exactly because they were not getting any "helpful" news on the frg chain.

there weren't any lies that i could see in po'd in va's posting. i have read all the e-mails on the frg list and what po'd said is true. what exactly were they lying about?

and finally, it doesn't matter if someone is a volunteer or not, if they are not helping the family members they should let someone else do the job.

now you can all go ahead and let me have it too!

posted by: on 10.21.03 at 01:28 PM [permalink]



Damn girl!

"now you can all go ahead and let me have it too!" You state "they should let someone else do the job". I have to assume since you are complaining that the job should go to someone else, you are volunteering, right? Maybe we should go ahead and let you have it!! If you wanted the job, all you needed to do was volunteer but I don't recall anybody volunteering for the position but Paulette! If you are not volunteering, then of course, as usual, you are just complaining and criticizing. We are soooo tired of hearing your whining about our FRG leader....if you don't want to volunteer for the position then stop your bitching and moaning AND SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!

posted by: on 10.23.03 at 07:36 PM [permalink]



PLEASE STOP SLANDERING ME!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE WON, I RESIGNED...HAPPY??????? I just would like to know where you think you are going to get your questions answered, your refferals, your emergency assistance, etc. now????? I am so deeply sorry to those of you who have supported and depended on me. It was hard enough dealing with all of your problems, my problems, my children and the seperation from my husband, whom I dearly love and adore. When it came to slander (and that is what this is) I realized it was not worth it any more. I have been volunteering my time to the Army since 1996 and I am deeply respected by many and I respect many. It hurts so deep to have to give up something that you love so much because of a few words spoken in anger and ignorance. This needs to stop!!!!!! It is over and done and I have resigned in the middle of a deployment leaving many angry, hurt, upset and scared because they now have no one to help them, no since of security, and no explanations for this. As far as all the talk goes about "officers wives" and "enlisted wives" there is no RANK IN FAMILY READINESS/SUPPORT. We all have loved ones that may die or be hurt and we worry constantly over there safety, I know I have not slept since March and my husband is still gone performing his job!! But I am not sitting here complaining because he is gone, I deal with it, because it is what he has to do no matter how hard it is on HIM, ME, OR MY FAMILY. My love and support are for him and the ones that are there serving tirelessly day in and day out. My heart cries out to the families, like mine, that are left behind. AND WHEN ONE OF THEM JUST ONE OF THEM FALLS I CRY LIKE A BABY, THANKFUL THAT IT WAS NOT MY LOVED ONE, AND SAD AND HURT FOR THE FAMILY OF THE SOLDIER BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!! And yes I wrap myself in the flag, because I am an American, and I see day in and day out the selfless sacrifices which are made in the name of that Flag and this country. I'll admit, I am afraid to go anywhere and mention my name because I am the "gestapo wife" just knowing what that word means,afraid that someone is going to say something hurtful in front of my children then I have to explain to them why these things are being stated about their mommy. I know that none of you give a damn how I feel or what I say because in essence you are all right, this is America, the land of the free, where freedom of speech means that you can wag your tongue with vile disregard for the person you are gossiping about or slandering, because you only know part of the story and it is okay, it is your right given to you by the Constitution of this GREAT COUNTRY. You may not agree with the Commander-In-Chief but it is his job to insure FREEDOM AT ANY COST!!!!! And for many of you it means a greater sacrifice than others. And many of the "others" just don't care, it is not happening here, and you do not know anybody there, so what. It is happening here right now, just read this message board and see. I never vented because it was my job to let each of you vent, cry, whine, bitch and moan, and I listened. I helped, I made sure your loved ones got to come home for births, deaths, sicknesses,and if the mission did not permit it I made sure they were aware of everything that was happening. I spent countless hours on the phone, computer, in offices, and homes without being paid, because I wanted to. Thanks to you I do not want to anymore, I don't care about your problems, births, deaths, sicknesses, emergencies, and bitching anymore..I just want my husband home to hold me and tell me it will all be alright!!!!!!!!!!

posted by: Lisa Torey on 10.25.03 at 10:31 AM [permalink]



Like to say thank you to all the whimps in the 400th MP BAtt. One for being so stupid and two for being total idots about the things going on in Iraq. If you think that your little hidden groups are a way to send out false information then you are even stupider then before. Also you all realy messed up with Mrs Torey resigning. She has done allot for the groups and helped allot of families now when they have a problem that they cannot solve (which was all the time with the 400th) now they dont have an avenue to go to about it. The families will suffer from this not the soldiers, I also know for a fact that the day Mrs Toreys husband was leaving for the MOB station she took time with the 400th to brief them and try to help the families out also. Oh but wait according to you and your little group of B@#$%s she did nothing to help families the day her HUSBAND left she spent the morning trying to help the families. Also lets look at the stamp thing shall we someone above already told you she did not send out that crap about the stamp it was someone else are you to stupid to read also. So get off her back about the stamp on it was not her two it shows how dumb you are. Oh one more thing to go with all this threating the families well lets see one family member was put into the hospital due to the fact that the information going around was lies hello people all the little gossip that you all think it was, defently was not it put another FAMILY member in the hospital. But you dont care lets keep sending lies and slander around about people who tried to help not just your family but over 1000 others. During the time raise her children and worry about her husband in the same crap that yours are in. So again I am going to say good job to the Stupid B@#$%S of the 400th you are truely the winners of the complete idoits award this year.
Congrats on winning the idiots award you fools.

posted by: wimps on 10.26.03 at 07:17 AM [permalink]



Lets have the names of the rest of the family members that lie and complain about everything come on they put Lisa and Paulettes name out why can't we have theres are they scaried that maybe they will get there names slandered also like they have been doing to Lisa and Paulette anyone know them POST THEM LET THEM GET IT TO, THEY STARTED THIS MESS AND IT IS TIME THEY ARE IDENTIFIED.
1. Susan Peacock
2. Lynn Brinker
Who are the rest lets have them

posted by: on 10.26.03 at 07:37 AM [permalink]



Well

posted by: on 10.30.03 at 11:07 AM [permalink]



I am a soldier deployed in Iraq and this is really disgusting to know this stuff is going on while soldiers are over here doing their jobs. Right or wrong FRG Leaders are volunteers trying to do a job they volunteered to do, no pay, long hours, tryng to please a multitude of personnel all the while taking care of their own family issues usually while their own spouse is deployed. Please see the enclosed articles from the Stars and Stripes newspapers. I am sure that many of you will see things in here that are the same situation you are going through. Bottom line is Thank You FRG Leaders, Family members if you want to improve something then get involved, if you are not involved you have no right to criticize.

Family Readiness Group
I have to respond to the letter “Where’s the support?” (June 26) about family support groups. First, they’re no longer called Family Support Groups. They’re Family Readiness Groups. This is because spouses had become too dependent on FSGs and their leaders. Spouses got to the point where they couldn’t handle normal tasks on their own. So the name was changed to emphasize the need to be ready for situations and the ability to handle those tasks.
The purpose of FRGs is to provide families with the resources and tools to be self-sufficient members of the military community. FRGs exist to provide information and referrals to family members, especially during a deployment. FRGs are not a baby-sitting, moving or taxi service, but FRGs attempt to go above and beyond their call of duty. Many people forget that FRG leaders are volunteers whose spouses are also probably deployed. FRG leaders go through the same situations as other spouses of deployed soldiers.
If, as the letter said, the rear detachment told a spouse not to worry about transportation and then never came through, then that spouse needs to address her frustrations toward rear detachment. An FRG can’t control a rear detachment.
I recommend spouses become as active as possible within their FRGs. They shouldn’t assume that their FRG leaders are aware of and understand their specific situations. FRG leaders are often responsible for more than 50 families which each have individual wants and needs. FRG leaders can’t help if not specifically asked. Sometimes FRG leaders won’t be able to respond to last-minute situations. But a good FRG leader will offer direction to proper agencies that can help.
FRG leaders aren’t mind readers or gods. They can’t be all and do all for everyone all the time. If the writer is unsatisfied with her FRG or its leader, she can find out what to do to create a stronger FRG and volunteer her time and services. She can even offer to be an FRG leader. The writer might find out that volunteering to take care of 50 families, often with little or no support and less thanks, is a monumental task for any one person to handle.
The writer should help her FRG become a wonderful asset to her community. The main responsibility of FRGs are to inform spouses, help them make educated decisions and make referrals as necessary. But it’s every family member’s responsibility to ensure that their FRGs are the best that they can be. FRGs are family members.

Jessica Burmeister
Family Readiness Group Leader
Dexheim, Germany

What you make it
I’m responding to the letter “Where’s the support” (June 26). I’m a Family Readiness Group leader for the 92nd Military Police (3rd and 4th platoons). First I’d like to thank all the spouses in our group. Our husbands left in February for Israel. We were told it would be for six months to a year. By luck they came home three months later. But while they were gone, we still had meetings, and questions were answered. We had spouses who needed rides and spouses who offered rides. No one owes anyone anything.
I was also nervous because this was the first deployment for more than half of the spouses, myself included. We survived because of the communication and contact we had prior to the deployment. A person can’t ignore or not want to be a part of an FRG and then expect it to bend over backward when her spouse deploys.
FRGs are for information, an ear to talk to or a familiar face on post when spouses feel alone. We’re all spouses dealing with military life, and as with the soldiers, it’s what one makes it. If the writer’s FRG is not working for her, she should ask herself if she’s ever worked for it.

Laura Gomez
Darmstadt, Germany

Support group confusion
The writer of “Where’s the support?” (June 26) is confused about the purpose of a Family Support Group. It is not the following: babysitters, surrogate parents, social workers, taxi services, loan agencies, welfare agencies or lending services. FSGs are for the purpose of supporting morale, answering questions, offering friendship and promoting efficient use of community resources.
If the writer expects the FSG to provide rides to the airport, cater to pregnant spouses or offer to move her from one place to another, I can see why she is disappointed.
Army spouses have to be strong and they have to stand on their own feet. It is always nice to have friends to count on if you need help. Actually, I believe the solution to the writer’s problems is friends, not the FSG. Deployments are part of military life, and it’s difficult at best. But if the writer isn’t capable of dealing with a deployment, then she shouldn’t have married a soldier.
FSG members are volunteers. They do the best they can with the resources they have, and I don’t believe they should be criticized for not doing enough.

Debbie Ray
Hohenfels, Germany

posted by: Deployed Soldier on 10.31.03 at 08:34 AM [permalink]



. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

posted by: on 10.31.03 at 08:51 AM [permalink]






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