Speaking the Army Language

Recently a friend introduced me to one of her friends and the friend’s husband. The husband turned out to be in the same unit as my Soldier so we had a quick rundown of who we knew in common and the relationship of his unit to my Soldier’s- the typical Army hello-nice-to-meet-you. My friend and the soldier’s wife had a laugh over the fact that they had no idea what we had said.

It’s those pesky acronyms: the language of the Army. From the very beginning, new spouses are bombarded with initials and unknown phrases. AIT, PCS, and the list goes on….

Being able to participate in the conversation can make a considerable difference in making the transition to Army Life. I’ve collected a couple of my favorite resources for when I come across something I don’t know. But I also wanted to highlight a couple acronyms that I feel are really essential.

CYS– Child and Youth Services. If you have children, I highly recommend that you take advantage of the childcare opportunities that CYS offers. It is vital that we, as spouses, take care of ourselves when our soldiers are not there to help us. CYS can help to give you the free time to do so.

FRC– the Family Resource Center. This is one of the most important resources on any post. The FRC coordinates classes to help soldiers, spouses and families learn more about the army, finances, and many other aspects of army life. They also are the central hub for clubs on post and are a good starting point for many volunteer and social opportunities on post. Frequently, the Newcomers Brief is held at the FRC- which is a great opportunity to learn about your duty station.

MWR– Morale Welfare and Recreation. MWR is the organization that is responsible for many of the fun activities available to both soldiers and their families. MWR usually offers recreational sports teams on post for adults and kids, many different kids programs of all kinds, and a multitude of fun things for the whole family. These events and programs are put on specifically for the soldiers and their families and are usually much more affordable than similar opportunities off post- so take advantage of them!!

OPSEC– Operational Security

FRG– Family Readiness Group. The FRG is a commander’s program that is typically formed at the Company, Battalion and Brigade level. It is made up completely of volunteers and is a good opportunity for a spouse to get plugged in.

From my husband:
AFTB– Army Family Team Building. These classes are offered through each duty stations and online at ArmyOneSource.com. They provide a great overview of information and completing them can help a soldier gather points toward promotion.