| Ohio National Guard builds family support network |
“We have built a substantial support network for Military Families in Ohio,” said Lt. Col. Robert Bramlish, director of the National Guard’s family readiness program. “But we always have unmet needs, and we know that the citizens of Ohio want to help. We hope that through these town hall events, we will be able to match the enthusiasm for providing assistance to the military with the needs of our families.” Of nearly 29,000 reserve component service members in Ohio, almost 16,000 are in the National Guard. In the years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Ohio National Guard alone has deployed more than 13,000 men and women somewhere in the world. “When our military members deploy, they need to focus on their mission,” Bramlish said. “By taking care of families, we help diminish one of the most significant distractions our deployed members face.” The National Guard has divided the state into six regions, each with at least one family assistance center (FAC). Each FAC is responsible for providing services to Military Families, regardless of service branch. “The single most important message the public should take away from these meetings is the 1-800 number for their FAC,” said James Sims, Ohio National Guard spokesperson. “If anyone wants to help military families, or if any military families need help, they just need to call that number.” The National Guard will be hosting four additional town hall events throughout the state over the next several weeks, with the next event scheduled for March 18 in Dublin. The other meetings will be in Perrysburg, Hamilton and Kettering. The dates and locations of these events can be found at the “Operation: O.H.I.O.” link on the Ohio National Guard website at www.ohionationalguard.com. |
