National Volunteer Week is April 10-16, 2011

National Volunteer Week is held annually in April to recognize volunteers who volunteer in communities around the country.  The national motto for National Volunteer Appreciation Week is “Celebrating People in Action.”  The Wisconsin National Guard has over 400 active volunteers behind the scenes supporting 12,000 Service Members and their families through the activities of Family Readiness Groups and the Key Volunteer Program.

Family Readiness Groups and Key Volunteers are sponsored and recognized by National Guard and serve as the link between leadership at the local armory or Air National Guard bases within the state of Wisconsin.  The Family Readiness Group that volunteers with the National Guard is typically referred to as “The FRG.”   National Guard Family volunteers assist the command with scheduling training and events that improve the overall family readiness of military families throughout the deployment cycle and during peacetime.  The FRG is not only a source of camaraderie and networking for the family but a key factor in the overall operational and mission readiness of our military units.

Volunteers within the National Guard have the opportunity to serve in leadership positions, learn accounting skills, network in the local community, or, perhaps stay connected to the military community during retirement.  However, many of volunteers serve to give back to their community, welcome new military families to the National Guard, and to help people.  Their efforts are tireless and often seem to go unnoticed, but, the volunteers are the backbone of the National Guard Family Program.   Thank you for everything that you do for our military families.

The National Guard is always looking for volunteers to volunteer a day, an hour, or just for a specific event.  Family members, friends, or retirees that wish to show their support of our military families are welcome to volunteer.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact the Service Member Support Division at 1-800-292-9494, option 3 or visit our website at www.wisconsinmilitary.org.