Army Family Covenant

Redstone officials and members of the local community gathered Nov. 5 for a signing ceremony at the Youth Center.

Deployed Soldiers shouldn't have to worry about the welfare of their families back in the states, said Garrison commander Col. John Olshefski. "Our job here is to ensure those families at home are being taken care of," he said. Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command and Redstone Arsenal, joined him in signing the covenant. The other signers were AMCOM and post Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Yates and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. William Cole. "It's more than a piece of paper," Myles said. "It's our commitment."

They were joined at the front table by military family members. "It's a great thing," Master Sgt. Terrence Blackwell, of the AMCOM Integrated Materiel Management Center, said of the ceremony. He was accompanied by his 2-year-old daughter, Jordyn. "Anytime you've got the Army giving back to the families, it's a great thing - considering the family's giving all to the Army," Blackwell said.

Other attendees included Madison resident Ginny Taylor, wife of Master Sgt. Alexander Taylor. She was accompanied by their sons, Nathaniel, 11, Weston, 3, and Levi, 1. They also have a foster child, a 3-monthold girl. "It's a nice ceremony," said Ginny Taylor, whose husband is on a transition team in Afghanistan. "And I like what they're doing for waiting spouses and hope they just keep on improving it."

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, chief of staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston originally signed the Army Family Covenant in a ceremony Oct. 17 at the Fort Knox (Ky.) Community Center. Casey said similar signings would occur at each Army installation, recognizing that while Soldiers may be the strength of the nation, their strength is in their families. "The health of our all-volunteer force, our Soldier-volunteers, our family-volunteers, depends on the health of the family," Geren said. "The readiness of our all-volunteer force depends on the health of the families. I can assure you that your Army leadership understands the important contribution each and every one of you makes. We need to make sure we step up and provide the support families need so the Army family stays healthy and ready."

The covenant represents a $1.4 billion commitment in 2008 to improve quality of life for Army families. The Army has long had support services for family members, but services were sometimes not funded to the highest standard. The Army leadership is committed to Soldier and family readiness as the foundation of the all-volunteer force.

Article Release Courtesy of Redstone Arsenal Public Affairs Office and Department of the Army