How can the Reserve Components better serve families of deployed soldiers?

I think a major issue with FRGs in USAR units is that since the members are not co-located like on a post, there is not the same need of an FRG. With an active duty unit, the chances are pretty high that Soldiers and families are not from around that area so they don't have the same network where they live. Thus, FRGs are more necessary and I think families will be more likely to be involved (although not all will). In RC units, families will usually have better networks, often with extended families. I think a RC FRG finds its most benefit in a deployment so that families can be connected and better informed. So there should be a structure of one. I think one thing a leader needs to do is give more than lip service to an FRG. In my last USAR unit, my then fiancé volunteered and actually went to San Diego for training. However, while the commander said she supported the FRG, that was about it. We were a training unit so the chances of us being deployed were minimal and that did not help. Another thing that does not help is limited training time on BA weekends. As for family involvement, we had decent show during our Christmas party but then again, it was usually the families that lived fairly close. I think if you can overcome some of these things, you can be successful. But it is a lot to overcome.

Another thing is to recruit FRG family members to help besides women. Reach out to some of the men, brothers, dads and uncles.

Insure there is a good FRG NCO and the Commander correctly uses this person. When our Reserve unit deployed to Iraq in 2003, our FRG NCO was scheduled to go down range. I advised the Commander to leave her back (she wanted to stay and do the job as well), but he wouldn't listen. Our unit, upon activation fell under V Corps and he said their FRG section would take care of our people - didn't really happen. Our unit people already knew our NCO, and it made a difference.
It's a tough job as Reserve units, people are spread out and don't know each other as well. If this means transport made available to the FRG NCO so this person can physically get out to all the families, then it's a must.
Living in Denmark, I my wife got zero support from the FRG, but she did get support from the Danish military!!