National Guard Family Academy offers help for families

Help for National Guard Families upon troops return

The Illinois National Guard has made it a priority to help soldiers when they return from a mobilization. While the National Guard continues to reach out to returning veterans with the "Tying the Yellow Ribbon" campaign, the program is also focusing on families of soldiers who are deployed.

The Illinois Army National Guard planned to conduct its first Reintegration Family Academy today, April 19 in Restoration Hall at Lincoln Christian College, 100 Campus View Drive, Lincoln, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The intent of the academy is to ensure families get the information and know what resources are available while their soldier is deployed. The academy is open to any family that has a deployed soldier.


Representatives from several different agencies will be available for family members such as Tricare (medical and dental), Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Veteran's Health Administration. There will also be several workshops for families that provide guidance and information on issues like marriage after deployment, finances, challenges soldiers face reuniting with their children, and utilizing college education benefits. Counselors will also be available for private consultations.

"Reintegration is not just a program for soldiers after a deployment, it's something his/her entire family must also undergo as everyone readjusts to changes that have happened during the course of the soldier's deployment," said 2nd Lt. Justin Anweiler, program coordinator. "This is one way the Illinois National Guard is trying to help families of our deployed men and women who are sometimes fighting their own battles at home while their soldier is fighting a war overseas."

The Illinois National Guard Family Academy is a partnership between the Illinois National Guard and Lincoln Christian College. It is free and open to anyone in the public who has been affected by a deployment, but is focused on the families of soldiers currently overseas.

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