Mrs. Ann Soby led a family readiness group (FRG) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, during the Global War on Terrorism. These groups support families of Active and Reserve Component soldiers as well as the National Guard. The transition to an operational reserve by Reserve Component forces has brought about outreach into civilian communities off post to reach to these family members. Issues with children of deployed service members can reach into civilian schools to children isolated among peers without an appreciation of the stresses of a deployed family member. Health care issues are also a constant concern. Benefits appear and disappear with changes in duty status, further complicating family readiness and support. Call ups and deployments are diverse in nature, ranging from one or two soldiers with specialist skills through teams like Battle Command Training Program elements, to companies and larger-sized units. Time periods of deployments vary from six months to two years. The sequencing and array of support includes deployment/reunion briefs and information about the two-week break mid-tour. Army Community Service is an important organization encompassing programs from parenting to family advocacy. The Military One Source has also come about during the Global War on Terrorism, answering questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. Soby uses a roller coaster analogy with families to communicate the ups and downs families will face during their tour. Public attitudes towards returning soldiers and veterans, Soby feels, have changed in a positive manner, contrasting with attitudes demonstrated during and after the Vietnam War. Another contrast with earlier wars is the image and reality of military mothers deploying and leaving their children.

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