ANG STRONG BONDS

Recognizing the importance of family support, the Army introduced the program Building Strong and Ready Families in 1997. Initially, 90 active-duty couples participated in four events. Over the past years, several hundred thousand Soldiers and Airmen and their family members have participated in Strong Bonds events. Strong Bonds has spread throughout the Active and Reserve Components of the Army and National Guard (both Army and Air National Guard). In 2004, the US Code was amended to allow command funding for "chaplain corps-led programs to assist members of the armed forces… in building and maintaining a strong family structure," (Title 10, 1789).