Army Family Team Building (AFTB), originally designed by spouses for spouses, is a training and readiness program that provides participants with an understanding of Army culture and the skills and resources they need to become self -reliant, self-sufficient members of the military community.  There are three levels of training based solely on an individual’s experience in the Army.

In Level I you will “learn” Army. This session is mainly intended for spouses and Family members who are new to the military community. Classes include Expectations and Impact of the Mission on Family Life, Military Acronyms and Terms, The Chain of Command, and Introduction to Military Customs and Courtesies.

Level II provides management experience, which will help Family members “grow” personal skills and make every day life easier. Classes include Conflict Management, Time Management, Stress Management, Crisis and Coping, and Communication.

Level III encourages and assists anyone wanting to "lead." Classes include Leadership Skills, Motivating Factors, Building a Cohesive Team, and How to Develop Presentations.

All classes are FREE and open to everybody within the military community. Our AFTB staff will blend classes together for your organization according to your needs. We’ll also come out to any location you desire and teach classes at your unit location, at FRG meetings, or any place you choose. We are able to teach classes in German as well.

AFTB Origins: The seeds for AFTB first began to sprout in 1990 when, for the first time since the Vietnam War, troops were deploying in large numbers for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Commanders and First Sergeants noticed Soldiers were affected because their Families were not prepared for the long deployments. Family members, then still called "Dependents," had to become quite independent very quickly. After several years of preparation, the AFTB program was finally implemented on 16 December 1994.

If you want to learn more about AFTB, please contact the Heidelberg AFTB Program Coordinator at USAGHD.AFTB@EUR.army.mil.