BOSTON -- The government is trying to ease some of the burden felt by military families when their loved ones are deployed for service.

Government Reaches Out To Military Families

Army officials said the new Army Family Covenant is their way of telling military families that they hear them loud and clear.

Ellen Finer's 43-year-old husband, Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Finer, is currently serving his first tour of duty overseas in Baghdad. Ellen Finer said that when he shipped out, she lost her husband, her children's father and her business partner.

"I am just glad that he is safe, he is strong and he is doing a great job," she said.

As part of its new Army Family Covenant, the government is pledging $1.4 billion to help meet the needs of Army families. Among the priorities set forth in the covenant is funding existing family programs and services, increasing access to and the quality of health care and improving soldier and family housing. Almost half of all deployed soldiers have children under the age of 2.

"It helps our programs to be able to give more to the families that are experiencing deployment of part of military life," said Tonya Rioux, of the Guard Family Assistance Program.

The program is billed as an attempt to revive soldiers and their families commensurate with their service.

"I would say I miss him and that and I want him to come back," Alex Finer said of his father.

The Army cautioned that there is no quick fix for some problems facing families, and it will take time to implement many of the programs.