A&FRC programs ease deployment separation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Colleen Wieman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  With AEF 5/6 underway, the Airman and Family Readiness Center has programs to help families with a deployed member make the separation a little easier.

"The programs at the A&FRC are designed with prevention in mind - to eliminate concerns for the active duty member so they can focus on the mission," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ford, 31st Mission Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness flight NCO. "We want all Airmen and their families to be ready and prepared to meet any mission."

Some programs the A&FRC sponsors for families with a deployed member are the Key Spouse Program, Spouse It Up, the Deployed Spouses Meal, Give Parents a Break and Car Care Because We Care.

"The Key Spouse Program has, by far, the most impact on our Aviano families. It's spouses helping spouses," Sergeant Ford said. "Car Care Because We Care allows spouses to use vouchers for a free oil change and safety check."

The A&FRC also has a computer resource room available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The room has 11 computers with nine having Webcam capability. The center has two video phones if the person downrange also has video capability. The video phones are not compatible with video telephone conference programs.

The center also has a telephone call room with four telephones with DSN access.
"We just installed a TV and VCR/DVD combo in the room," Sergeant Ford said. "Parents can bring their child's favorite movie and speak with little distraction while they use our phone. Our calls to the [Area of Responsibility] are not timed or limited by the Morale Minder Program."

Sergeant Ford said that families can visit the A&FRC and record a DVD to send to their family member downrange.

"All of our programs aid family with readjustment and coping with deployment," Sergeant Ford said. "When a spouse is prepared and connected to a support network, some of the anxieties associated with family separation will be eliminated."

When the deployed member returns home, the A&FRC has a program to teach spouses what to expect and to help cope with the stresses associated with the return. "The Spouse Reintegration Program was developed locally to assist our spouses here," Sergeant Ford said. "We teach and mentor the local military community on how to cope effectively with unplanned and planned separation."

The A&FRC also has programs available when spouses are home. For more information on all programs available, call the A&FRC at Ext. 5407.

"Our programs are family friendly. While some are designed specifically to support our families with deployed members, others build a sense of community," Sergeant Ford said. "The A&FRC is the clearing house for all things good in the military community. We assist families and Airmen prior to a deployment, separation and PCS. We are the first place they see when they attend Right Start, so it's only natural that we would assist when duty calls the active duty member away from home."