Expo offers Airmen, families critical deployment info

  • Published
  • By SrA Anthony Nelson Jr
  • 49th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A Deployment expo, May 13 took place at the base' s Community Activity Center to provide Team Holloman with more information concerning deployments. 

The expo provide' s information to both single and married military members and their families about pre-deployment, deployment, and available post deployment support. 

Readiness briefings emphasize the need for preparing and reviewing personal and family documents, as well as family-care plans. Deployment, separation and reunion issues were discussed in addition to Airman and Family Readiness Center and community resources that are available during deployments. 

Many functions and programs from the Airman and Family Readiness Center are used by deployed families and spouses such as the Pre-deployment briefing- Deployment separation and reunion issues are also discussed as well as other AFRC and community resources available during deployments. 

One of the more well known programs offered by the AFRC is the Morale Call Program. Every deployed or remotely assigned active duty member is entitled to identify an individual and call that member at no charge via a DSN line. Usually, but not always, the designee is the spouse or the person providing care for the minor children of the military member. 

In addition, Families Apart holds a free dinner periodically for spouses and children that are temporarily separated from the Air Force member due to military assignments, temporary duty (TDY), remotes, or a permanent change of station (PCS). 

Services on base are not bound to just helping those military members who are preparing to deploy, but also to the families who stay behind.

Many support agencies were also on hand to provide information. Among them was Women, Infants and Children agency. 

According to Beverly Moreau-Kelley, WIC employee, "The WIC organization offers information on nutrition and food supplement programs for young children under five, mothers, pregnancies, and post-pregnancies.

According to Ms. Moreau-Kelley, their organization helps families stay healthier, provides nutrition pamphlet's- and help them stretch grocery money. They often refer members and their spouses to other health and social programs if the need is there. 

With today's changing Air Force, deployments are becoming more and more frequent. So, the Airman and Family Readiness Center continues to provide more support to families coping with deployments, TDY's, and PC's. 

Kathy Harrigan, wife of 49th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Jeff Harrigan shared her thoughts with attendees about coping with deployments as a spouse. 

"The Deployment Expo was great, she said." "The cool thing was, you got to put a name with a face. If you had any questions to ask, this was the perfect environment to ask them, along with the right people to answer your questions." 

For some attendees, that was very helpful said, Tech. Sgt. Jill Texeira, 49th Material Maintenance Support Squadron."Getting a chance to meet those who support and help you is great and gives you an amazing sense of security." 

The AFRC also provides outreach services ready to assist by following-up with all family members and families with special needs, such as a spouse that does not speak English, or a newlywed that is unfamiliar with Air Force policy, procedures, customs, and acronyms. Outreach, includes information and referral when where to go, or what to do is unclear. 

The outreach program is a partnership between squadrons and the Airman and Family Readiness Center designed to maximize support to families. 

Key Spouses, appointed by participating squadron commanders, are trained at the Airman and Family Readiness Center on many of the needs families may have, how to respond effectively, and the resources available. 

The briefings can also be conducted on a walk-in basis or at individual units and family members are encouraged to attend briefings. For more information contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 575-572-7754.