AMC officials pay special attention to families during Air Force Family Week

  • Published
  • By Bekah Clark
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
Air Mobility Command officials here will place a special emphasis on the value and importance of family during Air Force Family Week, which runs Nov. 1 through 7.

The purpose of this special week is to recognize and celebrate the many members of the Air Force family while providing education and awareness on how Air Force programs and community partners support them, according to the Year of the Air Force Family Web site.

AMC leaders encouraged installations to use this week to mark a month-long campaign in conjunction with Year of the Air Force Family goals, said Ivera Harris, the chief of AMC Airman and Family Services.

"The bases are doing a ton of things for Air Force Family Week," Ms. Harris said. 

For example, Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington plans to offer a free dinner, games and movie to those who visit a list of agencies and learn about their services, according to AMC Airman and Family Services officials.

Officials at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida scheduled events include an open discussion, led by military and family life consultants, for single parents, blended families and others on "the wonders of family dynamics and other matters."

A parent workshop is also planned at Scott Air Force Base to help parents navigate the challenges of effectively transitioning students from one school district to another.

"We recognize that, in order for Airman to be successful in their careers and accomplish their mission, it's important for them to have a family support system in place to deal with frequent moves and family separations," Ms. Harris said.

"Military families are resourceful and resilient, but the demands of military life -- frequent moves and school transitions; long-distance parenting; parents re-entering family life after the trauma of combat, not to mention the stress of knowing that mom or dad is in harm's way -- present unique difficulties for Airmen and their families. November seems like a particularly good time to say thanks to those who are serving or who have served and to the care-givers and family members of those warriors," Ms. Harris said.

For more information about Air Force Family Week events at your base, contact your Airman and Family Readiness Center. For more information about Year of the Air Force Family, visit the Web site athttp://www.af.mil/yoaff/index.asp

(1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero from Air Mobility Command Public Affairs contributed to this story.)