Family Matters introduces updated AF Crossroads Web site

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
  • Air Force News Service

The Air Force A1 office of family matters will soon unveil its updated Air Force Crossroads Web site for Airmen and families to gather facts about installations, military moves, education and more.

Though the current site contains a lot of information, its many layers made the site difficult to navigate, said Brenda Liston, chief of Airmen and family readiness policy at the Pentagon.

“With the new site, the information is a lot more accessible,” she said. “It’s more user-friendly so that customers can sign in and begin surfing for information immediately.”

From employment resources to education and health to spouses’ forums, customers will be connected to links and other resources geared to the military lifestyle.

As one of the 200,000 current account holders, Air Force spouse Holli Daniels said she’s glad to see the site’s improvements.

She became very familiar with the site when she was engaged to her now-husband, Capt. Michael Daniels, 355th Comptrollers Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Having grown-up in a Midwest city with little military influence, she had no idea what to expect about life in the military until her fiancée showed her the Air Force Crossroads Web site.

“I was brand new to the military,” she said. “I mainly used the site as a connection tool with other spouses. I remember when Mike and I were putting a dream list together, I got on the [spouses’] forum to try and find out about the bases and where we should go.”

She said at the time, access was a little difficult since she was not yet officially part of the military, but “I was able to find through the site other resources that were helpful.”

Ms. Liston said the dot-com address allows those not familiar with the military to gain insight into how things work for families.

“Anyone can access the site, such as grandparents and friends of the family, and learn more about life in the Air Force,” Ms. Liston said. “While some of the specific sites, such as installations, will require an account name and password, it’s now much easier for all users to get what they need.”

Two new options on the site include the ability to compare installations with side-by-side pop-up windows and signing up for newsletters that will be sent directly to the individual. The site also remains committed to a Total Force concept.

“The site will continue to give information for the Guard and Reserve Airmen and families, too,” Ms. Liston said.

Based on feedback and analysis, the new Web site was built to address the ever-changing needs of the military family, including helping former Airmen find employment outside the gates. Employers looking to specifically employ former Airmen have recently been contacting the Crossroads Web site. Those recruitment announcements are also included in the job banks on the new Web site.

“You could say that our changing times have dictated our need to change the site,” she said. “But the need to get information out to the families remains the same, and that’s our goal.”

The new site will make its official debut April 1. A link to the new format is available on www.afcrossroads.com.