Support network available for families of deployed airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker
  • Air Force Print News
For many years, families of active and reserve component airmen, along with Air Force civilian employees, have had to deal with the stresses associated with deployments and remote tours.

However, families no longer have to endure these separations alone, according to Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Tester, personnel and family readiness noncommissioned officer.

"There is a support network available at each base's family support center that offers a wide array of resources to help families cope with these difficult and lonely separations," Tester said.

To take advantage of these resources, families do not have to live on a base or even near an Air Force installation.

"There are many families who may have moved closer to relatives during the military member's deployment or live in a town without a base," she said. "We are still here for them and able to help. We even extend that help to relatives who may be taking care of a deployed airman's children."

Tester said that they often work with their counterparts at other Air Force bases and sister service installations to help these families.

"Here in the National Capital Region we work with the other services to put our families in touch with others in their area who are experiencing the same thing, or help them get information on resources and social gatherings on these other installations," she said.

Although Tester and other center staff members may not be able to answer every question, she said they will do everything they can to direct families to those who can.

"We're here to help with any problems that may arise, including legal or financial concerns or even how to place a morale call or send a video e-mail to the deployed family member," she said.

According to Tester, regardless of the type of deployment or tour, families should not hesitate to call for help.

"We've even assisted families whose military member deployed stateside," she said. "Although it may be easier for families to stay in contact with the (stateside) deployed airmen, they shouldn't hesitate to seek help because they still are coping with the (absence) of an important member of the family."

As the number and frequency of deployments increase throughout the Air Force, family support centers have begun taking a proactive approach.

"We provide more support to the units today," Tester said. "We work with the unit deployment managers to pass out information to the deploying troops and schedule them for pre-deployment briefings."

Deploying airmen are encouraged to bring their families with them to these briefings, but that is not always easy with job or child-care commitments, she said.

"But we're still here for them," she said. "All they have to do is pick up the phone and ask for help."

Other resources such as the Air Force Crossroads Web site can help families keep in touch through Global Internet Mail. The site provides a spouses' forum to ask questions or discuss concerns.

GI Mail is a secure means to allow military members from all services and their families to communicate with each other through e-mail. Account registration and use of GI Mail is available to users from any computer with Internet access. Air Force Crossroads verifies eligibility with the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. Once validated, the account's user-ID and password can be used to access the system from anywhere in the world.