Deployment briefings important for spouses

  • Published
  • By Maj. Belinda Petersen
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  When your spouse is deployed, it is inevitable that your car will break down, your house will spring a leak and everyone in the household will come down with a rare illness.

The good news is there is help, no matter what the situation. And the best place to start is the Airman and Family Readiness Center at your base.

The A&FRC staff offers deployment briefings, a mandatory briefing for all Airmen deploying. While the briefing is useful for deploying Airmen, it is also geared for spouses.

"The briefing is loaded with information on programs such as car care, 'give parents a break,' counseling services, reverse morale calls and phone cards, waiting families group, legal assistance, computer services and care packages, all of which are free," said Tech. Sgt. Susan Flores, noncommissioned officer in charge of readiness at the A&FRC here.

"Attending the deployment briefing is beneficial because it gives spouses the opportunity to hear about programs first hand and meet other spouses who are in the same boat," she said.

During the deployment briefing, spouses are introduced to a Military and Family Life Consultant who is a masters- or Ph.D.-level licensed clinical counselor. Consultants provide short-term counseling services to military members and families.

Consultants give their personal telephone number to the attendees at the briefing. At anytime, including during an Airman's deployment, spouses can call the consultant if they need to talk with someone.

Consultants can meet on or off base. It is completely confidential and records are not even maintained. For further privacy, consultants rotate between bases every six weeks.

Another program geared solely to spouses is the Waiting Families Group. It is an opportunity for families and loved ones to network and exchange ideas with other spouses and families. The Waiting Families Group normally meets once a month and focuses on a fun theme.

"We just hosted a Spa Night for the spouses, gave away lots of prizes, had a professional massage therapist for the spouses and provided free child care for the kids," Sergeant Flores said.

"I love helping out with Spa Night because it is so much fun. Someone did this for me and I want to give back to all the wonderful spouses here," said Rosie Valdez, a key spouse at Randolph AFB.

"Spa night was a success," said Gina Garcia, spouse of Maj. David Garcia from the 559th Flying Training Squadron.  "It's a great way for spouses who have a loved one deployed to find out about the special programs offered here at Randolph AFB. I was also impressed with the generosity of sponsors. They are very supportive of our Airmen. I highly recommend spouses to participate."

With the assistance of sponsors, key spouses, the chaplain and base leaders along with representatives from legal, the health and wellness center, family advocacy, education office and other organizations, it is a team effort with A&FRC to provide resources and assistance to families who need it the most.

"When the deploying Airmen fill out the required paperwork at the deployment briefing, they need to provide an e-mail for their spouse and give us permission to contact them," Sergeant Flores said. "E-mail is our primary way of contacting the spouses on all the programs available for them."

Last year, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley designated July 2009 to July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family, a year-long focus on Air Force programs highlighting the importance of and commitment to the entire Air Force family.

"Taking care of families is a solemn promise we make to each Airman and family member," said Secretary Donley during his remarks to the Air Force Sergeants Association in August. All Airmen should have the confidence that they can rely on their fellow wingmen and the Air Force to help care for their families when they are deployed.

For more information on deployment briefings and the programs and assistance offered to spouses, visit your local A&FRC.