Air Force officials enhance community support information

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stan Parker
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  As Air Force officials continue to modernize information sharing to meet 21st century mission requirements, manpower and personnel force development officials have taken a look at the official community Web site of the Air Force to increase its effectiveness.

Transition is under way of the Air Force Crossroads Web site, but officials want to ensure Airmen and their families realize this important capability will continue to exist, Air Force officials said.

Effective Dec. 1, the Web site will transition to an Air Force hosted portal www.usafservices.com. USAFServices.com will offer official community information, secure Spouse Forums, and social networking applications. Additionally, Department of Defense Web portals, Military One Source and Military Home Front, will continue to provide valuable information and referral resources and social networking communities to Air Force families.

Military One Source (www.militaryonesource.com) and Military HOMEFRONT (www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil) are Web sites for official military community and family program information, policy, and guidance designed to help Airmen and their families, leaders, and service providers.

Air Force Crossroads' most popular features were GI Mail, an e-mail messaging system and the Spouse Forum, a real-time discussion board where Air Force spouses offer peer support.

GI Mail will cease to exist because of the growing concerns regarding network security and unauthorized access. However, the Spouse Forum will resume Dec. 1, offering a secure Air Force environment for spouses to help spouses.

A new feature of USAFservices.com will be the social networking area, My Journal, under the "Share" tab. This feature will allow Air Force users to invite friends, join groups, and post photo albums. Like commercial sites, users will be able to restrict access allowing only those known to them to view their information and post messages.

Senior leaders have designated July 2009 through July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family, but their commitment to long-term to care and attention to Airmen and their families remains a top priority. Airmen and Family Support is one of the four pillars on which YOAFF is built, including Health and Wellness, Education, Development and Employment and Airman and Family Housing.