Family liaison officers help shoulder burdens

  • Published
  • By Laura Dorey
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  For some Airmen, going above and beyond is their call of duty.

The Family Liaison Officer Program, or FLO, was designed to help the families of Airmen who have died or been injured.

FLO Airmen, all of them senior NCOs or commissioned officers, assist families with everything from the small stuff -- carrying groceries, mowing the lawn, taking the kids to soccer practice, to the bigger concerns -- helping them get insurance, arranging financial matters or even handling funeral services.

“FLOs help so a family isn’t overwhelmed with so many things at one time,” said John Beckett, the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program manager. “They help shoulder burdens so families can focus on taking care of their loved ones and not worry about other things that come up.”

This past year, one FLO helped an Airman’s family travel from New Orleans to Washington, D.C., so they could visit their son in the hospital. When Hurricane Katrina hit, the FLO helped the family locate relatives, helped them find temporary housing in the Washington area and helped them get in contact with Federal Emergency Management Agency to see what kind of aid was eligible to them, Mr. Beckett said.

To improve FLO instruction, family members and wounded troops have begun visiting training schools to give feedback on their experiences so the program can be further refined.

Although the Air Force has always helped the families of killed and injured Airmen, the first official FLO helped families after an aircraft crash in Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, in 1999. In 2004, the program expanded to provide an officer to those who were wounded and their families.

In true "service before self" fashion, a FLO’s role can last from a few months to more than a year. These responsibilities are done in addition to an Airman’s typical duties. And although they may not be experts in every issue a family may encounter during a tragedy, FLOs are familiar enough with the Air Force and their particular base to get them the answers they need.

“Overwhelmingly, Air Force commanders are in great support of the program,” Mr. Beckett said. “FLOs make me proud to be part of the Air Force because of what they do.”