Supporting the home front

Published Nov. 6, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- The 914th Airlift Wing held a pre-deployment seminar here for more than 100 deploying Airmen and their families, during the Unit Training Assembly November 2-3.

The members were supplied with information about various military-tailored resources available to their families while the Airmen are deployed.

While the wing tries to send as many Airmen to their command funded Yellow Ribbon programs around the country, sometimes the member simply cannot make it to one, said Meg Calero, 914th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness director.

As the members cannot make it to the Yellow Ribbon event, the whole goal of today is to bring the event to them, said 2nd Lt. Keisha Dobney Boykin, 914th Airlift Wing Yellow Ribbon representative. At this event, a majority of what the Airmen learned was what their entitlements are and what is available back stateside for their families to use in the member's absence.

The Airman and Family Readiness section merged aspects of the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Family Readiness deployment support services into a two-day event for the troops, Calero said.

In addition to briefings, different organizations came onto the base and set up information booths in the Community Activity Center for the members to view during lunch time.

Information booth displays involved organizations such as the American Red Cross, Compeer of Greater Buffalo, the Vet Center, Military One Source, Military Life Consultant, HeartsApart.org, OPERATION COM, as well as mental health providers.

"There are so many resources out there to help members, and their families...so it's really important that the member and the family knows about them," said Calero. "During deployments, the member is gone and focused on their mission, but whoever is left behind at home is not informed about the resources available because [perhaps] the Airmen didn't pass along the information to them-- that is something the unit support services want to change."

"We can get them squared away with emergency financial services, counseling, home repair and all sorts of unique issues," said Calero. "We also want to reassure the Airman that we are here for your family while you are away and we want whoever is handling their Airman's affairs while they are gone to be equipped to do so."

"This is the first event of its kind here," said Calero. "We're going to continue to do it and hope that it takes off."

One of the briefings the Airmen received was on the Key Family Member Program. Airman and Family Readiness utilize the program to make contact with families of deployed troops. This program runs on volunteers from the wing: military, military spouses, and base civilians call the families of deployed members once a month, just to talk and see if the family is in need of a service the military offers, said Calero. We're always looking for volunteers for this program.

Airmen and Family Readiness have planned several future events which are slated to bring spouses and children onto the base to keep them a part of base activities and the support resources that are available to dependents, said Dobney Boykin.

"This is going to be a culture change for the base," she said. "This is something that (the Airmen) are going to see on a regular basis. We want (spouses and children) to be engaged, know the support is here, and know that they are a part of this base."

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