Heart Beat of the Base: The A&FRC is there for you

Photo By Staff Sgt. Omari Bernard | Pots and pans are ready to be used inside a loan locker loaner kit Sept. 28, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Airman and Family readiness center has dishes and cooking utensils readily available for service members and their families who have recently arrived to the island and are awaiting their household goods or for those who are leaving the island and have already sent their household items to their next location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Omari Bernard)  

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.28.2016

Story by Senior Airman Omari Bernard 

18th Wing

The Airman and Family Readiness Center promotes self-sufficiency, enhances mission readiness, retention, and adaptation to the Air Force way of life for military personnel, Department of Defense civilians and their families.

“We take care of them in all aspects, their sense of community, environment, morale and cultural awareness,” said Emie Cox, A&FRC supervisory team lead.

According to Cox, the A&FRC offers a wide variety of programs designed to make military life and readiness easier and manageable, whether transitioning into the base during a permanent change of station or separating from the military and transitioning back into civilian life.

“Our programs cover almost everything,” Cox said. “If they’re in need of emergency financial assistance, we are there. We want to be able to find help for them. For example, if they are moving in and they need child care, they can get that here at the A&FRC.”

Programs like the loan locker, where people may borrow appliances and dishes while they are waiting for their household goods or to PCS, are also available for all service members, DoD civilians and their families transitioning into or out of their homes.

“We also have volunteer programs and employment opportunities for dependents,” Cox said. “We network with other agencies and companies and then help them with their resumes and teach how to be successful in their interviews.”

“We feel like we are the heartbeat of the base,” said Tech. Sgt. Quantesh Bailey, 18th Force Support Squadron A&FRC NCO in charge. “We take care of the military members, ensuring their readiness, so they can focus more on the mission.”

The A&FRC is a one-stop-shop where Airmen can come in and seek assistance, she continued.

A large aspect of the readiness center is ensuring service members, families and all personnel who frequently use the center and its services are ready – financially or mentally.

By providing these services the A&FRC cares for both single service members and those with dependents. Whether, it’s for emergency operations or resume writing, the A&FRC provides support to ensure that DoD employees and their families are ready for the anything.

A&FRC offers many programs and more:
• Air Force Aid Society
• Air Force Wounded Warrior Program
• Career services
• Casualty and survivor benefit plan assistance
• Cultural awareness
• Emergency family assistance center operations
• Exceptional Family Member Program
• Family life education
• Financial management
• Okinawa Area Emergency Evacuation Plan Training
• Personal and family readiness
• Relocation assistance
• Transition assistance
• Volunteer resources

For more information visit Kadena’s A&FRC website at http://www.kadenafss.com/family/airman-family-readiness-center/

• Date Taken: 09.28.2016
• Date Posted: 09.29.2016 02:29
• Story ID: 210893
• Location: KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP