Just as a ship performs Fleet & Family services for the crew as one of its lines of operation, Navy Region EURAFSWA installations perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet, joint, and allied forces. The eight lines of operation are: air operations, port operations, safety, security, housing, MWR, Fleet and Family Services, and the core: the fuels, water, and power for the bases. Through our lines of operation, Region EURAFSWA’s installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units.
Two of these critical lines of operations, Fleet and Family Services and MWR, account for personnel matters, which enable seamless operations in the EURAFSWA theater.
“We’re really everywhere,” said Edward J. Cannon, regional director, Fleet and Family Readiness. “Whether it’s on the web or on the base, you can find something to do. Right from the beginning, even before you show up at an installation, you can sign up by contacting your local family services center, your housing welcome center, or your local MWR [Morale, Welfare & Recreation] department.”
FFR offers a vast range of community programs to enhance the quality of life for Sailors, DoD Civilians, and their families. The program is designed to develop collaborative partnerships with all our program areas including: Fleet & Family Support Programs (FFSP), Child & Youth Programs (CYP), Galleys, MWR, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) and Housing.
Region's programs are divided into three parts: Fleet Readiness, Family Readiness, and Housing.
Fleet Readiness includes MWR, which offers recreational activities and facilities that include: outdoor recreation, auto hobby shops, theaters, Information, Tours & Travel, fitness centers, intramural and varsity level sports, aquatics, special events and entertainment, liberty centers, and libraries.
Fleet & Family Support Centers (FFSC) and Child & Youth Programs (CYP) make up the Family Readiness part. FFSC’s provide information and referral services, education and training, classes, and clinical counseling for programs such as Personal Financial Management (PFM), Transition Assistance Program (TAP), Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP), Intercultural Relations, Deployment & Readiness, Relocation Assistance Program (RAP), and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).
FFR also provides assistance to service members, civilians, and their families transitioning to commands overseas, such as intercultural relations and area orientation briefs. “These are programs that service members initially participate in when reporting to their new duty station OCONUS [outside the continental United States],” said Noreen Burke, region program director of Fleet & Family Support. “It gives them an overview of everything that there is to offer. It provides that cultural aspect of adapting to an overseas environment to really help them be successful.”
CYP’s provide educational and recreational programs for children and youths. Teams of professionals plan developmentally appropriate programs for children, whether in Child Development Centers, Child Development Homes, School Age Care program or Youth Centers.
“Youth soccer is our most popular sport,” said Cannon. “We have over 700 children each season, using that service, out there having a great time with our volunteer coaches. At any one time, we have 3,000 children participating in multiple youth programs, in sports, summer camp programs, arts and crafts, or in before- and after-school programs.”
The Housing Department includes Family and Bachelor Housing, Housing Welcome Centers, and NGIS. The Housing Welcome Centers give the support needed to find quality residences, on and off base. The staff assists service members and their families in home searches, showing tours, provides translation services for housing issues, helps with a bilingual lease, and provides support during your tour of duty. NGIS provides visitor lodging at each installation.
“Being overseas, especially, we have so many opportunities, so many quality programs that are all out there for you,” said Cannon. “Yes, sometimes it can seem almost daunting to get out and about. Just talk to your neighbors, find out what trips they’ve gone on. Don’t sit around your house or barracks waiting for something to happen. Go make it happen.”
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2017 07:43 |
| Story ID: | 220757 |
| Location: | NAPLES, IT |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, EURAFSWA’s Fleet and Family program strengthens operations through people, by PO2 Joseph Bishop, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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