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    Fleet and Family Support Services in Djibouti

    Fleet and Family Support Services in Djibouti

    Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jared Walker | CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Fleet and Family Support Center Intercultural Relations...... read more read more

    CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI

    05.17.2018

    Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Walker and Lt. Desiree Woodman

    Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti

    CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Deployments can create unique challenges for service members and their families. To enable the joint warfighters deployed in the Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier provides programs and resources available through the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC).

    “Fleet and Family supports individuals and group counseling though many different ways,” said Molly Lytton, Camp Lemonnier Fleet and Family Support Center Director. “There are [Sexual Assault Prevention Readiness] services, consultations and programs for commands, and classes provided throughout the week.”

    Traditional FFSCs provides services such as relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling services, financial management counseling, family employment services, family advocacy and the transition assistance programs. FFSC Djibouti’s services are tailored to support both civilian and military personnel of all branches.

    The center holds tailored classes twice a week that focus on effective communication, building self-esteem, conflict resolution, anger management, and stress reduction.

    To assist with better communication skills with the local residents, French and cultural awareness classes are taught twice a week by Malaiko Kayad, the Fleet and Family Support Center Intercultural Relations Educator.

    Other courses available from FFSC are given through the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Maria Caceres. The courses include the victim advocate program, the resident advisor training, and the sexual assault response coordinator point-of-contact training.

    “We educate the commands. We show them the trends that take place on base and the resolutions to those problems as well. There are prevention methods as well,” said Caceres.

    Caceres stated that Fleet and Family Support Center and its services are mandated by Congress. While Congress says they have to be present, they happen to be a very valuable resource for bases to have.

    One prevention method to teach is the sexual assault prevention courses. The course is a 40-hour sexual assault prevention response (SAPR) advocate program, which is taught monthly to service members and civilians on the installation.

    “I took this course because I wanted to get more training on being officially and professionally ready for victims of sexual assault, especially because I am a hospital corpsman and work in [the Expeditionary Medical Facility],” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Elizabeth Jimenez. “So having this professional training helped me.”

    Fleet and Family Support implements self-resilience programs that strengthen the military family, support mission readiness, and facilitate a strong community network of services through community outreach and partnerships. FFSC takes pride in supporting Navy warriors and joint warfighters by enabling maximum mission readiness of tenant commands and providing the very best in customer service.

    “We support mission readiness by [helping service members] keep stress down in the operation stress control matrix [through] services that help with deployment matters, concerns back home, or even with matters within the commands,” said Lytton. “To promote mission readiness is to make sure everyone is good to go, focused, and ready to make this the best deployment ever.”

    Fleet and Family Support Center is always available for those at Camp Lemonnier that need its services, regardless of branch of service or military affiliation.

    “It is important that everyone receives free, confidential services here at Fleet and Family,” said Lytton. “The door is always open. Over 90 percent of the people that we take care of are walk-ins. Please stop by, talk to us and let us help you.”

    “They are knowledgeable on the different resources and programs that we should be using more often, said Jimenez. “The people at Fleet and Family are always there willing to help.”

    Camp Lemonnier is one of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, installations that conducts six lines of operation to support air operations, port operations, safety, security, quality of life, and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases operating.

    Camp Lemonnier’s mission includes enabling joint warfighters operating forward and to reinforce the U.S. – Djibouti relationship by providing exceptional services and facilities for the tenant commands, transient U.S. assets and service members.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.17.2018
    Date Posted: 05.17.2018 08:17
    Story ID: 277317
    Location: CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ

    Web Views: 384
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN