JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –U.S. service members often rely on their families for support, but families may also need assistance. To ensure members of the military community get the help they need, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and Army Community Service are ready to assist at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
The AFRC and ACS aim to ensure the well-being of the military community. Service members and their families can take advantage of the programs offered through the AFRC and ACS to better balance their personal and professional lives while adjusting to the demands of the military. They are available for all active duty Service members, families, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and retirees.
“Deployments and temporary duty requirements result in family separations that put a strain on single parents, families and individuals,” said Dawn Teagle, 633rd Force Support Squadron AFRC chief. “[The AFRC] aims to help with family, personal and other issues.”
Charles Harris, 733rd Force Support Division ACS acting director, agrees ACS programs are aimed at helping Service members balance their personal and professional lives.
“The programs are free and are designed to meet Service members’ and their families’ needs,” said Harris. “ACS assists commanders in maintaining the readiness of individuals, families and communities by developing, coordinating and delivering services that promote self-reliance, resiliency and stability."
To help maintain a positive relationship while in the military, both centers provide family assistance before, during and after deployments. They also offer information, education, relocation and consultant services.
“We have a wide contingency of programs available to support any point of a Service member’s career,” said Teagle. “I encourage anyone who hasn’t had an opportunity to interface with us, to get to know us.”
Harris assures Service members the AFRC and ACS are available to assist them.
“Our goal is to provide [Service members] and their families a quality of life commensurate to their service to the nation."
The AFRC and ACS are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the AFRC at 764-3990 and the ACS at 878-3638.
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The AFRC and ACS offer some of the following services:
-Exceptional Family Member Program: The EFMP works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, as well as housing, educational, medical, personnel services, systems navigation and respite care services, to families with special needs.
-Relocation Readiness Program or Relocation Assistance program: This program offers assistance with all aspects of incoming and outgoing moves.
-Financial Readiness Program: This program provides educational and counseling programs for personal financial readiness. The program covers indebtedness, money management, credit and financial planning.