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Niagara pre-deployment seminar focuses on families

  • Published
  • 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 for more than 100 deploying Airmen and their families during the Unit Training Assembly here Nov. 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. 

The goal is to bring the Yellow Ribbon event to them, said 2nd Lt. Keisha Dobney-Boykin, 914th Airlift Wing Yellow Ribbon representative. During the two-day event, Airmen learned about entitlements and what is available for their families in the member's absence.

In addition to briefings, different organizations set up information booths in the Community Activity Center, including 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 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 was on the Key Family Member Program. Airman and Family Readiness uses volunteers to contact families of deployed troops. Volunteers are military, military spouses and base civilian who call the families 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."

"This is going to be a culture change for the base," said  Dobney-Boykin. "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."