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Family readiness center earns DOD award - again

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Timm Huffman
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  When Tech. Sgt. Horace Robinson and his family moved from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to Westover ARB in June 2010, their lives fit in the back of a moving van.

The Robinsons knew nothing about western Massachusetts, but the Westover Airman and Family Readiness Center here was ready to help the 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sergeant and his family.

The Robinsons borrowed household goods, including a toaster and coffee pot, from the Airman's Attic until their own goods arrived six weeks later.

The A&FRC also gave the Robinsons the information they needed to get into base housing.

"They were fantastic, knowledgeable, even concerned," said Sergeant Robinson. "Without them, my move would have been 50 percent more difficult."

The Robinsons' story highlights the type of service that earned the 439th Airman and Family Readiness Center the 2010 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award.

Andrea Bowen, center director, cited the hard work of her dedicated staff as the primary reason for winning the award for the second time in three years.

"I'm really proud of the staff here," she said. "Master Sgt. Kimberly Babin, and Tech. Sgts. Rebecca Duvall, Christine Hatfield, Michael Hyde, Aluin Morales and Charles Woodward are the reasons we were named the best in Air Force Reserve Command."

Ms. Bowen said her staff's hard work on the Key Spouse Program and Yellow Ribbon Program was recognized by the award.

During the 2010 activation of Airmen, the center staff made 100 percent contact with the families of deployed reservists. The staff also ensured every deploying reservist received pre- and post deployment briefings on benefits and services available to them.

Sergeant Duvall, who was activated along with Sergeant Woodward during the 2010 mobilization, said she would often come into the center early and stay late to make sure the base's Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors got the services they needed.

She recalled one time when she received a late-night call from a Westover chaplain asking to help a deployed member's spouse resolve a housing issue. She took quick action to resolve the issue.

"Even though we are busy and it's a constant go, I enjoy doing this, so it doesn't feel so much like a job," Sergeant Duvall said. "It's definitely a team award. Even though Sergeant Woodward and I were activated, everyone pitched in. If we were in a pinch, we could always call one of the others and they would help out."

"This award is well deserved and couldn't have happened to a better group of people," said Sergeant Robinson.