An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Personal and Family Readiness Program

  • Published
  • By Shirley Bratton
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman Readiness Center
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  What is Readiness? Readiness is the ability to deploy and employ without delay and is fundamental to the successful accomplishment of the Air Force mission. Deployments and remote assignments are parts of military life for which service members and families need to prepare. Your ARC has a variety of information and resources to include briefings, classes, publications, and outreach services to ensure readiness and enhance quality of life. The Readiness Program provides information so deploying individuals can ensure a valid plan for the care of loved ones is established during their absence. 

Now that I'm here how can I stay connected to my friends and family back home?

Services available on base 

Morale Call Program: Use your two 15 minute phone calls per week to contact your family and friends. Carry a notebook and write things down that you want to share with your family, spouse, or friends. 

Video Telephone Service: Why not talk to your loved ones and see them at the same time. See the folks at the Learning resource center for more details or call them at 437-8507. 

Video Recording Room: Stop by the Learning Resource Center and record a special message to your loved one, or maybe read a story to your children and send it home. 

Write a Letter: They are free to send from this location-and they give your loved one something to read again and again. Don't know where to find writing material. Stop by Jacks next to the Chapel and pick up some free writing materials. 

Send Packages: Be creative. Send little love notes, small souvenirs from downtown, pieces of your daily life, etc...the key issue is to send something! 

Surprise Gifts: Have flowers sent or have a local neighbor buy your loved one's favorite candy or snack and have them deliver it from you. 

Take Pictures: Take pictures of your life. A picture speaks more than a thousand words. Take pictures of "I Love You" in shaving cream, sand, etc. 

Scavenger Hunt: Send your kids on a scavenger hunt and have them send you their treasures.

How can my family stay connected with me? 

Have your loved ones stop the Airman and Family Readiness Center (AFRC) at homestation. Services available at Homestation 

Morale Call Program: Ensure your family members are signed up for morale calls. After enrollment, the AFRC provides calling information to the base operators and calls are made from YOUR home. 

Video Phone Systems: Allow family members to see and talk with deployed the deployed member. Phone systems are available at most AFRC location. Contact your homestation AFRC to schedule a video phone call. 

Hearts Apart: A monthly program for spouses and children that are geographically separated from their sponsors by TDY, Remote PCS, or deployment. The program allows the families to come together for a free dinner to talk with other spouses who have a family member away from home and children's deployment activities. 

Key Spouse Outreach Program: A partnership between squadrons and the AFRC designed to maximize support to families. Key spouses are volunteers appointed by participating squadron commanders. All key spouses are trained by the AFRC to inform, refer, and support families in accessing base resources and/or leadership.

Additionally, have your loved ones find out what unique programs your local AFRC has to offer. 

Readiness is the first step in making the Air Force an effective fighting force. The AFRC plays a role ensuring every Airman and family member is ready to accomplish the mission.