JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
When a U.S. Service member deploys, family members may feel as though they lost their connection to people and activities on base. To combat this, Joint Base Langley-Eustis provides programs and services for the families of deployed members so they remain involved in the military community.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dawn Chapman, 633rd Force Support Squadron Readiness noncommissioned officer, believes it is essential to keep in touch with deployed Service members' families.
"It is important to keep up with family members so they know they have a support system," said Chapman. "The feeling of having someone to reach out to is much better than feeling alone."
To make sure the families do not feel alone, squadron personnel should reach out to families to check on them when their spouse, parent or loved one is deployed. Key Spouses play a role in communicating with families. The Airman and Family Readiness Center Readiness team also contacts the spouses via email if military members provide their information.
Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis have a variety of classes and activities families of deployed Service members can partake in. For details about the following programs, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 764-3990 or 764-3994 and the Army Community Service at 878-3638.
- Monthly deployed newsletter, a newsletter provided to families of deployed military members full of information and resources.
- Monthly Hearts Apart events, for families of deployed members, or members on in an unaccompanied short tour.
- Give Parents a Break, five hours of free childcare for Active Duty Air Force families feeling stress due to deployments, remote assignments, temporary duty , caring for a child with special needs or an emergency situation.
- Car Care Because We Care, a free oil change and inspection of the family vehicle for those gone more than 30 days at the Langley Auto Skills Hobby Shop.
- Army Community Service programs, which assist deploying troops with a variety of services from information on play groups, coping with stress during the deployment cycle, establishing family finances, and providing extensive resources to assist Service members and their families during the deployment cycle and reintegration.
- The Fort Eustis Mobilization Deployment Program, which provides training/briefings for all Service members and their families to prepare them with survival techniques and resources during the deployment cycle.
- The Fort Eustis Mobilization Deployment Specialist program, which provides workshops for children of deploying Service members.
Information and referral services, Career Focus programs, financial management classes, Air Force Aid, Relocation assistance, Exceptional Family Member assistance and volunteer resources are also available for families from the A & FRC and the ACS.
Other agencies that have programs for deployed Service members' families include:
- School Liaison Offices, Langley - 225-1885 and Fort Eustis - 878-3514
- Behavioral Health Flights, Langley - 764-6840 and Fort Eustis - 314-7558
- Langley Health and Wellness Center, 764-6321
- Legal Offices, Langley - 764-3277 and Fort Eustis - 878-3031
- Chapels, Langley - 764-7876 and Fort Eustis - 878-1316, 1317, or 2202
- Military OneSource, http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
- Military Family Life Counselors - 755-5511
Chapman encouraged families to participate in the activities and services provided for them.
"Programs are there to help family members be able to sustain the household when the member is deployed," Chapman added. "It is important for them to know that they have a support system in place at JBLE."