You're ready for war; is your family?

  • Published
  • By Col. Nancy Brooks
  • 349th Mission Support Group commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the surge in Afghanistan, every member of Team Travis is involved in the war this year, here or downrange, one way or another. Your awesome performance in the Operational Readiness Inspection last year showed everyone you are up to the task. But you still have to ask yourself if you've provided your family with the tools it needs to thrive while you're fighting the war.

Our families are our lifeblood and without their support, we could not do what we do. Our lives, as Airmen, get pretty basic when we deploy: work hard, hit the dining facility and the gym, sleep, then wake up and do it again. We leave the task of running a household to our family for the duration of our deployment. Whether that tour is a two-week channel mission or a year in the desert, our absence is felt on the home front. But you can help reduce the discomfort.

Our Family Readiness office stresses the importance of setting your family up for success prior to your departure. Think of Murphy's Law in reverse: plan for the worst and hope for the best! That means before you leave, talking to family about finances, relationships, child rearing decisions, missed special events and how you will maintain contact with them.

Because the Reserve components have unique requirements, the Department of Defense has established an additional set of programs for the needs of our Citizen Airmen and Soldiers. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program provides National Guard and Reserve members and their families with information, services, referrals and proactive outreach opportunities throughout the deployment cycle.

For those serving on active duty, your Airman and Family Readiness Center has the same breadth of services and programs to support you and yours throughout your deployment. In addition, your commander periodically hosts the Welcome Home Warrior program for all deployers who have returned home in the last 30 days. These events include food, fun, camaraderie and most importantly, provide the rest of Team Travis an opportunity to say "thank you."

Lately, we've put a lot of emphasis on reunion and reintegration. Coming home may sound easy, but depending on the circumstances of your deployment, this can be the most stressful time. The family has lived without you, you'll feel the change. It may be subtle or blatantly obvious, but there will be change. Bringing you home, reuniting you with your family, reintegrating you back into your pre-deployment life - if life isn't a bowl of cherries -- that's your cue to take advantage of the resources Travis offers. These include Military One Source, the Veterans Administration, military and family life consultants and the chaplains.

Each month, we're improving and expanding our support of Air Force families. Please take a little time and look into the options. Even if everything is fine at home, you might be surprised by the Air Force programs that can make life better for you and your loved ones.