Travis Life: Taking care of exceptional families

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – With more than 650 service members enrolled, the Exceptional Family Member Program at Travis Air Force Base, California, is one of the largest in the Air Force.

“We often have families with multiple dependents that qualify for the program,” said Kevin Hamilton, 60th Force Support Squadron EFMP family support coordinator.

An exceptional family member is a family member, regardless of age, who requires medical services for a chronic condition or receives ongoing medical care and treatment.

“My favorite part about the program includes the events that bring EFMP families together,” said Staff Sgt. Dorothy Burns, 60th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement electronic laboratory scheduler and EFMP family member. “We form a community together, share stories and are comforted to know that we aren’t going through this alone. Although each individual child is different, we can empathize with other families in our situation because we at least have an idea of what other families are going through.”

As the second largest program in Air Mobility Command, building a community of family support is crucial.

“It is really important to get the families networking and get them talking to each other, especially the families with significant needs, to make sure they don’t feel alone,” said Hamilton. “We do family nights that are informal and chill. We work with outdoor recreation to have a rock wall climbing night, and we bring outside organizations on to the base, such as the National Kidney Foundation, to provide additional information to the families. We also have seasonal activities such as pool parties.”

EFMP is comprised of three components that work together to support military members and their families: EFMP Medical, EFMP Assignments and EFMP Family Support.

“We call it the three-legged stool,” said Hamilton. “EFMP has medical, which makes sure families are enrolled, disenrolled and get travel clearances for (permanent changes of station). The assignments section coordinates the proper assignment to make sure families get to a base that has the resources to take care of the specialized need of the family and then family support, which is information and referral.”

Hamilton has dedicated his career to helping Airmen stateside as well as overseas.

 “I have worked in various functions of family support for 10 years,” said Hamilton. “I started my career at Travis in 2008, travelled to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and Aviano Air Base, Italy, where I was an Air Force Aid officer and a financial counselor for a couple years. It is really nice being back in the special needs realm since that is really where my heart is.”

You can see the passion Hamilton has for the program through the activities he helps coordinate for a variety of needs, abilities and ages.

“We had our first sensory-sensitive movie at the base theater recently,” he said. “The idea is to have the lights up and the sound down to make sure that children with sensory sensitivities can still enjoy a night out at the movies.

“Another newer addition is the LEGO® STEM camp, which was very successful,” he continued. “We are also looking to begin providing equine therapy, or horse therapy, in the near future.”

The family support position provides variation in his day-to-day schedule as well.

“There is never a dull moment,” he said. “I am going on four years at Travis and each day is different. There can be two families who both have dependents with Autism, but the needs of each family are completely different. I am always kept on my toes, which I love.”

Christian Mendoza, 60th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer, shares the same love for taking care of Airmen and their families.

“I cover the special education portion,” he said. “It is my job to make sure the families are placed in the appropriate education program for their need, help them enroll in the programs as well as inform them about the differences in the education system from state to state.”

EFMP identifies medical and educational service requirements of family members in support of active-duty sponsor reassignment and civilian employment overseas.

“You have to take care of the families for the mission to be accomplished,” said Mendoza. “If the Airman is worried about their family, they won’t be able to focus on the mission.”

Hamilton wants to ensure EFMP families are aware that he is available to help.

“Even if you do not have family members impacted by special needs, but you know someone who does, send them to me,” he said. “Information is definitely power. Know that I am here.”

For more information, please visit the Travis EFMP Family Support Facebook page or call Kevin Hamilton at 707-424-4342.