Air Force Families Forever (AFFF) is a long-term aftercare program established to provide proactive outreach to family members who have lost a loved one that was, at the time of death, serving on Active Duty in the United States Air Force. The program’s objective is to provide resources, support and information to help survivors adapt to life without their loved one.

This program can provide services such as referrals for private and group counseling, sources for support in the local community, national support networks, AF Family Support Network and newsletters, books and literature to help with coping and bereavement, resources for pastoral care, help with Veteran’s benefits, and answer questions about entitlements.

The A&FRC provides spouses who have been affiliated with the Air Force for less than five years information about the Air Force and Base mission. Spouses learn about military customs and traditions, base helping agencies and resources designed to assist them in their new role as military family members.

A&FRC provides warriors and their families assistance in transition, employment, relocation, financial, as well as a variety of other areas of need. Ensures one-on-one pre-separation counseling, a self-paced Transition: Goals, Plans, Success Workshop (TGPS) option, and Capstone are accomplished for all Warrior & Survivor Care program participants. The A&FRC ensures a veterans benefits briefing, a disabled-transition assistance program counseling, and claim for disability compensation is provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Casualty Affairs provides prompt, accurate reporting to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) through command channels and Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), timely, humane notification to next of kin (NOK) and thorough, compassionate assistance to Airmen and their family members.

The Survivor Benefit Program is briefed to all members retiring from the Air Force. This is a Government program which makes it possible for retiring members to ensure that after their death, their eligible survivors receive a portion of their military retired pay in the form of a monthly annuity.

The A&FRC provides and maintains computers with internet connectivity, telephone, Fax machine, scanner, copier, printer and informational material on service areas offered through the A&FRC. Reference materials are available for checkout.

The A&FRC activates the EFAC upon direction from the Installation Commander. The EFAC serves as the focal point for victim and family assistance services after a natural disaster or manmade incident. The primary mission of the EFAC is to be a one-stop shop to integrate services that address the practical and emotional needs of families of potential DoD casualties and personnel affected by a disaster. EFAC Hotline (activated after emergency): (877) 571-7209.

The A&FRC provides information and assistance to enhance marketability, job search skills, and employment opportunities. The program maintains partnership with the Department of Labor to stay current with local labor market information. A&FRC counselors assist clients with establishing career goals and assessing career objectives by offering classes. Along with group classes, clients also have the opportunity for one-on-one appointments to develop personalized career and employment opportunities. Further, we offer multiple job fairs throughout the year.

The A&FRC offers employment related classes such as:

Resume Readiness: This class will teach the tools necessary to create a resume that will get you to the interview for your desired job!

The Art of Interviewing: The do’s and don’ts of interviewing are introduced, along with the types of interviews and interview stages. Learn how to dress the part to make a great first impression and how to answer various types of questions.

Federal Employment: Interested in Federal Civil Service Employment? Learn about the different procedures for researching and applying for positions with all agencies as well as developing a federal resume.

Getting Started with LinkedIn: Learn the value of creating a professional social media profile to get noticed by hiring managers and connect to industries of choice.

The Air Force is committed to providing consistent, quality support to military special needs family members while striving to promote self-sufficiency and resiliency in the EFMP arena. EFMP is offered by all branches of the military and offers several support functions. EFMP-FS is the community support function provided by A&FRCs to enhance the quality of life of special needs members of DoD military, DoD civilians, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, retirees and spouses of deployed members.

EFMP-FS staff at the A&FRC assist families and leadership in managing the competing demands of the military mission by providing services such as:

Information and Referral, One-on-One Consultations

Advocacy and Empowerment

On and Off-Base Resources

Education and Support

Relocation Assistance

Family Activities

Respite Care Options (Short-term child care to help reduce family’s stress)

These services assist individuals and families identify and clarify needs, determine appropriate forms of assistance and provide linkage to resources. The A&FRC maintains list of base and community programs and services to meet Airmen and family needs to include marriage and family needs, crisis intervention, childcare needs, employment, and spouse education. The A&FRC publicizes services, activities, and events via the A&FRC monthly calendar, Hurlburt A&FRC Facebook page, Hearts Apart, EFMP, and Key Spouse Facebook groups, Force Support website (www.myhurlburt.com), Commanders’ Calls, First Sergeants’ meetings, Key Spouses’ meetings, unit liaison contacts, and the Integrated Delivery System (IDS).

The Key Spouse Program is an official Air Force unit family readiness program designed to enhance mission readiness and resilience and establish a sense of community. The Key Spouse Program is a commander’s initiative that promotes partnerships with unit leadership, families, Key Spouses, Key Spouse Mentors, the Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC), and other on-and-off base helping agencies.

The A&FRC is responsible for providing:

Program information to Commanders, Command Chief Master Sergeants, and CCFs on the KSP

Schedule new and reappointed KS/KSM to attend KSP initial, mentor, refresher and continuing education trainings

Conduct quarterly KSP Initial Training, Mentor Training and Refresher Training and offers continuing education opportunities

Provide training certificate to KS/KSM upon completion of initial trainings

Maintain a current roster of trained KS/KSMs (For Official Use Only)

Provide information and referral resources to KS/KSMs

The A&FRC is ready to assist and educate military families during times of mobilization, deployments, remote assignments, and local natural emergencies. Services across the four phases of the deployment cycle (pre-deployment, deployment, re-deployment and post-deployment) are provided for single and married Airmen and their families.

Pre-deployment briefings and consultations prepare members and families for their pending separation and help them get their personal affairs in order.

Deployment/Sustainment services address the needs of the families during the separation with the Hearts Apart program. This program offers monthly events for families of the deployed to connect, free childcare, free oil change and vehicle safety check and materials for the spouse and children to better understand the deployment cycle and prepare for the return of their loved one.

Re-deployment/Reintegration briefings are offered to Airmen returning from the Area of Responsibility (AOR) as well as to families and co-workers of the re-deployers to smooth the transition back into the community.

Post-deployment follow-up services focus on the well-being of reconnecting members, their families and their units.

The P&WL program promotes community wellness and assists with the readiness and resiliency of the force across the life cycle. The A&FRC provides consultation and assistance to base leadership to address individual and family concerns. The program provides active duty military, retirees, guard and reservists, DoD civilians and family members a range of prevention and enrichment services designed to strengthen their resiliency in dealing with the demands of military life. Focus is on promoting, enriching and improving work/home balance, resulting in increased quality of life and resiliency.

Programs & Services:
Relationship Education and Coaching
Skills building designed to enhance work/life competencies for individuals, couples, and families
Consultations, assessments and educational services for squadrons, units and groups

Coordination and Planning of special events:
Onsite Classes and Courses
Family Resiliency Days and Events
Onsite Couples Events

Classes, Trainings, and Groups:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Active Communication
Emotional Intelligence
Coping with Stress in a Relationship
Strengthening your Relationships
Setting Yourself up for Success
Time Management
The Entitlement Cure
Money and Relationships
The Deployment Emotional Roller Coaster
Grief and Loss
Pre-Marital Assessments & Coaching
Couple Talk
Blended Families
Active Relationships
Family Wellness
Divorce
Adventures in Marriage
Scream-Free Parenting
How to Avoid Falling For a Jerk/kette
Resiliency

Assessments:
4 Lenses (personality temperament)
True Colors (personality temperament)
Prepare/Enrich
5 Love Languages
5 Appreciations of the Workplace

Experiential learning helps organizations build high-performance teams through hands-on activities that are fun and interactive. We consult with the organization to determine the long-term plans and desired outcomes wanted for the team and create a set of activities that helps get results.

Snap Shot of Services:
Communication
Team Building
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Leadership Development
Professional Development
Building Trust in Teams
Conflict Resolution

The A&FRC assists active duty members, retirees and civilians as well as their families in the development of a financial plan that addresses consumer education and awareness, savings information, credit and debt management, credit score review and rebuilding, as well as retirement planning. In addition, a robust education plan that includes savings, investing, home buying/selling, credit score, etc. is available to ensure financial readiness to all DoD cardholders and their families. One-on-one financial counseling is offered with one of our accredited/certified financial counselors as well as group seminars and classes.

PFR Seminars, Briefings and Workshops:
Debt Management
Credit Reports/Scores Management
Thrift Savings Plan Briefings (TSP)
Home Buying & Selling
Blended Retirement System (BRS)
Finances for Transitioning Members
Identity Theft Protection
Car Buying Strategies
Consumer Awareness
Relationships and Money
Money Personalities
How to Survive the Holidays Financially
Gambling Awareness
Military Pay Issues
Money & the Move
Paying for College
Raising Financially Fit Kids
Your Insurance Needs
Renting Considerations
Family Financial Planning
Retirement Planning

The Relocation Assistance Program minimizes the stress associated with a permanent change of station, separation or retirement. Services provide information relevant to the areas where individuals (military, dependents and DoD civilians) will be relocating through classes, one-on-one counseling or via online services. Some of the programs and services provided by the relocation assistance programs are:

Newcomer’s Orientation: Bi-weekly briefing for all newcomers to Hurlburt Field. Managed by the A&FRC, involves multiple base agencies, mandatory briefers and 1 SOW Commander’s mission briefing. Spouses are encouraged to attend.

Sponsor Training Class: Designed to provide sponsors with the tools for effective sponsorship of other Airmen and families. Provided monthly at the A&FRC and can be taught in the squadron if requested.

Plan My Move Class: Tips and Tools for families and Airmen PCS'ing CONUS (Stateside to Stateside) or OCONUS (Overseas). This class is mandatory for everyone with less than four years of service and/or first PCS CONUS, OCONUS or Remote.

INTRO Monitor Class: Prepares those assigned as unit INTRO monitors to manage the unit’s sponsorship program. Training provided on sponsorship, relocation resources and the Defense Installation Messaging System (DIMS).

Welcome Spouse: Allows spouses new to Hurlburt Field the opportunity to make new friends, become familiar with Hurlburt Field, find out about programs and services available to them and ask as many questions as they’d like! Base tour and lunch provided. Free childcare upon request of services.

Child Care for PCS: The Air Force Aid Society will pay up to 20 hours of child care, per child for AD families arriving or departing – referrals provided at the A&FRC.

Online Relocation tools: Worldwide relocation information on major military and associate installations for use by service men and women, DoD civilians and their families during permanent change of station moves.

Military OneSource - www.Militaryonesource.com
Military Installations - www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil

A&FRC is the focal point for transition assistance activities at the base level. Transition assistance is provided to ensure a smooth transition from the Air Force to the civilian community. Members can expect to be assigned to a transition counselor who can assist them through the entire process.

Step 1: Pre-Separation Counseling, E-form 2648: Briefing ensures all separating service members are informed of the transition services and benefits available to assist them with the transition to civilian life. Recommended 1 year from separation and 2 years from retirement. Briefings held each Thursday.

Step 2: Transition Goals Plans Success (TGPS) Workshop and VA Benefits Briefing I & II: DoD Military Occupational Crosswalk, Finances and Resiliency, Department of Labor Employment Workshop (Note: Some exemptions apply to this mandate), Veterans Affairs Benefits Briefings I & II.

Step 3: Capstone: Completion of Career Readiness Standards with a transition counselor and signed by member’s Commander or First Sergeant.
Optional 2 Day Tracks:
Accessing Higher Education: Service members pursuing college education will receive guidance to prepare for the college application process.

Career Exploration and Planning: Service members pursuing further technical training will receive guidance and help in selecting schools and technical fields.

Entrepreneurship “Boots to Business”: Airmen pursuing self-employment in the private or non-profit sector will learn about the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the benefits and realities of entrepreneurship, and the steps toward owning a business.

Spouse Transition and Readiness Workshop (STAR): This class is designed to provide information and resources to spouses of active duty members transitioning from the military. A spouse panel shares personal experiences with the transition process and the information fair provides agency-specific materials.

Veteran’s Services Offered Benefits Delivery At Discharge (BDD) : Disability Claim Process

Member must be 90 - 180 days from separation or retirement to start this process

Member must obtain copy of medical records prior to appointment

Medical records may be reviewed by a representative from the Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs or a representative from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Submit claim to the VA

Complete medical examination with VA contracted doctors

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program The VR&E program assists eligible Service members and Veterans with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other assistance may be provided to help Veterans start their own business or independent living services for those with a severe disability and unable to work in a traditional employment setting. Service members and Veterans with a disability rating of 20% or more may be eligible for this program. For more information, contact local VR&E representative.

Volunteerism affords ID card holders the opportunity to participate on Hurlburt Field and in the surrounding community with agencies/organizations seeking volunteer assistance. The VRP is a clearinghouse to coordinate the volunteer efforts at Hurlburt Field by serving as an information source, a placement service, and as part of a referral network. The program is managed by a Volunteer Coordinator (VC) who is appointed to encourage and promote volunteer participation by providing a central source of information on volunteer opportunities in the community.

The VC assists candidates from Hurlburt Field and the surrounding areas in identifying opportunities tailored to meet their desired volunteer experience. The VC’s ultimate goal is to make a volunteer’s experience as rewarding, enjoyable, and easy as possible. Become a Community Commando Volunteer, contact the Hurlburt Field VC to enroll in the VRP.

For members volunteering on Base, the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) may reimburse child care costs. Whether you are seeking professional job experience or a chance to help others, volunteering will provide the chance to document hours earned and to gain work experience for inclusion on your next job application or resume.

The Hurlburt Field Voting Assistance Program is here to help active duty members and their immediate family members of voting age exercise their right to vote! We can assist with registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot and notifying local election officials back home of a change of address. We have several other resources to assist voting before and after a change in assignment, a deployment and a separation or retirement. For more information on absentee voting, visit www.fvap.gov or contact the Installation Voting Assistance Program at (850) 884-5441.