HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Hanscom Air Force Base has a new flight chief directing the Airman and Family Readiness Center.
Bethany Campbell is a Colorado native who has been in the Air Force for 13 years in various leadership positions within the Airman and Family Readiness program. In this new position, she oversees the everyday management of A&FRC program managers and readiness specialists, whose mission is ensuring the Hanscom community has the knowledge and information it needs for personal life management.
“One of the primary purposes of the A&FRC is to provide assistance to our customers in coping with major life events,” said Campbell.
The servicing area of the Hanscom A&FRC encompasses all of New England, serving active duty airmen, guardsmen, reservists, retirees, Department of Defense civilians, and their families.
“Currently, we’re offering virtual services to assist customers while our building is physically closed due to COVID-19,” she said. “We’re doing online classes and setting up appointments via Zoom, Teams, or Skype.”
Campbell said the best way to sign up for A&FRC classes or to make an appointment is to send a message to their organizational email box at 66.fss.fsfr.cmb@us.af.mil.
“We check it every day, several times a day,” she said.
The A&FRC provides many programs and assistance. The Relocation Assistance program helps married and single military members prepare for relocation to a new base or adjust upon arrival. The Transition Program helps service members leaving the military with the skills to find employment, including all the services available to veterans. They are also the point of contact for casualty and survivor benefits and for deploying active duty members.
“We also help with personal financial readiness, such as providing financial assistance for emergencies through Air Force Aid,” said Campbell. “Or teaching how to balance a budget and looking at investing options. Now, we’re not financial advisors, so we’re not going to tell you where to put your money, but what we can do is help you gain the knowledge you need to invest wisely on your own.”
Voting assistance is available for anyone who needs to either register to vote or make sure that they’re getting an absentee ballot if they are registered in another state.
“And we have the Exceptional Family Member program, which is for family members with special needs,” said Campbell. “Special needs doesn’t necessarily mean a disability, it can be something as simple as someone who suffers from allergies or asthma.”
The program works in conjunction with the EFMP-Medical branch to make sure participants get their medical needs taken care off.
Campbell says her passion is to assist Air Force members, Air Force civilian employees, and their families however she can. She began her career at Peterson AFB, Colo., where she served as the Relocation, Volunteer, and Personnel and Work Life manager. Before coming to Hanscom, she was the Transition and Finance manager and staff team lead at RAF Lakenheath in the U.K.
“If people have questions or need information they can email us and our staff will reach out to them,” said Campbell. “We have an amazing team here at the Hanscom A&FRC and I can’t say enough about them. I have no doubt that if anyone needs any assistance, we will absolutely get it taken care of.”
For a full list of available programs and information, visit the A&FRC website at: https://www.hanscomfss.com/airman-family-readiness.