A&FRC offers reuniting families post-deployment reintegration assistance, information

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Each member of a military family can have mixed emotions when welcoming home a deployed loved one. In addition to the excitement surrounding a reunion, the anticipation and expectations accompanying such an event can also cause feelings of anxiety. The Airman and Family Readiness Center has developed briefings and programs to assist servicemembers and their families as they adjust to life after deployment.

Welcome back bags
Families can obtain a welcome back bag from the A&FRC. The bags contain movie tickets, restaurant gift certificates, candy and popcorn that can be used for a night of rest, relaxation and family fun.

Reunion briefing
While servicemembers are required to attend a personal readiness unit reunion briefing within 48 hours of their return, the A&FRC offers reunion briefings for spouses and children as early as two months before their servicemember returns.

The spouses' briefing consists of interactive workshops where participants receive suggestions for coping with the complexities of the reunion and readjustments ahead. The children's session includes reunion activities, music and creating a gift for the returning parent, said Hillary Dewitt, A&FRC Work Life consultant.

The A&FRC also provides spouses and children with Homefront Heroes Medals to thank them for their support and their sacrifice, Ms. Dewitt said.

Reintegration briefing
While attending the personal readiness unit reunion briefing, servicemembers will schedule a private reintegration briefing with Master Sgt. Donald Gonsalves, A&FRC Family Readiness coordinator.

The reintegration briefing is a one-on-one follow-up to, and must be completed between 70 and 95 days after, the reunion briefing, Ms. Dewitt said.

"The purpose of the reintegration briefing is to see how the servicemember is coping after a few months of being back at home. It allows the individual time to process their experience while providing an opportunity to reflect upon and identify any outstanding concerns that may have surfaced from the deployment," she said.

Other services
If an individual becomes concerned about his or her own, or a loved one's emotional, spiritual or physical well-being as a result of the deployment and separation or difficulty reintegrating, the A&FRC can offer information on how to get help.

The A&FRC can give servicemembers, spouses, family members, civilians and contractors information regarding free, anonymous and short-term counseling with the Military Family Life consultant assigned to Hanscom. MFLC's do not keep records and frequently rotate to other bases, further assuring clients' privacy.

The A&FRC can also offer information on another program, Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment. SAVE is run through the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, and focuses on suicide prevention, mental health awareness and community advocacy.

Another program, Military OneSource, offers 24-hour consultation services via phone or email on a wide variety of subjects, including deployment and reintegration. For more information, go to www.militaryonesource.com.

For more information on these or other programs call the A&FRC at (781) 377-4222.

(Editor's note: This is the final story in a series on deployment preparation and support services available at Hanscom for deploying servicemembers and their families.)