Base agencies prepare Airmen physically, emotionally for deployment

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  (Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories on deployment preparation and support services available at Hanscom for deploying servicemembers and their families.)

Across the Air Force, a record number of Airmen are currently assigned to Air Force and Army "in lieu of" deployed positions in support of the Global War on Terror. As deployed opportunities continue to increase, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and other Hanscom agencies are committed to preparing deploying military members and their families for successful missions.

"Over the years, as the dynamics of the Air Force have changed, deployment support has become a primary focus," said Master Sgt. Donald Gonsalves, Airman and Family Readiness Center Family Readiness coordinator.

"We're becoming more warrior-oriented, like the other branches of the service, and putting the fire to the fight. Since the Air Force is involved in the GWOT, we're in it to win it with everyone else," he said. "In doing so, we want to make sure that the other pieces of the puzzle are in place. If we're going to send a person into harm's way, we're going to train and equip that servicemember and take care of their family so they can perform the mission and know their family will be all right."

The A&FRC offers a pre-deployment briefing, which reviews the military requirements associated with deployments and the resources available to help servicemembers and their families prepare emotionally and physically for the upcoming duty separation.

"We tell them what to expect when they're getting ready to leave," Sergeant Gonsalves said. "We go over all the emotional parts of it and let them know that the things they're feeling are normal and try to help prepare them. For [servicemembers] who've never been deployed before, there are a lot of questions. 'The unknown' is the thing they fear the most, so we try to quell that fear and give them some tools, helpful hints and ideas to implement prior to heading out."

Spouses are also welcome to attend the A&FRC briefings. "If the servicemember is married, we highly encourage spouses to come to the briefings," said Sergeant Gonsalves. "It's better if a spouse can get the information first hand, so it doesn't get lost in translation."

The pre-deployment briefings detail what services are available at the center, as well as tips regarding other base agencies' checklist items and support services. In addition to knowing what to expect, it's important for deploying servicemembers to complete the required steps to protect their family while they are gone, the sergeant said.

Some agencies offering additional pre-deployment briefings and services include the 66th Medical Group, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Electronic Systems Center Legal Office and 66th Air Base Wing Finance Office.

In addition to receiving general information, deploying servicemembers can contact the legal office for help with powers of attorney and wills. The finance office offers help with financial planning, Travel Pay and myPay.

Servicemembers required to have a Family Care Plan should consult with their first sergeant. While it is required for readiness purposes to always have an updated Family Care Plan on file, it is especially vital for deploying servicemembers to make sure the documented short-term and long-term care plans in place for their dependents will remain current throughout the duration of the deployment.

"We want people to have a plan and be mission-ready," said Senior Master Sgt. Raul Ruiz, 66th Mission Support Squadron first sergeant. "Servicemembers should be able to deploy with very little notice, and ensuring that family members will be cared for during an absence is critical for an individual's readiness, peace of mind and successful mission accomplishment."

While preparing emotionally and completing deployment checklist requirements can seem daunting, the key to successful preparation is planning ahead, Sergeant Gonsalves said.

"Getting the checklist items completed sooner is always better than later. Once those are out of the way, the servicemember can begin strategizing ways to ease the separation from loved ones and begin setting up ways to communicate with them," he said.

For more information on deployment preparation and support call the A&FRC at (781) 377-4222.