Year of the AF Family identifies needs

  • Published
  • By Ann Patton
  • Academy Spirit Staff
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, have named July 2009 to July 2010 the "Year of the Air Force Family."

Plans are in place to highlight both the services in place and to examine needs which may not be presently identified. Col. Sandy Adams, Air Force Services Agency commander, was at the Academy Tuesday to meet with active duty and civilian representatives for round-table discussions on issues surrounding Air Force families.

"This is not a new program," Colonel Adams said of the annual event. "We're taking a year to look at what is being done for Air Force families." Targets for discussion include those considered members of the Air Force family--active duty, National Guard and Reserve, family members, retirees, parents, civilians and contractors, as well as the Colorado Springs community as a whole.

She pointed out family concerns have been changing, especially since the Air Force has been involved in a state of conflict for 20 years, thus raising the operations tempo.

"The sense of community of the Air Force is not what it used to be," she said and added the Air Force is examining health and wellness, family support and housing, education development and employment as pillars for discussion.

The round-table discussions at the Falcon Club involved four groups, first single Airmen, then lower enlisted members, higher enlisted members and officers.

Colonel Adams opened discussions by polling the groups as per their communications avenues, housing arrangements, deployments and family members.

Issues covered a variety of topics, from wireless connections during deployments to the need to give incentives to Airmen to become involved in on-base activities, commissary and base exchange usage and housing privatization topics.

Under discussion was the lack of an on-base movie theater and the closed outdoor swimming pool at the Falcon Club, plus base activities aimed at teenagers, support for parents of children with special needs and disparities in basic housing allowances.

Also at issue is the presence of aging parents in homes of Air Force members.

"I think that's going to be a growing issue," Colonel Adams said.

She asked those attending if the decision to separate from the Air Force might be in their near future, stressing it is strictly a personal decision.

The sheer expanse of Academy grounds was discussed as an issue itself in terms of personal vehicle availability and travel time to various locations for meals and leisure activities.

One idea put forth was a form of Airman social network whereby Airmen could share interests, such as golf.

It was pointed out those assigned to the Academy are frequently tasked to provide support for special events outside normal working hours, such as graduation, basic cadet training, Commandant's Challenge and sports events. There was general agreement, however, that those involved readily come together and make such events happen successfully.

Edward Gavagan, director of the Airman & Family Resource Center, pointed out his agency stands by to assist families and is involved with pre-deployment operations when Airmen may express any needs family members may have during deployments. He stressed, however, individual Airmen need to take the initiative to inform the AFRC of those needs.

Colonel Adams is one of six representatives from Air Force Services Agency traveling Air Force-wide to receive input on family-related issues this year.