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AFH 1 · Chapter 11 · Section 11.3

Military and Family Readiness Center

Part of Communication · 4 sections · ~2049 words · WAPS PFE study material

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Military and Family Readiness Center — Foundation, Personal/Work Life, CKSP

M&FRC Mission

M&FRC Mission
Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) support services are designed to assist commanders in assessing and supporting the welfare of the military and building a strong sense of community and support within the USAF.

What M&FRC Supports

M&FRC Supports Mission Readiness
The M&FRC supports mission readiness by helping Airmen and their families adapt to the challenges and demands of:
  • Expeditionary operations
  • The military lifestyle

Coordination Activities

M&FRC Coordination
M&FRCs coordinate with unit leadership to:
  • Assess unit strengths, resources, and concerns
  • Identify issues and trends that affect community readiness and personal preparedness
  • Work with a wide range of civilian and military agencies

Support Provided

M&FRC Support
M&FRCs provide support for:
  • Work/life issues
  • Community readiness
  • Resilience
  • Personal preparedness

Personal and Work Life Program

Personal/Work Life Program
The Personal and Work Life Program promotes community wellness and assists with the readiness and resiliency of the force.

Three Service Categories

Three Service Categories
Services include:
  • Intervention
  • Prevention/enrichment consultation
  • Skill building education designed to enhance work-life competencies for individuals, couples, and families

Focus Areas

Personal/Work Life Focus
Focus is on promotion, enrichment, and improvement of the balance between work and home to increase quality of life and resilience.

Commander's Key Support Program (CKSP)

CKSP Definition
The CKSP is an official unit family readiness program designed to:
  • Enhance readiness
  • Establish a sense of community

Partnerships

CKSP Partnerships
This Commander's program promotes partnerships with:
  • The unit
  • The M&FRC
  • Community agencies

M&FRC — TAP, Volunteer Resources, MFLC, EFMP, AFFF

Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP Foundation
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is congressionally mandated and executed by the M&FRC to provide Service members with the knowledge and skills to:
  • Make informed decisions
  • Be competitive in a global workforce
  • Be positive contributors to their community as they transition and reintegrate into civilian life

TAP Components Required

TAP Components Required
TAP has multiple components which must be completed prior to separation, retirement, or release from active duty.

Initial Counseling Timeline

365 Days Initial Counseling
Individualized Initial Counseling and Pre-separation Counseling are both required to be completed No Later Than (NLT) 365 days prior to separation, retirement, or release from active duty.

Core Curriculum

TAP Core Curriculum
Core Curriculum includes:
  • DoD Day
  • Department of Labor Employment Fundamentals of Career Training
  • Veterans Affairs Benefits and Services workshops

One 2-Day Track

One 2-Day Track
At least one 2-day track from the following options:
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Vocational
  • Entrepreneurship

Capstone Timing

90-Day Capstone
Capstone NLT 90 days prior to separation, retirement, or release from active duty which includes:
  • Verification of transition plan
  • Applicable required Career Readiness Standard deliverables

Volunteer Resources

Volunteer Resources Program
The Volunteer Resources Program collaborates with other base agencies for the purpose of referring Airmen, Guardians, spouses, and other family members for volunteer opportunities.

Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award (VEA)

VEA = CSAF-Level
Through this program, volunteers may be recognized by the Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award (VEA), a Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) level award.

What VEA Recognizes

VEA Recognition
The VEA is a commander's program to recognize volunteer contributions in the:
  • Local civilian community
  • Military family community

Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC)

MFLC Program
The Department of Defense-contracted Military Family Life Counselor Program provides Airmen and their dependents with confidential assistance for:
  • Non-medical
  • Short-term
  • Solution-focused counseling and briefings

…that augment counseling services provided by other agencies.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

EFMP Definition
The Exceptional Family Member Program provides coordination of family support services on and off the installation to exceptional family members who have:

- Physical, developmental, emotional, or intellectual impairments or disabilities

Three Components

EFMP Three Components
Three components of support:
  1. Medical
  2. Assignments
  3. Family

Air Force Families Forever (AFFF)

AFFF Mission
Air Force Families Forever facilitates long-term case management procedures and provides support for surviving family members of deceased:
  • Regular Air Force
  • U.S. Space Force
  • Air Reserve Component
  • Airmen and Guardians

Eligibility

AFFF Eligibility
Eligible deaths occurred while in:
  • Active Duty
  • Inactive Duty for Training
  • Annual Training status

…and whose relationship was established prior to the Airman/Guardian's death.

M&FRC — Voting, Deployment, Employment, Financial, Education, Relocation

Voting Assistance Program

Voting Assistance Program
The Voting Assistance Program ensures service members and their families understand their right to vote via absentee ballot.

M&FRC Operates

M&FRC Operates IVAO
M&FRC staff operate the Installation Voter Assistance Office and serve as Voting Assistance Officers, responsible for providing accurate nonpartisan voting information and assistance.

Reference

Voting Reference
More information about the Voting Assistance Program can be found in DAFI 36-3107, *Voting Assistance Program*.

Deployment Briefings

30-Day Mandatory Briefings
Personnel and family readiness pre-deployment briefings are mandatory for individuals with a firm deployment tasking of 30 or more days.

What Briefings Cover

Deployment Briefing Coverage
The briefings educate Airmen, Guardians, and their families on:
  • All phases of deployment
  • Critical aspects of reunion and reintegration

Spouses Welcome

Spouses Encouraged
Spouses are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics Included

Briefing Topics
The briefings include information on:
  • Preparing for deployment
  • Sustainment, support, and services for family members including extended family
  • Mandatory reintegration briefings and continuing services
  • Handling combat stressors

Employment Assistance

Employment Assistance
Employment assistance supports Airmen and their families in achieving:
  • Short-term employment
  • Long-term employment
  • Referral for education and training
  • Development of career goals

Resources Provided

Employment Resources
Through:
  • Employment skills counseling
  • Skills development workshops

…to prepare customers for careers in the private and public sectors.

Additional Resources

Additional Employment Resources
They also offer resources for:
  • Self-employment
  • Information on small business and entrepreneurial opportunities
  • Links to alternatives to paid employment, such as volunteerism and education

Personal Financial Readiness Services

Personal Financial Readiness
Personal financial readiness is an M&FRC program that offers:
  • Information
  • Education
  • Personal financial counseling

…to help individuals and families maintain financial stability and reach their financial goals.

Mandatory Training

Mandatory Financial Training
Mandatory financial readiness training is offered through the M&FRC by certified financial counselors.

Topics Covered

Financial Topics
In addition to mandatory training, Airmen and Guardians and their families can also learn financial basics such as:
  • Budgeting
  • Credit
  • Large purchases
  • State or country liability laws
  • Local fraudulent business practices

Free of Charge

Free Service
Personal financial readiness services are free.

Military Child Education

School Liaison Officers
Civilian and military school liaison officers partner to provide:
  • Information
  • Referrals
  • Resources
  • Advocacy

…for the educational needs of military-connected students.

Two-Way Education

Two-Way Education Function
Assisting:
  • Airmen and families regarding local school districts and other educational options
  • Educating school personnel on the unique issues impacting military children

Relocation Assistance

Relocation Assistance
Relocation assistance provides pre-departure and post-arrival services, allowing members to make informed decisions and preparations for their moves.

Referral Categories

Relocation Referrals
Referrals will include, but are not limited to:
  • Temporary housing services
  • Government or private home finding services
  • Child care
  • Medically-related services
  • Spouse employment assistance
  • Cultural and community orientation
  • Schooling
  • Legal assistance
  • Personal property shipment
  • Information on educational and volunteer opportunities

M&FRC — Crisis, Casualty, RED, SOES, Emergency, Legal

Crisis Support

Crisis Support
Crisis support provides immediate, short-term information and referral to appropriate agencies or services to assist individuals and families facing crisis situations with support to the community before, during, and after:
  • Disaster
  • Crisis
  • Evacuation situations

Casualty Assistance

CAR Definition

CAR Role
Casualty Assistance Representatives (CAR) and survivor benefit plan counselors provide assistance and counseling on benefits offered by a wide variety of programs from:
  • Department of the Air Force
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Social Security Administration
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • State and local agencies

When Casualty Occurs

Casualty Notification
When a casualty occurs, the USAF will promptly notify the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) and other named beneficiaries as appropriate based on a member's casualty status, in a dignified, professional, and timely manner.

CAR Appointment Triggers

CAR Appointment Triggers
In cases where the military member is:
  • Declared deceased
  • Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN), OR
  • Missing

…the USAF appoints a CAR to advise and assist the PNOK and beneficiaries.

Critical 12-Hour Window

12-Hour Notification
The CAR assists to meet very important timelines, such as delivering notifications within 12 hours of a casualty.

RED Importance

RED Importance
When an Airman's Record of Emergency Data (RED) is current and has up-to-date information, NOK and beneficiaries receive timely notifications.
Annual Verification
The RED and SOES are critically important for each Airman to understand, review, verify, and certify that they are up-to-date:
  • At least once a year, OR
  • When a beneficiary's information changes

Emergency Data (DD Form 93)

DD Form 93 / vRED
Record of emergency data (RED) is maintained initially on the DD Form 93 and ultimately input into the virtual record of emergency data (vRED) via vMPF.

What vRED Enables

vRED Function
The vRED enables Airmen to list those they wish to be notified should they become:
  • Ill
  • Injured
  • Wounded
  • Missing
  • Deceased

Beneficiary Designations

vRED Beneficiaries
Additionally, Airmen determine beneficiaries of:
  • Death Gratuity
  • Arrears of Pay

…and designate the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) of their remains.

Update Triggers

vRED Update Triggers
Service members are responsible for entering information, reviewing/submitting annually, or updating their vRED when there are life-changing events such as:
  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Births
  • Before deployments
  • TDYs more than 30 days
  • PCS

PADD Note

PADD Doesn't Need to Be Related
There is no requirement for the PADD to be related to the deceased, however, the person you select to be the PADD should be aware of your wishes and understand they will be required to make decisions about what to do with your remains after death (embalming, funeral services, cremation, burial).

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Online Enrollment System (SOES)

SOES Definition
SOES is an enterprise solution developed by:
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Veteran Benefits Administration

What SOES Centralizes

SOES Centralizes
SOES is a self-service based data system that centralizes:
  • Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
  • Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

information into one authoritative system.

Coverage Maximums

SGLI/FSGLI Maximums.
  • SGLI provides up to $500,000 in life insurance coverage
  • FSGLI provides up to $100,000 for the spouse
  • FSGLI provides up to $10,000 for dependent children

24/7 Access

24/7/365 Access
SOES enables Airmen to make automated SGLI and FSGLI coverage/beneficiary elections 24/7/365.

Emergency Assistance

EFAC When Directed
When directed by the installation commander, emergency assistance will be provided through the Emergency Family Assistance Center.

What EFAC Provides

EFAC Function
Emergency assistance provides continuous, authoritative, family assistance and services for:
  • Servicemembers
  • Families
  • Service providers
  • Leadership
  • Other stakeholders

…which address the practical and emotional needs of families arising from the incident.

Legal Services

Legal Services Provider
Legal services are NOT performed by or within M&FRCs. This is performed by the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on the installation.

What Legal Provides

Legal Office Function
Legal offices provide legal assistance in connection with personal civil legal matters to support and sustain command effectiveness and readiness.

Availability Conditional

Legal Availability Limits
The ability to offer legal assistance is contingent upon:
  • The availability of legal staff resources
  • Regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force

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