By Senior Airman Kaylee Clark
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Whether it is the first deployment or the fifth deployment your family is enduring, being separated from your spouse or loved one is no easy task.
The Airman and Family Readiness Center at Little Rock Air Force Base. tries to alleviate some of the hardship and difficulties by offering the following deployment classes and assistance programs to families of deployed service members:
The Hearts Apart program provides loved ones an opportunity to communicate via phone to deployed members at his/her location with DSN capability & accessibility: Dial the base switchboard at (501) 987-1110 and follow automated prompts.
Web Cams are available for checkout to loved ones in the local Little Rock AFB area.
Give Parents a Break is an Air Force Aid Society sponsored program. This program provides free child care once a month at the Child Development Center for families during separation due to deployment or remote tours. Vouchers and schedules are available at the A&FRC.
Car Care because We Care is an Air Force Aid Society sponsored program. This program provides a free oil change and general service check on one vehicle during deployment or twice during a remote tour. This program is for spouses only.
The Family Child Care program provides free child care through the Family Child Care office. Families can utilize child care during all phases of deployment: Pre-deployment, deployment, and returning home child care. Each phase will have 16 hours per child to use. Contact FCC at (501) 987-3156.
Military and Family Life Consultant is available to provide non-clinical, short-based confidential counseling services for military members and their families, to include children. These services can be provided both on and off base. Call (501) 366-7703 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Spouses pre-deployment briefs and reintegration/reunion support services are available for members and their families, to help with coping and eliminating some of the stresses commonly faced before, during and after deployment.
Hero Pillow Cases are available to help children cope with the separation of mom or dad. Email a picture of the deployed member to kimberly.euton@us.af.mil and the photo will be put on a pillowcase for your children to cuddle at night.
“The connection you make while you are there, having someone to talk to that is going through the same situation is good therapy,” said Master Sgt. Kimberly Euton, the Airman and Family Readiness Center noncommisioned officer in charge of readiness. “Network connections such as ‘hey I need help with someone watching my kids while I grocery shop’ things like that are a real blessing.”
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