Readiness Resources for Airmen and Families
By Ms. Tiffany L. Tolbert, Staff Writer
A servicemember’s life, including that of an Airman, involves a great deal of sacrifice. Military service embodies physical training, periods away from loved ones and friends, and the constant strength and valor for facing unsafe situations. Conversely, transitioning to civilian life can pose significant challenges for many veterans.
Family members of Airmen often provide a first line of support. From helping through their parents’ deployment and helping with chores (e.g., cutting grass or ironing clothes) to remaining positive and appreciative (e.g., saying “thank you”) and sending care packages (e.g., letters from home), their role is invaluable. Recognizing the sacrifice of both parties, the Air Force provides supportive resources, including Military and Family Readiness programs.
Military and Family Readiness is a comprehensive network of programs operated by the U.S. Department of War (DoW) alongside other federal, state, and community-based agencies and organizations. This network supports every servicemember and family member via in-person and online services that help enhance military readiness and strengthen family support.
The range of programs that Military and Family Readiness operates includes:
- Air Force Families Forever: Provides support to surviving family members of deceased Airmen.
- Commander’s Key Support Program: Enhances readiness and establishes community engagement.
- Crisis Support: Delivers support programs and services, including emergency family assistance, to promote recovery following incidents like evacuations or natural disasters.
- Deployment Support: Ensures the needs of Airmen, Guardians, civilians, and their families are identified and addressed through all phases of a deployment.
- Employment Resources: Supports servicemembers, recovering servicemembers, military spouses and dependents, retired members, and DoW civilians in achieving short- and long-term employment, education, and career goals.
- Financial Readiness: Provides foundational support at the beginning of an Airman’s career to develop financial acumen across their service continuum.
- Personal and Work Life: Increases the quality of life and resilience for military members and their families via everyday living skills, coping skills, time management, and more.
- Relocation Assistance: Eases the stress of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves through counseling, sponsorship training, and relocation education.
- Retiree Services: Coordinates Retiree Appreciation Day events and assists retirees with healthcare, financial referrals, pay matters, and more.
- Transition Assistance Program: Provides information, tools, and training to ensure servicemembers and their spouses are prepared for civilian life.
- Voting Assistance Program: Ensures that Airmen, Guardians, eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their voting rights and that they can successfully participate in elections.
Additional family support services offered include the Department of the Air Force Child and Youth Programs (assists military and civilian personnel in balancing the competing demands of the mission and family life by catering programs and services for eligible children and youth from birth through 18 years of age), the Military OneSource PCS and Military Moves program (connects service members and their families to everything they need to master PCS moves), Expanded Military Parental Leave Program (builds on DoW’s support of military families by streamlining and enhancing parental leave), and more.
Robins Air Force Base (AFB), located in Warner Robins, GA, exemplifies the Military and Family Readiness System’s commitment to supporting military families. In the first half of 2025, the 78th Force Support Squadron sponsored the Military Spouse Training Initiative, which provided free training in CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ programming, preparing spouses for entry-level Information Technology Specialist positions at Robins AFB and a pathway to employment.
Other programs offered at Robins AFB include:
- Pre-Separation Counseling: Provides servicemembers with services, resources, and programs for assistance during and after their transition to civilian life.
- Key Leaders Orientation: Familiarizes newly assigned Commanders, Chiefs, First Sergeants, and civilian equivalents with Robins AFB resources and responsibilities.
- Bundles for Babies: Offers expecting parents information on labor, delivery, newborn care, infant dental care, financial planning, stress management, and more.
- Boots for Business: Helps participants explore business ownership and self-employment opportunities.
Military life demands resilience, strength, and an unwavering commitment from servicemembers and their families. In turn, the Air Force’s Military and Family Readiness network drives services to ensure that Airmen and their families succeed both during and after their service. By leveraging such resources, Airmen and their families can face challenges head-on with confidence and focus on what matters the most: supporting one another in the future fight. To locate a nearby Military and Family Readiness Center, visit https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/view-all.