Spouses can benefit greatly from deployment briefings

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  There are a lot of uncertainties spouses may face when they learn their active-duty loved one is going to deploy.

The good news is there is help, no matter what the concerns or situations might be, and the best place to start is with the Airman and Family Readiness Center. Military members are required to attend a deployment briefing the staff there provides, and spouses are welcome to attend. However, these briefings are sometimes limited by time constraints and don't offer much of a chance to ask questions.

To offset that, special deployment information briefings are held once a month - the third Thursday of every month - specifically for spouses.

"The briefing provides a wealth of information on programs such as car care, give parents a break, counseling services, reverse morale calls and phone cards, legal assistance, and care packages, all of which are free," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Hansen, noncommissioned officer in charge of readiness at the A&FRC. "It also gives the spouses a chance to meet the face behind the name that is sending out e-mails and newsletters, and introduce myself as their 'go-to' person."

During the mandatory military deployment briefing, members are asked to provide an e-mail address for their spouse and give permission for the readiness NCO to contact them, as this is the primary means of providing spouses information.

The spouses briefing also affords them the chance to meet other spouses in the same situation they are in.

"This is a great way for them to get together and ask those questions freely and openly that they might not feel comfortable asking in front of their military spouse for one reason or another," Sergeant Hansen said. "There is no such thing as a dumb question. We want them to have all the knowledge they need to be successful while their spouse is deployed."

During the briefing, the spouses are also introduced to a Military and Family Life Consultant who is a masters or Ph.D. level licensed clinical counselor when they are available. Consultants provide short-term counseling services to military members and families. If a counselor is not available, Sergeant Hansen briefs the services extensively on their behalf.

Last year, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley designated July 2009 to July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family, a year-long focus on Air Force program highlighting the importance of and commitment to the entire Air Force family.

Special programs, such as the Family Fun Night in the fall, aim to focus on the Year of the Air Force Family, but are also created as an outlet for deployed spouses and their families to relax. Many recurring events happen each month which can be found on www.341fss.com.

"I am working on a new program at the moment called 'Bring the Spring,' Sergeant Hansen said. "Watch for more details as I get the event finalized."

Anyone interested in attending a deployed spouses briefing or wanting more information can call the A&FRC at 741-4900 or e-mail Sergeant Hansen at joseph.hansen@malmstrom.af.mil.