Airmen & Family Readiness Center ready to offer help

  • Published
  • By Kirsten Rice
  • 88th Force Support Squadron Marketing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, --  The Airmen & Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) is one of the many helping agencies at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, offering classes and events designed to benefit those who are active-duty, civilian, retiree or dependent. During the upcoming months, the A&FRC will introduce several new programs to its list of services.

"Our mission at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center is to provide military, civilians and their families support and services contributing to the mission readiness, resiliency, and well-being of the Air Force community," said Wanda Lander, A&FRC director. "All of our programs are free and available to the Wright-Patt populace. Our doors are always open, and our staff is ready to help."

A popular new course is the Mock Interview Clinic, which brings together outside communities within the Dayton area to conduct practice job interviews with customers. These practice interviews help to build up confidence and develop specific skills that are necessary for the interview process. This program has received positive feedback from many of its participants.

Abi Hopper attended one of the mock interview clinics at the center.

"They were really impressed with the way I presented myself, and they liked that when they would ask a question in the interview I sat and thought about what I was going to say and not just quickly responded," Hopper said. "That was something I learned from the practice interviews I did at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center."

The next Mock Interview Clinic will be at the A&FRC Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

This program is open to all military, retirees, civilians and their dependents.

The Military Spouse Program will host a Networking Reception and Hiring Fair Nov. 19-20 at the Hope Hotel.

This program is run in conjunction with community partners in the Dayton area.

Military spouses will have the opportunity to network with local business executives, community leaders and senior military spouses while gaining valuable insight on career planning and connecting with other military spouses in the area to form new networks and connections.

This also provides an opportunity to acclimate to the area.

Operation Homefront is a program sponsored by the A&FRC and Operation Homefront.

This year they will provide around 300 military families with kits worth $250 of food.

This program is open to anyone who is active duty. Call the A&FRC to register.

The Adopt-A-Family holiday gift program supports Wright-Patterson AFB families in need of assistance with gifts for their children during the holiday season.

Last year the A&FRC provided gifts to more than 340 base children with approximately 15 sponsors and organizations. This program is in place to ensure that all children have a pleasant Christmas and holiday season.

Unit first sergeants determine the eligibility of active-duty military (E-5 and below) as well as reservist and civilian (GS-5 and below) families who are eligible to be "adopted" and submit the names. However, the A&FRC will take any special case.

The names of children must be submitted no later than Nov. 17.

There are several more programs the A&FRC offers throughout the year such as the Department of Defense's "Peer to Peer Caregiver Support." This program targets caregivers (spouses, parents, children and other family/ nonfamily members) of service members who are ill, injured or wounded warriors.

Starting Nov. 1 the Exceptional Family Member Program will offer $5 bowling for military/civilians special needs families at Kittyhawk Lanes every Saturday in November.

The $5 fee includes shoes, drinks, snacks and as many games bowled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A&FRC is located in Area A, Bldg. 2. For more information, call the A&FRC at 937-257-3592.