Military Families

The YES program is an on-base volunteer program for high school students and is offered at selected Air Force bases. This program is a joint effort between Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) and Air Force Family Member Programs Flight, and it offers high school students an opportunity to learn work skills, earn dollar credits toward their post-secondary education/training, and have a positive impact on their base community.

This program provides active duty Air Force member and their spouses with a family readiness class and upon completion of the class the family receives a free "bundle" that the Air Force Aid Society purchased from the Gerber Company with needed infant supplies.

The Air Force Aid Society will pay for 20 hours of child care (per child) in Air Force certified Family Child Care home on base or in an Air Force affiliated home off base for families in the process of a PCS move.

The Air Force Aid Society, in cooperation with Air Force Services, funds a monthly "Give Parents a Break" program at most Air Force child care and youth centers.

An online support group and forum for mothers of United States Marines.

Phone Home Program provides prepaid calling cards to single and married Air Force members who have been deployed for 30 days or more in the Area of Responsibility (AOR), so they can make phone calls to family or friends during deployment and make emergency contacts when necessary, without added expense to the service member. ROGRA~2

Some military families rely on friends, the Armed Forces community, and supportive family for help. But one of the issues that many (certainly not all) of these families also share is their reluctance to use the mental health services available to them.

Eleven women married to vets with significant PTSD disabilities wrote this article to offer support, encouragement and hope to the spouses and families of Iraq vets. They offer the following thoughts while recognizing that each war is unique and some of these suggestions may not be appropriate for the Iraq war experience.

Healthy Army Communities is an Army-wide effort to improve the health and wellness of the total Army Community. Healthy Army Communities aims to increase Readiness, Resiliency, Retention, and Recruitment by developing a total Army Culture of Health.