Airmen and Family Support Issues

1. Airmen and Family Support Issues A suggested guide to assist the Vice President of Airmen and Family Support Issues

2. Getting Started • The Vice President of Airmen and Family Support Issues (VP/AFSI) is an appointed position • The Chapter President appoints the VP/AFSI • Chapters should determine among themselves whether they want to fill this position: • Do they have a qualified and motivated individual wanting to reach out to those in need? • Are they located near an Air Force installation? • If not, do they have an active Chamber of Commerce or local organization supporting or assisting Wounded Airmen or military individuals in transition from military to civilian life?

3. Getting Started (Continued) • Does the chapter have within their Annual Activity Plan the intent to support: • Transitioning Airmen moving from the military to civilian life? • Wounded Airmen living in the area who need support? • Is there a need to provide support to immediate family members? • Is there a need to support educational needs for the Wounded Airman or family members? • Are there other needs? • Does the chapter have the financial means to fund the planned activities to provide support? Fund raising projects? • Is there an overall willingness to support such projects by the chapter as a whole? It can’t be done by only one individual.

4. Setting Up a Meeting • Determine who will meet with whom: • If located near an Air Force Installation • The Chapter President should meet with the Wing Commander, Command Chief and his/her staff • The Vice President of Airmen and Family Support Issues should meet with either the Family Services Director and/or the Commander/First Sergeant of the Force Support Squadron (FSS) • If not located near a military installation: • The Chapter President and POC FS can meet with the local mayor, Chamber of Commerce, or an appropriate family support director of the local non-profit organization.

5. At the first meeting • The Vice President of Airmen and Family Support Issues should make every attempt: • To determine what the individual and his/her organization (that the VP/AFSI is interviewing) does and determine how it relates to family support • Establish a friendly rapport with a spirit of providing additional help at no cost to the interviewee or his/her organization • Make no obligations of money or manpower that haven’t been approved by the AFA chapter leadership or members.

6. Family Support 101 for the Vice President of Airmen and Family Support Issues Suggested opening questions from the VP/AFSI (All quotation statements are being asked by the VP/AFSI) • “Hi, my name is ……………………….” • “Thank you for letting me have this opportunity to talk with you today.” • “I represent the …………………… Air Force Association chapter located right here in …………” • “Have you heard of the AFA before?” • If the answer is no, go to the next slide • If the answer is yes, go to slide 11

7. Who is the AFA? • “Our mission is to promote a dominant USAF and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force heritage” • “To accomplish this mission, we plan and execute programs and activitiesto: • Educatethe public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security. • Advocatefor aerospace power and STEM education. • Support the total AF family and aerospace education.”

8. Who is the AFA?(Base related) • “The success of our programs and activities are due, to a very great extent, on the support already provided by this Base.” • “Base leadership supports our activities we are happy to say.” • “We have been involved with: (list your successes) • Base Education support • Pitsenbarger award • JFROTC • CAP • (Put in events you have been recognized by the Base leadership)

9. Who is the AFA?(Local community related) • “The success of our programs and activities are due, to a very great extent, on the support already provided by this community.” • “Several local merchants/organizations support our activities, we are happy to say.” • “We have been involved with: (list your successes) • Habitat for Humanity support” • JFROTC at the local high school” • CAP” • (Put in events you have been recognized by the community leadership)

10. Who is the AFA? We advocated for the creation of the Community College of the Air Force—the CCAF! AFA advocated for the creation of the office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. AFA institutionalized and supports the Twelve Top Airmen of the Year program annually. Likewise, it is the AFA who institutionalized and supports the Team of the Year annually. AFA provides scholarships and award opportunities to Airmen and their families—even spouses!

11. If they have heard of AFA…. “Excellent! What have you heard about us?” “Have you been involved in any of our activities before?” “Let me share with you what we are doing now and in the near future….”

12. Who is the AFA?(Base related) • “In the near future we have the following planned: • Fun run • Golf tournament • Arnold Air Society/Silver Wings dinner” • (Any activities on your Annual Activity Plan can be used) • Transition • “Now, one of the organizations you have on base is the Force Support Squadron? What family related programs do they administer or oversee?”

13. Who is the AFA?(Community related) • “In the near future we have the following planned: • Fun run • Golf tournament • Arnold Air Society/Silver Wings dinner” • (Any activities on your Annual Activity Plan can be used) • Transition • “Now, one of the community organizations is the Rotary/AmBucs? What family related programs do they administer or oversee?”

14. Focusing on Family Support(Base related) • “More along the direct Family Support side of the FSS house, you mentioned you have: • Transition Assistance Program (TAP) • Wounded Airman Program (WAP)” • “Can you tell me how successful they have been?” • Let the Family Services Director brag about their programs and how successful they have been. • “Please tell me more about the WAP.” • If a Wounded Airman recipient resides in the area, let the FSD talk about him/her as much as they wish.

15. Focusing on Family Support(Community related) • “More along the Rotary/AmBucs side of the house, you mentioned you have: • New Arrivals Transition Assistance Program • Support the Wounded Airman Program (WAP)” • “Can you tell me how successful they have been?” • Let the mayor/organization director brag about their programs and how successful they have been. • “Please tell me more about the WAP.” • If a Wounded Airman recipient resides in the area, let the mayor talk about him/her as much as they wish.

16. Determining the Needs “I think it is amazing what you are doing to help families transition to civilian life and how you are caring for the wounded airmen living here.” “Can you tell me, are there any shortfalls not being met to these deserving families either due to a lack of Air Force/Local Community resources or legal issues?” “What about the other individual family members’ need being met? the spouse? the children? Those extended family members--not specifically the Airman?” “As the Commander/Command Chief/FSD/mayor, what are your greatest needs right now?” Allow the individual to expound on this as long as he/she wants. Take copious notes.

17. A Call to Action “Thank you for sharing these items with me.” “I would like to go back to my chapter and report on what I think will be a great project for our chapter to champion. I feel we may have the resources to put time and effort towards………….(name the need the FSD/mayor/Commander/Command Chief mentioned)” “We currently have our next executive board meeting on ………………… I would like to call upon you again on or about …………….. to let you know what I hope is an opportunity to help you.” “Can we look at your calendar and make a firm date I when I can visit you again?”