Air Force takes care of families with DePLAYment

1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero/Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Wouldn’t it be great if, when your spouse deploys, you could get free child care or get yourself or the children more involved with base programs, without worrying about the cost?

Now, when Airmen deploy, their families can get “dog tags” to use as base passes for free or reduced-cost services, such as free child care, youth sports and classes.

The dog tag pass is part of DePLAYment, an Air Force program and Year of the Air Force Family effort to expand on existing deployment support services and honor family members.

“Every Airman should be able to be confident that the Air Force will help take care of their families when they are deployed,” said Capt. Joseph Dowell, deputy branch chief of AMC Airman and Family Services.

At a minimum, every eligible family gets one free instructional class; free access to one youth sport; and 10 free hours of child care per child (based on availability).

In addition to the 10 free child care hours, free child care is available for mandatory deployment meetings, medical appointments and other circumstances.

Families are eligible if members have deployed in support of an active contingency operation between July 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2009, or returned on or after July 1, 2009.

Each AMC installation has received “DePLAYment Tag Pass Packs” to give to eligible families. To find out where to pick up your DePLAYment Tag Pass Pack, visit the Web site www.myairforcelife.com/dePLAYment/index.cfm.

The pre-printed numbered codes on the back of the tags, called a tag code, serve as unique identifiers for each family and family member. These passes are presented when signing up for free or reduced fee programs or classes.

AMC bases have created various opportunities to support families through DePLAYment.

Eligible families might take advantage of free classes through arts and crafts centers; free indoor pool passes; free day trips and discounts off personal training at base fitness centers.

Some bases are giving away free transportation and admission to events through Information, Tickets and Travel; free bowling nights and free annual youth center memberships.

In total, AMC gave bases more than $1.5 million to fund DePLAYment offerings, according to Dowell.

“The Air Force is a wonderful place to work, live and play. But we’re determined to make it even better,” he said.

The DePLAYment program is just one of many services the Air Force provides to Airmen and their family members.

For example, Air Force chaplains offer marriage and family enrichment retreats that focus on families in the deployment cycle. Airman and family support centers host a variety of support events throughout the lifecycle of deployment: pre-deployment, during deployment, post-deployment and re-integration.

Also, the “Key Spouse” program enables Air Force spouses within the deployed member’s unit to reach out to one another, keep each other informed and provide assistance in tough times.

To maintain connections, Hearts Apart and Hearts Apart Jr. programs make available the resources and opportunities for an Airman to visit with his or her family through morale calls and electronic media.

For more information about the DePLAYment Program or other services for families of deployed members, contact your base Airman and Family Readiness Center or visit the Web site www.myairforcelife.com/dePLAYment/index.cfm.