Team Edwards hosts AEF Family Fair

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Several families of deployed Airmen participated in the Air Expeditionary Force Family Fair at the Oasis Community Center on Saturday. 

The Family Fair provides family members with a better understanding of what servicemembers go through while deployed. 

"The Family Fair identifies services available for families of deployed personnel," said Tech. Sgt. David Ah Sing, Airman and Family Readiness Center noncommissioned officer in charge. 

The objective of the Family Fair is education, said Michael Wright, AFRC section chief. 

"We bring as many helping agencies as we can to provide information specifically regarding programs for deployments," he said. 

This program is intended for key members of the family such as spouses, grandparents or legal guardians. 

"I think this is a great program for family members," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Tucker, 95th Security Forces Squadron police services noncommissioned officer in charge and spouse of a deployed Edwards Airman. "It shows appreciation to family members while their loved ones are deployed or are en route to deploy downrange." 

With the surge of deployments Department of Defense-wide, the base must identify the services and options available for families of deployed Airmen, Sergeant Ah Sing said. 

During the event, several organizations such as the chapel, Edwards' spouses clubs, Base Exchange, Commissary, Youth and Teen Center, Family Child Care and Child Development Center were available to provide information to the families. 

Volunteers from the different organizations on base were also available in preparation of the fair. Airmen from the 95th Mission Support and Services Squadron, 95th Medical Group and 95th Security Forces Squadron provided help and manpower. 

Volunteers make the fair run, Mr. Wright said. 

"Without them, there is no way we can do it," he said. "It is just so wonderful to see people willing to give up their Saturday morning to support it." 

Sergeant Ah Sing said the event was a Team Edwards effort. 

"I appreciate all the people who participated in this event," he said. "We receive great support from the leadership and the volunteers from the different organizations. I hope we can do this again."