Air Force officials introduce Family Road Show Initiative

  • Published
  • By Diane Betzler
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "Airmen and their families are our strength. Our tradition is to care for them. This is the Year of the Air Force Family," Michael Bensen, deputy to the commander of the Air Force Services Agency told those attending the wing leadership briefing, Nov. 3.

Mr. Bensen is one of six Air Force representatives touring America's Air Force bases to introduce servicemembers to the Family Road Show Initiative.
His mission, he said, is twofold: "I'm here to celebrate and spread the word about all the services the Air Force offers; and I'm here to talk with Airmen and their families and get feedback from them."

Mr. Bensen said he hopes to bring the message from Airmen back to Washington D.C., in terms of what changes or adjustments the Airmen and their families would like to see made to Air Force services.

Mr. Bensen noted the program and the title Year of the Air Force Family is new, but said taking care of Airmen and their families is not.

"The Air Force has a long tradition of taking care of Airmen and their families," he said. 

"But with everything that's going on today and all the deployments, it's important that our families know what support services are out there for them," he said.

Mr. Bensen said officials get a sense that folks are pretty happy with what the Air Force is providing. However, leadership does realize there are some concerns and they hope to learn of them during the road trips so the Air Force can build upon that.

The services the Air Force provides for its family, Bensen said, is built on four columns. He explained there's a Health and Wellness column that covers fitness activities. There's an Airman and Family Support column, it covers everything from recreational activities to hobbies. An Education, Development and Employment column that deals with youth programs and library resources, and an Airman and Family Housing column that deals with lodging.

There are two Web sites Airmen and their families can visit for more information about the Year of the Air Force Family and the services, activities and celebrations planned throughout the year: http://www.af.mil/yoaff/index.asp and http://www.myairforcelife.com. 

"The Air Force is a great place to work, live and play -- our focus is to make it even better," Mr. Bensen said.

He said the Air Force family includes active duty, retirees, Guardsmen, Reservists, civilians and family members.

The Air Force family extends to parents, friends and community partners who support the Air Force mission, Bensen explained, and quoted Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force, who said, "Taking care of families is a solemn promise we make to each Airman and family member."