95th ABW commander issues new reintegration policy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Staff Sgt. Caprice Rivas, 95th Services Division fitness coordinator, arrived here Sunday after a four-month deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Together with nine other 95th Services Division Airmen, she had to go under the new Reunion and Reintegration Policy Program at the Airmen and Family Readiness Center on Monday.

The new policy ensures that Airmen who just came returned from deployment receive the utmost quality care and support, as stated from a memorandum sent by Col. H. Brent Baker Sr., 95th Air Base Wing commander.

"This is just a way for the Air Force to show that we are here to take care of our Airmen," said Lt. Col. Christopher Oleksa, 95th Mission Support Squadron commander. "It is a common misconception that when you ask for help, it means you are in trouble. It's not. I want to encourage everyone that if you need help, just ask."

This program is in place to help returning Airmen transition to their normal day-to-day activities while meeting mission requirements.

"There are different organizations on base that can provide this help," Colonel Oleksa said. "We have the Desert Life Skills Support Center, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Chaplain."

Under the new policy, Airmen in groups of nine or more will arrive at the AFRC's reception area, while individual redeployers will report to the personnel readiness unit. If Airmen arrive after the end of the duty day, they will have to return at the beginning of the next duty day. The squadron commander, first sergeants, chiefs, chaplains, force health and Life Skills personnel will be present to provide information about reunion and reintegration.

During the reception, members will receive their in-processing checklist. All members must complete the checklist items over the five duty days of decompression time. Upon checklist completion, squadron commanders must review this checklist with the member and sign the checklist certifying all items are complete.

When going on leave, Airmen must have "structured recovery time and activities for members and families, prior to leave or TDY," as stated by Air Force Instruction 10-403. Commanders will meet each returnee upon arrival or within 24 hours if circumstances prevent the initial meeting. The personnel readiness unit has developed in-processing procedures to ensure returnees are properly and quickly processed back to their units.

All deployers have five duty days of decompression time. During weekends and holidays, commanders and first sergeants are encouraged to have either telephone contact with the member unless delegated to their supervisor or leadership. This must be done to ensure members and families are being taken care of during non-duty times. The next duty day after arrival to Edwards, individual redeployers will report to their immediate supervisor, command support staff, duty section and their unit deployment manager.

Meanwhile, redeployers in groups of nine or more will be scheduled for mandatory briefings with a life skills representative, a force health representative and with chaplains during the reception held at the AFRC.

The 95th Medical Group will schedule the Post Deployment Health Reassessment follow up at the three to six months time frame.