BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Even though the 940th Air Refueling Wing Family Support office has changed names to the Airmen Family Readiness, the staff still provides the same exceptional service to wing Airmen and their families.
At the end of last year, the 940th Family Support office was changed to Airmen Family Readiness to align with active duty bases and to provide consistent support services across the Air Force for all Airmen and their families.
According to Master Sgt. Debra Nelson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Airmen and Family Readiness, the mission is to support both wing Airmen and their families when needed.
"We support Airmen by briefing them with information that can be used to deter the stresses of family separations and the emergencies that can occur while deployed," said Sergeant Nelson. "We also greet returning deployed Airmen and provide information to them and their families on reunions."
During a typical UTA weekend, Sergeant Nelson is busy briefing newcomers to the wing on how Family Readiness can best serve them. She also briefs deploying 940th Airmen on programs that they or their families can utilize during deployments.
"Our office acts as a referral agency; we direct 940th Airmen and their families to other agencies that can help them," said Master Sgt. Nelson.
Master Sgt. Nelson is a relative newcomer to the Family Readiness office, however her years of customer service experience and motivation to help fellow Airmen make her a valuable asset to the office.
"Customer service has been the main focus of all the jobs that I have held over the last 10 years," said Sergeant Nelson. "I have always been willing to help out any where in the wing where I was needed."
Sergeant Nelson's goals for the year are to increase awareness of what the Airmen and Family Readiness offers wing members and their families and to provide guidance to deploying Airmen.
"Having been on both sides as the member deploying and the spouse left at home with the kids, I can fully see the potential for problems that arise during deployments," said Sergeant Nelson. "I've had to make use of some of the Family Readiness programs, and I can also provide some guidance based upon my personal experience."