One center, two locations: The Military & Family Readiness Center supports JBER

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vernon Cunningham
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Whether a service member is new to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson or a 20-year veteran transitioning to civilian life, the Military and Family Readiness Center has trained staff to help any Department of Defense identity card holder deal with a variety of military or personal life situations. The center has a presence on both JBER-Elmendorf at Bldg. 8535 or "the log cabin," and on JBER-Richardson at Bldg. 600, to provide convenient availability for the base populace. Although they are geographically separated, the centers work as one to bring their expertise to all of JBER.

"I look at the MFRC like it's an umbrella," said Sharmane Delgado, director of the JBER-E center. "Under that umbrella, we have different components to serve families, service members and our community in general.  Just about all of our services are the same whether you are on the Richardson side or Elmendorf side. There are a few unique programs, but it's all about giving our customers access to care.  Whatever they need, we are a one-stop shop.  If you need transition assistance, we can help with that.  If you have budgeting or financial needs, we can help.  If you need the Exceptional Family Member Program or are expecting a baby, we can help you with planning what to expect. We cover the whole human contingent of life changes."

Delgado said the MFRC services are available to authorized ID card holders, including dependents, DoD civilians, and retirees, and they can begin helping as soon as the first day on base.
"We can assist you with your needs in your first few days," said Delgado. "'If you are wondering where you will live, we can connect you to the housing resource you need.  If a car breaks down and you don't have the money right now to repair it, we have financial aid resources that may get it fixed."

Pamela Tucker, 673d FSS MFRC JBER-R director, said the center also has a "lending locker," which loans household goods to help with the challenges of arriving at a base. 

"There are lending lockers on both sides of the installation," said Tucker. "Regardless of branch, it is easier to just go to the one that is closest.  We have the same items available for short-term use to authorized ID card holders with permanent change-of-station orders.  They can get a lending kit, which basically has a toaster, pots, pans, plates, cups, saucers and other stuff you would typically get at a hotel.  We have pizza pans, microwaves and a few televisions with DVD players.  All a patron needs to do is call or come by to see what is available."

Other than basic PCS needs, the MFRC has trained financial counselors to help customers with money management as they continue their lives at JBER.

"There are accredited financial counselors in both locations," Tucker said. "They are able to assist with things like poor credit scores, setting up a budget, and helping to develop a financial plan.  However, they are not financial planners.  They can't give you advice on what to buy or give direct referrals, but they can counsel on things like explaining the Thrift Savings Plan, how to use it, and best things to consider given your age and the risk you are willing to take."

Although many of their services are universally helpful to both service members and dependents, some programs concentrate more on the family support.

The Exceptional Family Member Program provides information and referral services, non-medical case management, training and other forms of support to families who have an adult or child with physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorders that require specialized training, therapy or treatment.

Tucker said the center offers various activities for the families of any service member that are enrolled in EFMP and that some families may even qualify for respite care.

"The EFMP families sometimes feel they can't do certain things with their children that other families can, because sometimes their children may have disruptive tendencies.  They feel it's upsetting to other families, or their own, so there are a lot of activities geared toward supporting EFMP families."

She said two examples are 'movie night', which is occasionally scheduled and is free for EFMP families, and there is a weekend at Otter Lake, which has a whole weekend of camping and all the associated activities.

The MFRC support of the family extends beyond EFMP.  They also strive to support dependents with employment and volunteer needs.

"When people relocate they are often not sure of their skill set," said Delgado. "We have classes monthly to help with job searching, resume skills, interviewing skills, expertise on federal resumes, private-sector resumes ... or we can counsel one-on-one.  It's a one-stop-shop. 

"Typically we coordinate with the Civilian Personnel Office to help spouses get connected to the right resource for the priority placement process," said Delgado. "While they are doing that process, we can help streamline their resume.  Some people walk in with polished resumes, no resume, or somewhere in between.  Either way, we can help."

Services offered for building adult employment skills can also benefit the young dependents.

"For any young person who is in high school and getting ready to prepare for college, it is imperative that they start working on their high-school resume," said Delgado. "We have the ability to help a young person create their resume.  There are many trainings and resources that an adult uses here that a young person could benefit from.  So I say bring them in and we can help them prepare for their transition.  Also, volunteerism is important, especially when you are ready to apply for college.  Waiting until your senior year of high school to start volunteering doesn't really show your well-roundedness."

Tucker agreed that younger dependents, can take advantage of the MFRC's volunteer resources. She said there are volunteer coordinators on both sides of the base and either can help with finding somewhere on base or the local community to give their time.  She also said they hold a volunteer recognition ceremony to celebrate JBER volunteers annually.  Tucker said examples of on-base volunteer opportunities are the Key Spouse Program and Family Readiness Group.  These are the Air Force and Army groups, respectively, for spouses to join and positively affect their military community.

Having these two volunteer programs on a joint base does have at least one advantage.

"Air Force spouses are able to go to the FRG training and Army spouses are able to go to Key Spouse training," said Tucker. "However, after being appointed as a Key Spouse, you should attend to the Key Spouse training program and after being appointed as an FRG Leader, you must do the FRG training.  By being at a joint base, you could take advantage and really put so much into your toolkit by completing what your service requires and then broaden your training from the other service's program."

The staff at the center is also trained to help an active-duty service member into retirement.

The MFRC has transition programs located on both sides of the installation.  The Elmendorf side hosts the Air Force Transition Assistance Center and Richardson hosts the Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program.  Both centers provide service-specific requirements while meeting the needs of all transitioning patrons.

The staff goes through continual training and dedicates themselves to the military members and their family for one main reason.

"We do it because we love it," said Delgado. "We are supporting the warfighters and their families, as well as our community ... so we are giving back. We touch just about every area of life, and we can do that at any time.  Come on in and see what we have to offer."

The MFRC is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at both locations.  Customers can walk in or make an appointment at 384-1517 (JBER-R) or 552-4943 (JBER-E). Families can also call or walk in to register for the MFRC Community Connections email, or go to the "JBER Military & Family Centers" Facebook site, to stay informed of upcoming activities.