Ellsworth AFB Airman & Family Readiness Center

Updated on: February 22, 2010

Hours of Operation

Monday
0900-1630 hours

Tuesday - Friday
0730-1630 hours

(605) 385-4663
DSN 675-4663
Fax (605) 385-6322

Announcements

In This Section

Join Us For Kudos, Sudos, & Tudos (Kids, Spouses & Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations) on Saturday, March 13th. Free lunch, drinks, and giveaways. Download the flyer or call 385-4663 for more information or to register today!

1. FREE CHILDCARE is provided by the Family Child Care Office's Returning Home Care Program. Service members that were deployed for 30 days or more in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism are entitled to 16 free hours of child care per child. Contact the Family Child Care Office at (605) 385-4270 or (605) 431-2992 for more information.

2. Operation Dream: Make a special pillowcase for your family member. Bring in your picture or take one at the Airman & Fmaily Readiness Center and we will put the picture on a pillowcase for you. Limit 2 pillowcases per family.

3. Snow Removal for Donations: Contact the Active Airman's Council and for a cash donation, they will help clear the snow at your home, both on and off base. Call Robert at 605-593-2630 or Kenneth at 605-786-7831.

4. Sending Mail to Deployed Family Members. Mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. Read more information about mailing restrictions.

The Postal Service continues to show its support by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” Priority Mail Large Boxes, four Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes.

• Pre-Deployment Briefing
• Assistance to Families
• Reintegration/Returning from Deployment
• Upcoming Events

• Deployment Finances
• Wounded Warrior Program
• Remote Assignments/Extended TDYs

• Retreats for Service Members and Military Families

Documents Available to Download
(Adobe Acrobat Req)
• Deployment Checklist for Single Members
• Deployment Checklist for Married Members

About Our Program

The Individual and Family Deployment Readiness program is here to assist Airmen and their Families that are either experiencing a deployment now; getting ready for a deployment; or have just come home from a deployment. Whether single or married; with children or without; routine deployment or something more stressful, deployments have an impact on how we live, work, and on our relationships. We can assist with those in various stages of deployment and emotional cycles of deployment.

• Are you Deploying or Going TDY for more than 30 days? Click here for information.

• Returning from a Deployment? Click here to see if you need to attend Reintegration.

Bringing Airmen and Their Families All the Way Home

The Reintegration Program hopes of changing how Airmen return back to their communities and families. The phrase, "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon," is a reminder that the support of Airmen cannot end when they return from deployment and the yellow ribbons are untied. Read more about Taking Care of Business, Your Health, and Your Family.

• Taking Care of Business
• Taking Care of Your Health
• Taking Care of Your Family

Give Parents a Break Program

Retreats

Veterans Expeditions at Outward Bound

This is a tremendous opportunity for adventure and self-discovery to our veterans of combat operations in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). Our newest programs offer numerous wilderness adventures exclusively for war veterans, and are fully funded for all participants, to include their roundtrip stateside travel costs between home and the excursion site. Our goals include helping participating veterans build a supportive community with other war veterans; facilitating discussions on readjustment and transition challenges; and re-energizing and reinvigorating our veterans' spirits with adventures and challenges in the beautiful outdoors. Visit their web site for more information and a listing of all available open enrollment courses for veterans.


The Coming Home Project is a non-profit organization devoted to providing compassionate care, support and stress management tools for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, their families. Obtain information about retreats offered by The Coming Home Project by visiting their web site at http://www.cominghomeproject.net.

Other Deployment Readiness Resources

• Military OneSource Deployment & Reunion Material List
• National Military Family Association: Deployment and You Section
• USAF Wounded Warrior Web Site
• After Deployment.org

Scheduled Briefings

Pre-Deployment Briefings are mandatory for those deploying or going TDY for over 30 days. The briefing is held on Tuesday at 1230 hours in the Airman & Family Readiness Center. Pre-registration is required. If you have a large group or team deploying please contact us to set-up a briefing specifically for your group. Spouses are welcome and encouraged to attend. You do not have to attend this briefing if you are already in DepTAC.

Reintegration Briefings are mandatory for those returning from deployments or TDYs over 30 days in length. The briefings are held at 1330 hours on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Airman & Family Readiness Center. Pre-registration is required. Briefers include the Readiness NCO from the Airman & Family Readiness Center, Mental Health staff, Chaplains and the Military and Family Life Consultants. Spouses are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Please call (605) 385-4663 to register for these briefings.

Upcoming Readiness Events

Download a list of our monthly
Deployed/Remote Family Events!

Checkback for information about our next event soon!

A&FRC Home Page
Air Force Aid Society
Deployment Readiness
Personal Financial Readiness
Relocation Assistance
Employment Assistance
Individual/Family Life Education
Transition Assistance
Casualty Assistance
Survivor Benefit Plan
Discovery Resource Center
Military & Family Life Consultants
Ellsworth Community
Spouse Resources
Retiree Information

This Web Site is for members and families of the U.S. military services. Contents of this site are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U. S. Government, Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by staff members of the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The staff also reserves the right not to publish any submission.

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