Families receive enjoyment after deployment through DePLAYment program

Charles Franklin, Airman & Family Readiness Center discovery resource center manager, explains how the DePLAYment tag pass works to Lt. Col. Christopher Anthony, 335th Fighter Squadron commander, during an information fair on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. The DePLAYment program is part of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative which concludes July 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

Families receive enjoyment after deployment through DePLAYment program

Kim Huskins Webb, library director, shows Tech. Sgt. Andrea Schaub, Airman & Family Readiness Center noncommissioned officer in charge, what the base library is offering as part of the Year of the Air Force Family DePLAYment program during an information fair on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. The DePLAYment program is open to dependents of Air Force active duty members who deployed between July and December 2009, or returned on or after July 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

Families receive enjoyment after deployment through DePLAYment program

Sharon Grieve, outdoor recreation assistant manager, looks on as Maria Coates signs up for some of the trips and activities outdoor recreation scheduled as part of the Year of the Air Force Family DePLAYment program during an information fair on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. Her husband, Staff Sgt. Steve Coates, 335th Fighter Squadron intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge, recently returned from a deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

Families receive enjoyment after deployment through DePLAYment program

Published Jan. 27, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Three games of bowling and shoe rental - $11.50. Battleship N.C. Wilmington trip - $40. Youth golf camp - $69.95. The cost of these for members of the DePLAYment program - free.

The DePLAYment program is part of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative to assist families of deployed servicemembers with discounts and free programs at several 4th Force Support Squadron facilities.

"Recent and current deployers can sign up to receive the tags and use them to receive numerous benefits around the base either at outdoor recreation, youth programs or the community center," said Tech. Sgt. Andrea Schaub, Airman & Family Readiness Center noncommissioned officer in charge.

More than 45 families signed up for the program during an A&FRC information fair on base Jan. 22, and received a DePLAYment tag pass pack. Each pack contains six 'dog tags' that serve as unique identifiers for each family member used for tracking program eligibility.

"All a family member needs to do in order to sign up for one of the programs, trips or classes is provide their name and tag pass number." Schaub said.

Any sponsored family member of an Air Force servicemember deployed for more than 30 days, an Air Force wounded warrior, or an Army, Navy or Marine Corps active duty member officially assigned to an Air Force base is eligible for tag pass benefits. The family member must present a copy of the deployed members' orders to receive the tags.

Servicemembers who deployed between July 2009 and July 2010 will have their deployment orders honored. The benefits are available anytime during the member's deployment and after their return up to July 31, allowing the reunited family an opportunity to enjoy the benefits. The program is open to active duty, Guard and Reserve members with dependents stationed at an active Air Force base when issued deployment orders. Due to funding restrictions, Air National Guard members are not eligible for programs after returning home, they must be deployed for their family to qualify.

"This is a great effort by the Air Force to show it cares about deployed families and show appreciation for their support to the deployed member," said Senior Master Sgt. Arnel Abad, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron operations support superintendent. "I hope my family feels they are well appreciated and taken care of so the next time I deploy I would get the same if not better support for them."

Schaub, a native of Clinton, Ohio, has seen many ups and downs in regards to deployments in her nearly 18 years of military service and believes it is the family members who deserve all the credit for keeping the home front running smoothly.

"It is the families who stay behind who are the true heroes," she said. "We need to do all that we can to support them while the deployed member is away servicing this great country and thank them!"