The Department of Air Force Military and Family Readiness program's purpose is to empower the Air and Space Community to remain ready and adaptable while navigating the unique challenges of military life.

The Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) is the installation’s hub for information, referrals and resources and serves all service members, whether single and married, to include Guard and Reserve members, DoD civilian personnel, military retirees, surviving spouses, and eligible family members.

Air Force Families Forever (AFFF): The AFFF program provides immediate and long-term service for family members of deceased active duty service members, and Air Reserve Component members in active duty status and whose relationship was established prior to the service member’s death. AFFF serves as a conduit to facilitate the resolution of issues family members may have as it relates to the death of a service member, in coordination with applicable subject matter experts. Each active-duty installation’s M&FRC is the point-of-contact for the Next-of-Kin (NOK) to receive long term support, including:

Information and Referral

• Engagement through targeted contact and incremental outreach
• Referral to eligible federal, state, and local resources to include partnering non-governmental organizations

​Remembrance and Connection

• Connection to installation and community support networks
• Recognition/memorialization of deceased service members
• Coordination with installation leadership to include family members in the Air Force and Space Force culture

Installation Access (Find your local Installation)

• Sponsorship for NOK through the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) process
• Introduction to installation approved Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities
• Commanders are encouraged to include surviving Air and Space Force family members in installation activities such as: air shows, spouse luncheons, VIP visits and holiday activities.

Air Force Warrior and Survivor Care: M&FRCs provide non-medical services, re-integration, and transition assistance for wounded, seriously ill, and injured service members requiring long-term medical care and/or when meeting a medical/physical evaluation board to determine fitnessfor duty. Centers provide Air Force and Space Force wounded warriors one-on-one pre-separation counseling and résumé writing assistance as requested. In addition to the congressionally mandated Transition Assistance Program services, counseling guidance also includes: Any veterans’ benefits briefings and/or available specific disabled transition assistance counseling provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Arranging assistance for the Wounded, Ill and Injured servicemember in completing and submitting a Veterans Affairs (VA) Form 21-526, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

M&FRC staff collaborate with the installation’s Air Force Wounded Warrior Program’s (AFW2) Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) and together, as part of the wounded warrior’s Care Management Team (CMT), they provide both management and care services for both the wounded warrior and caregiver if applicable. The coordinated assistance connects them with helping agencies on and off the installation.

Casualty Assistance: A trained Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) provides prompt reporting, dignified and humane notification, and efficient, thorough and compassionate assistance to family members and named beneficiaries of our ill, injured, wounded and deceased Airmen/Guardians in compliance with law, statute, mandates and policies. CARs provide key counseling on benefits offered by a wide variety of programs, such as those from the DoD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health and Human Services, and state and local agencies. Casualty Assistance services are provided through the Force Support Squadron.

M&FR Emergency Preparedness & Response: M&FRCs offer services to the community before, during and after an all-hazard event, i.e., disaster, emergency, contingency or evacuation. Centers will provide Emergency Family Assistance (EFA) response, through various delivery modes, including, when directed by the installation commander, the establishment of an Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC).  EFA operations ensure the provision of essential services, assistance, and information that address the practical and emotional needs of service members and their families, following an all-hazard event.  Additionally, EFA response activities coordinate family assistance efforts across governmental and nongovernmental entities, promote both short- and long-term recovery, and the return to a stable environment and mission ready status post incident. 

M&FRCs have trained Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System (AFPAAS) Needs Assessment Case Managers provide services that enable the DAF’s worldwide support capability during an all-hazard event or emergency. These case managers assess and resolve personnel and family urgent needs, and provide information and referrals to helping agencies when a disaster or other local all-hazard incident impacts service members and the military community. 

Deployment Readiness Program: The M&FRC stands as a trusted resource, dedicated to meeting the needs of deployers and their families with professionalism and care. Backed by experienced Family Readiness NCOs and highly trained staff, the M&FRC provides comprehensive services throughout the deployment cycle. From pre-deployment preparation to sustainment support and reintegration assistance, the deployment readiness programs deliver reliable information, strengthen essential skills, and adaptability. Families can depend on the M&FRC to guide them through the challenges of evacuations, emergencies, deployments and separations including TDYs and remote tours with proven expertise and unwavering commitment.   

Employment Readiness Program (ERP): ERP assists military personnel, civilians, and family members pursue both short- and long-term employment objectives by connecting them with education and training opportunities and guiding them toward personal career goals in the private and public sectors. The M&FRC delivers comprehensive services to ensure individuals have the knowledge and resources needed to conduct effective job searches and explore volunteer opportunities on and off the installation.

Exceptional Family Member Program – Family Support (EFMP-FS): The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program ensuring comprehensive support for military families with special needs. Service members on active duty enroll when a family member has a physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder requiring specialized services. This enrollment is crucial, ensuring the family’s unique needs are considered throughout the service member’s career, directly influencing assignment decision and guaranteeing access to necessary medical services. The EFMP-FS component is integral to this holistic approach. EFMP-FS works hand-in-hand with families from the initial enrollment and continues providing support throughout their military journey, ensuring continuity of service and a seamless experience. EFMP-FS provides a warm hand-off as families transition to a new duty station, guaranteeing continued service and care. The EFMP-FS provides the vital link by connecting families to a network of crucial resources, including services like respite care, informative workshops, engaging programs and activities tailored to the unique needs of families with special needs, personalized home visitation, and referrals to specialized community services. From assignment consideration to medical care coordination and comprehensive family support, the EFMP-FS empowers families to navigate the complexities of caring for a special needs family member, significantly enhancing their military quality of life and overall well-being. 

Personal Financial Readiness: The philosophy of the PFR program is centered on ensuring that service members and their families have access to financial readiness services that:

• Help attain/maintain a high level of personal financial readiness
• Identify appropriate goals that strengthen financial stability throughout the military lifecycle
• Guide towards correcting financial readiness deficiencies that impede mission readiness
• Educate to a level of self-sufficiency and ability to effectively manage financial affairs
• Meet mandatory training requirements

Personal and Work Life: The Personal & Work Life Program provides essential education and enrichment services, focused on building and maintaining healthy relationships, strengthening interpersonal competencies, and problem-solving skills to increase an individual’s ability to engage with resources and readily seek assistance when needed.  

• Commander’s Key Support Program: The Commander’s Key Support Program is a Commander’s unit readiness program designed to enhance family readiness, resilience and connectedness throughout the military life cycle and particularly during deployments and permanent change of station (PCS). The program promotes partnerships with unit leaders, key support liaisons, families, the M&FRC and other installation helping agencies. M&FRCs provide information concerning the Initial Key Support Liaison training, which can be completed virtually or in person where available, followed by the immersion training.  In person immersion training is provided at least quarterly using the AF standardized Key Support Liaison training curriculum with installation specific information added, as well as networking and education opportunities to compliment the initial training.

• Heart Link: Heart Link is designed to strengthen military families, and enhance mission readiness by helping to orient new Air Force or Space Force spouses (typically five years or less) to active duty military life.

Relocation Assistance:  The Relocation Assistance Program is a congressionally mandated program designed to ease the personal and family stressors military families experience with a PCS by providing assistance, counseling, education, and training throughout all phases of the relocation process.

Each Department of the Air Force (DAF) installation M&FRC staff are trained in the techniques and delivery of professional relocation assistance.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP): SBP is a Congressional, Title 10–mandated program (10 U.S.C. §§ 1447–1455) that provides a monthly, inflation-protected income to eligible dependent survivors of deceased service members. SBP ensures families receive continued financial support following the loss of their service member.

• Active-Duty Coverage: Eligible spouses and/or children of Regular Component and Reserve/Air National Guard members on Title 10 active-duty orders, who die in the line of duty receive SBP coverage automatically and at no cost. The benefit is designed to replace a portion of lost income.
• Retirement Elections: Service members retiring from Active Duty, or a disability retirement (Regular, Guard, or Reserve) under Title 10, and spouse if applicable, are required by law to receive an SBP briefing and make an SBP election before retirement. Members may elect or decline SBP coverage, and spouse notarized concurrence is required for any election other than full spouse coverage based on the member’s gross pay.
• Automatic Enrollment if No Action is Taken: If a member does not complete the required SBP election prior to retirement, DFAS will establish by-law automatic spouse coverage, as directed under 10 U.S.C. § 1448(a)(2). This ensures a survivor is protected and the 6.5% premium cost will be deducted monthly from the member’s retired pay.
• Premiums: For members who elect SBP, monthly premiums are deducted from retired pay or disability retired pay. These premiums fund the lifetime annuity provided to designated eligible beneficiaries upon the member’s death. The premium is 6.5% of the base amount and the annuity will pay 55% of that same base amount.

Transition Assistance Program (TAP): The goal of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is to provide information, counseling and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life; whether pursuing additional education, finding a career or starting their own business. Support for TAP is provided by wing M&FRP Manager or local installation M&FRC staff.

Volunteer Resources: Collaborates with other base agencies for the purpose of referring service members, spouses, and other family members for volunteer opportunities.

Voting Assistance Program: The M&FRC serves as the Installation Voter Assistance Office and the Installation Voting Assistance Officers provide uniformed service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens with information and assistance on how to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and vote absentee.

Additional community partnering services:

• Air & Space Forces Aid Society: The Air & Space Forces Aid Society (AFAS) is the official charity of the Air Force and Space Force. AFAS's purpose is to help service members when they need it most. Various types of assistance provided include emergency assistance, educational support and community programs
• School Liaison: School Liaisons (SLs) serve as the primary advisors to Command Teams regarding all PreK–12 education matters within military installations. They provide strategic guidance and operational oversight on issues impacting military-connected communities, including school engagement, educational challenges, special education needs, and coordination with state and local education systems. As the installation’s office of primary responsibility (OPR) for education-focused engagements and interagency collaboration, SLs play a pivotal role in building, sustaining, and providing continuity for education and community partnerships.

The SL portfolio encompasses all Public Schools on Military Installations (PSMI), including Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, Host Nation schools, and the Non-DoD Schools Program (NDSP), Military & Family Life Counselors (MFLCs), and 10 educational components. SLs also collaborate with critical support programs and serve as points of contact for the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) State Lead responsibilities, DoD STARBASE, Department of the Air Force (DAF) STEM initiatives, and School-Based Transition Programs. Through strategic outreach, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships, School Liaisons (SLs) significantly enhance the educational framework that fosters mission readiness, family resilience, personnel retention, and recruitment.

Air Force’s Personnel Center:
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Military-and-Family/

DAFI 36-3009, Military and Family Readiness Centers:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-3009/dafi36-3009.pdf

Air & Space Forces Aid Society:
https://afas.org

DoDI 1332.35, Transition Assistance Program for Military Personnel:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/133235p.pdf

DoD TAP, Transition Assistance Program
https://www.dodtap.mil/dodtap/app/home

Air Reserve Personnel Center
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil

Federal Voting Assistance Program
https://www.fvap.gov

Military One Source Casualty Assistance:
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/casualty-mortuary-affairs/casualty-assistance/

DAFI 36-3002, Casualty Services:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-3002/dafi36-3002.pdf