Are you ready to deploy? Published Oct. 5, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Charlene Lowe 459th Mission Support Flight ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- Your orders just arrived in the mail today. What will you do with 60 days or more away from your family? So many questions go through your mind. Who'll pick up your child from preschool? What happens if your spouse gets sick? Are your spouse and child enrolled in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System? Can they remain on base? Can your family reach you in case of an emergency? Most importantly: Is your family ready for you to deploy?" Many Reservists haven't really given these questions much thought, though deployment and readiness are the responsibilities of members. We don't always consider how a deployment could impact our families -- until it happens. Family Readiness helps families prepare for separations and deployments, which are a major part of military life. Members can better perform responsibilities when they know their family is being taken care of at home. The Airman Family Readiness Office was created after Desert Storm. The Defense Department aimed to provide enhanced support to members' families who were left behind. The two main objectives are to assist members as they prepare for deployment and to provide resources and support to the family while the member is away. Each member receives a deployment package that provides basic deployment information, a will worksheet , Power of Attorney information and a What's Next Book. The What's Next book helps members and their families make the most of their association with the Air Force Reserves. As the member processes through the deployment line, family support provides materials to assist with their preparation. Our second objective is to become the point of contact for any family issues that may arise while the member is deployed. Prior to the deployment ,the Airman and Family Readiness Office asks the deployer to complete an AFRES Form 73, which provides the proper family contact information. Our goal is to answer any questions in the absence of the sponsor and to provide continuous outreach by monthly contact. Since each family's needs are different , we have various referral services to address specific needs. Whether the member lives close to Andrews Air Force Base or resides outside of Maryland, family support can provide the following services at any military installation for any branch of service: Morale call weekly phone call Monthly family contacts Readiness workshops Support groups (through our active duty counterpart) Tricare information Money Management Child Care (during UTA/Deployments) Military One Source resources To determine whether or not your family is prepared for a future deployment, visit the Airman and Family Readiness office, Building 3755, Room 130 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during each primary UTA or call 240-857-7048, or toll-free 1-877-252-3758. Any emergencies can be directed through Command Post at 202-528-7615. We can help you find the answers to all your deployment questions and more. Let us help prepare you and your family for the first or next deployment.