Family is essential to Air Force success

  • Published
  • By By Col. Michael Jordan
  • 354th Fighter Wing Vice Commander
Family has always played an important part in the success of our Air Force mission. When the family is happy and healthy, the mission is successfully accomplished -- often with more efficiency and better quality work. When something negatively affects a family member, there is usually a corresponding negative impact to the mission.

Promoting the family culture, the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force designated July 2009 - July 2010 as the "Year of the Air Force Family" with the goal to highlight the many successful programs in place to support Airmen and their families and as a central way to inform Airmen of new programs as they are unveiled throughout the year.

President Barack Obama recently highlighted the important role of family when he proclaimed November as Military Family Month. In the proclamation he said, "No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our nation's military and their families. As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage. They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right."

Happy, healthy military families are critically important to our Air Force culture and ultimately our mission success. That success is made possible by the entire Air Force Family to include active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen, single Airmen, civilians, spouses, children, extended family members, retirees and community partners.

The strength of the nation's Air Force does not come from the platforms and technology we operate, but from Airmen and their families. Taking care of them is important to maintaining a high quality of life in our military.

Our Air Force Family can maintain a high quality of life through even the toughest times with robust support programs. There are currently 31st Air Force Aid Society grants; marriage and family enrichment retreats and seminars; and a variety of other programs tailored to the unique needs of each member. Leaders at every level in the chain of command are empowered to provide help and support to ensure each member of our Air Force Family can reach personal and professional goals while maintaining a high operational tempo.

I encourage every member of the Air Force Family to not only seek out the many programs available to them at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Education Office and other support agencies on base, but to also seek out opportunities to step up and help. Together, as a family, we can ensure the Air Force is a great place to work, live and play.