WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- While the demands of military life can vary from person to person, resources and services are available to help balance those needs.

One part of the overall installation family support system is the Airman & Family Readiness Center- a network of agencies, programs, services, partnerships and individuals supporting personal and family preparedness.

"The Airman & Family Readiness Center should be one of your first stops upon arriving at the installation; its programs and services are an important resource for you and your family," said Glenda Alexander, Airman & Family Readiness chief. "At some point we touch base with every active-duty member at Whiteman and many of their family members."

The A&FRC offers a variety of services to help individuals deal with military life changes, including adding children to the family, PCSing, transitioning out of the Air Force, crisis management and conflict resolution.

"Our focus is creating a community of resiliency," said Glenda Alexander, Airman & Family Readiness Chief. "We work with clients on anything that relates to lifecycle issues.

The mission and vision of the A&FRC are aligned, creating a self-sufficient, resilient and "mission-ready" community.

"Individual and family readiness is core to everything we do," Alexander said. "We also ensure in that process each individual is resilient. Being resilient means people are able to cope, adapt and have the skills and resources available to them to help in that process should an issue arise. The difference is being able to work through those issues and become resilient - and even when we fall, we can pick up and keep moving."

The staff of 10 dedicated members maintains a high level of expertise in all the programs offered, enabling anyone in the office to effectively address questions or issues Airmen or their family members may have.

"The A&FRC is a direct reflection of Team Whiteman's operations tempo and the culture on the base because we are so immersed in the programs and services," Alexander said. "Our team is in this together and everyone helps out when and where needed to get the job done right."

When a person walks in, A&FRC is able to assess his or her needs and assist in some capacity - even if only to provide an appointment for non-emergency services, said Alexander.

"Sometimes our job consists of interfacing with people to get them in contact with the right people or resources to get them to what they need," Alexander said.

The staff at the Airman and Family Readiness Center has a plethora of experience and varied backgrounds, said Senior Master Sgt. Mona Wendzillo, A&FRC NCOIC.

"Through a team effort, we are able to support, or provide resources for a variety of issues for, the Whiteman population. We are eager to help assist the base personnel and offer to help the Airmen and their families," she said.

Overall, the A&FRC serves as a one-stop information and referral center for active-duty, Guard, reserve, Department of Defense civilians, retiree and family members.

The A&FRC offers a variety of programs and services including:

· Personal and Family Readiness
· Air Force Aid Society
· Personal Financial Readiness
· Personal & Work Life Education
· Employment Assistance
· Transition Assistance
· Volunteer Resource Program
· Relocation Assistance
· Casualty Affairs Representative and Survivor Benefits Program
· Discovery Resource Center
· School Liaison and Exceptional Family Member Resources
· Emergency Family Assistance Center
· Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment Systems Case Management
· Military Family Life Counseling

For more information, call the A&FRC at 660-687-7132, or visit Whiteman Airman & Family Readiness Center on Facebook.