Airman and Family Readiness Center earns best in command - again

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Timm Huffman
  • 439AW/PA
WESTOVER ARB, Mass. --  When Tech. Sgt. Horace Robinson, 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, moved with his family from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., in June 2010, their lives were packed into a moving truck.

The Robinsons knew nothing about Western Mass.

The Westover Airman and Family Readiness Center was there to help. The Robinsons borrowed household goods, including a toaster and coffee pot, from the Airman's Attic until their own goods arrived six weeks later. The A&FRC also provided the Robinsons the information they need to get into base housing.

"They were fantastic, knowledgeable, even concerned," said Sergeant Robinson.

"Without them, my move would have been 50 percent more difficult."

The Robinsons' story highlights the type of service that earned the 439th A&FRC the 2010 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award - for the second time in three years.

Andrea Bowen, A&FRC director, cited the hard work of her dedicated staff as the primary reason for winning.

"I'm really proud of the staff here," she said. "Master Sgt. Kimberly Babin, Tech. Sgts. Rebecca Duvall, Christine Hatfield, Michael Hyde, Aluin Morales, and Charles Woodward are the reasons we were named best in Air Force Reserve Command."

Ms. Bowen said her staff's hard work on the Key Spouse Program and Yellow Ribbon Program was recognized by the award. During the 2010 activation, the A&FRC made 100 percent contact with the families of deployed reservists. They also ensured every deploying reservist received pre- and post deployment briefings on benefits and services available to them.

Sergeant Duvall, who was activated along with Sergeant Woodward during the 2010 mobilization, said she would often come into the center early and stay late to make sure Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors got the services they needed.

She recalled one time when she received a late-night call from a Westover chaplain to help a deployed member's spouse resolve a housing issue. She took quick action to resolve the issue.

"Even though we are busy and it's a constant go, I enjoy doing this, so it doesn't feel so much like a job," Sergeant Duvall said. "It's definitely a team award. Even though Sergeant Woodward and I were activated, everyone pitched in. If we were ever in a pinch, we could always call one of the others and they would help out."

"This award is well deserved and couldn't have happened to a better group of people," said Sergeant Robinson.