42nd Aerial Port Squadron offers a day of fun for families of deployed members

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andre Bowser and photos by Senior Airman George Cloutier
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  What do men and women in military uniform, children wearing face paint, socializing parents serving cake and jovial clowns blowing up balloons have in common?

For one, they were all present at the base passenger terminal Sunday, Aug. 8, for a gathering of family and friends of deployed members of the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron.

For two, the squadron's first sergeant, Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Maguire, said it was an opportunity for families to share their similar experiences of having a loved one deployed.

"It's also an opportunity for them to really get to know us," Sergeant Maguire said, adding that many reservists with the aerial port were present. The families, missing wives or husbands, fathers or mothers, came together at the half-point mark of their loved ones' deployments.

Christine Adamiec, the wife of Senior Airman David Adamiec, said she was due to give birth in early October, but hopefully not before her husband returned sometime that same month.

Surrounded by families going through similar challenges, she said she appreciated the company. "I think it's really nice to have other people who are going through the same thing share their views," she said.

Dawn Lawlor, the wife of Master Sgt. Daniel Lawlor, said he has deployed many times and she likes giving advice and encouragement to the younger spouses.

"We should do this every deployment," she said, adding that the event was the second to be held by the families of aerial porters.

Family care isn't just underlined at Westover. It's required.

The Air Force has made it mandatory that single-parent or military families have a Family Care Plan in place for dependents during deployments.

"It's a tool for deploying Airmen to ensure that their families are taken care of while they are gone," said Master Sgt. Frederick Hetu, 439th Airlift Wing Mission Support Squadron first sergeant.

According to AFI 36-2908, the Family Care Plan states "all Air Force members with families will have family care arrangements that reasonably cover all situations, both short and long term." The members "are required to develop a written plan (AF Form 357) to be maintained by the commander or first sergeant. It will detail and provide a smooth, rapid transfer of responsibilities to designees during the absence of the member."

For more information about a Family Care Plan, see your first sergeant, and visit www.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI36-2908.pdf.