Airman 1st Class Samuel Lewis takes a lunch break during the Year of the Air Force Family finale with his son Timothy at the base pool on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. During the finale, free food and drink was provided, keeping hungry mouths fed and bodies ready for fun. Airman Lewis is a crew chief with the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Held by her mother Vanessa Drew, Natalie Drew gazes in a mirror as children gather round to see her finished face painting at the base pool on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. The kaleidoscope of paints was an instant hit at the finale, producing bright eyes and colorful cheeks for children playing in the summer heat. Vanessa is the wife of Staff Sgt. Matthew Drew who is a weather forecaster with the 437th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Case Pohle catches some air while playing on the water slide at the base pool on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. The slide provided hours of free fun for children eager to make a splash during the Year of the Air Force Family finale. Case is the son of Maj. Patrick Pohle who is the Mental Health Flight commander for the 628th Medical Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Sasha Drew checks out her festive, new look for the Year of the Air Force Family finale at the base pool on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. Sasha was joined by her mother Vanessa and sister Natalie at the event. Her father is Staff Sgt. Matthew Drew who is a weather forecaster with the 437th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Romello Cypress scores on the rebound at the base pool during the Year of the Air Force Family finale on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. While Romello and other children kept the court action up in the pool, families with younger children stayed clear and waded in the baby pool. Romello is the son of Tech. Sgt. Yolandra Cobb who is a military training leader with the 373rd Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Ryleigh Lurvey finds a new toy for teething while her father, Senior Airman Jacob Lurvey, vies for her attention at the base pool on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Aug. 28, 2010. Airman Lurvey attended the event with his wife, son, daughter and a few neighborhood children after hearing about the event through the Youth Programs Center. Airman Lurvey is a radio frequency transmission system technician with the 628th Communications Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

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Family support remains priority in Charleston as YoAFF initiative wraps up

Published Aug. 31, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Members of Team Charleston gathered together for an afternoon of fun in the sun at the base pool here Aug. 28, celebrating the Year of the Air Force Family finale.

The event was hosted by the 628th Force Support Squadron and provided free food, music, an exotic bird display, face painting, swimming and balloon art. After the three-hour celebration at the base pool, attendees were invited to a movie showing at the base theater.

The Year of the Air Force Family has served to both increase awareness and spur the establishment of several new family support enhancements.

In the past year, Air Force senior leaders examined existing support services and sought out ways to evolve and expand them to meet the changing needs and expectations of Airmen, their families as well as the larger Air Force family.

A sampling of these enhancements include providing a single point of contact at each Air Force base for the Exceptional Family Member Program, the addition of 53 school liaison officers Air Force-wide, funding for expanded on-base child care capacity and a standardized key spouse program across the Air Force.

As the Year of the Air Force Family comes to a close, many programs developed and improved this year will carry on and continue to benefit Airmen and their families. Within Air Mobility Command, the newly developed Comprehensive Airman Fitness program shares common ground with ideals promoted during the initiative.

Comprehensive Airman Fitness aims to create and sustain a base community to give Airmen and their families a sense of belonging to the community in which they live, work and play.

This includes surveys to find out issues and generate improvements, working with unit key spouses to improve communication, and bring resources together to represent Air Mobility Command's investment in readiness of the force and quality of life for Airmen, family members and civilians.

(Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs contributed to this article)