Wing recognizes families as part of Air Force campaign Published Oct. 27, 2009 By Monica Mendoza 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Peterson Airmen will recognize the Year of the Air Force Family campaign during the week of Nov. 1 to 7 with family events, open houses and retiree recognitions. The Year of the Air Force Family is being celebrated Air Force wide. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, designated July 2009 to July 2010 as time to recognize the Air Force family, which is as dynamic and diverse as the Airmen who serve, he said. Across the Air Force, there are 328,763 active duty members with 38.9 percent under the age of 26. Of the Airmen, 59.3 percent are married with 447,993 family members. "Developing and caring for Airmen and their families remains one of our top priorities," General Schwartz wrote in a July 17, 2009 memo to announce the Year of the Air Force Family campaign. The 21st Space Wing set up a team, the Integrated Delivery System, to raise awareness of how Peterson is developing and caring for Airmen and their families. Each month, the IDS team will highlight different programs and services. The week of Nov. 1 to 7 kicks off the events with family bowling Nov. 1 at the Bowling Center. At least a dozen events are planned for the week. "The idea is to highlight programs in place, identify gaps and to see where we can do better," said Mr. Paul Smith, Airman and Family Readiness Center chief. "We are hoping that people who are not familiar with our programs will become so." Peterson aims to reach out to special groups who may be unfamiliar with its programs, Mr. Smith said. For example, on Nov. 2, the youth center will host an open house for children and parents who home school. "The idea is to reach out to them and to acquaint them with the facilities on base," Mr. Smith said. So committed to finding out ways to improve Airman and family services, Col. Sandra Adams, Air Force Services Agency commander, visited Peterson Oct. 23 to meet with more than 100 Airmen and their family members. "When we talk about families, it also means extended families," said Beverly Price, A&FRC community readiness consultant. There are four main areas, or pillars, that the Year of Air Force Family campaign wants to highlight: health and wellness; Airman and family housing; Airman and family support; and education, development and employment. Peterson's A&FRC offers more than 60 programs and services dedicated to supporting Airmen and their families. The center will host an open house Nov. 4, especially to showcase all of its offerings. "Until you have a need for the services, you might not know what we have," Ms. Price said. "At the open house, we'll talk about the full spectrum of programs and services." WEEK OF THE AIR FORCE FAMILY -- Family bowling, 1 p.m. Nov. 1, at the Bowling Center, Building 406 -- Lighten Up class, noon, Nov. 2, at the Health and Wellness Center, Building 959 -- Family story essay competition, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2, at the Youth Center, Building 1555 -- Open house for homeschoolers, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2, at the Youth Center, Building 1555 -- Retiree Recognition Reception, 2 p.m. Nov. 3, at Retiree Affairs Office, Building 350, followed by a retiree brief at the Youth Center, Building 1555 -- Resume review, 9 a.m. Nov. 3, at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Building 350 -- Quit Tobacco orientation, 11 a.m. Nov. 3, at the HAWC, Building 959 -- Heart Health, 10 a.m. Nov. 4, at the HAWC, Building 959 -- Airman and Family Readiness Center Open House, 1 p.m. Nov. 4, at the A&FRC, Building 350 - IDS Information Fair, Nov. 4, A&FRC -- Communication training, 10 a.m. Nov. 5, at the A&FRC, Building 350 - D eployment Family Dinner/Movie, Nov. 6 --Tobacco Cessation 1, 11 a.m. Nov. 5, at the HAWC, Building 959 --A &FRC Dinner and Movie Night, 6 p.m. Nov. 6. For details call, 556-6141 -- Kids Understanding Deployment Operations mock deployment line, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nov. 7, at the Youth Center, Building 1555