Deployment Support

The Barksdale Military and Family Readiness Center provides a comprehensive package of support programs and services for military members and their families before, during and after deployments.

Pre-Deployment Readiness Briefing

Due to the high operational tempo of military deployments, it is vital to have personal and family affairs in order. The M&FRC provides bi-weekly pre-deployment briefings that include face-to-face briefings from 10 base agencies and cover: Building Readiness & Resiliency, The Cycle of Deployment Phases, Personal & Financial Preparations, Communication and Coping Strategies, Family and Parenting Considerations Roles & Responsibilities, Available Resources and Support Systems, Return and Reunion Preparations, and Red Cross Notification processes. This is a mandatory briefing for all active-duty members with a firm deployment tasking within 30-60 days of departure who are deploying for 30+days and for Service Members with orders to a Remote Tour location and have dependents that are not accompanying them. Family members and/or significant others are highly encouraged to attend and individual and family assistance is provided and appropriate referrals are made for other deployment-related concerns not available at the M&FRC. The link to the Share Point Site for registration is located on Barksdalelife.com (M&FRC page) or members can contact their unit UDMs for more information.

Reunion and Reintegration Support and Education

This educational briefing focuses on reintegration following a service member’s return from deployment.  The M&FRC provides weekly post-deployment briefings that include face-to-face briefings from 8 base agencies that assist in facilitating the transition from the deployed environment to family, community, and workplace. It is mandatory for all active-duty members who have returned from a deployment of 30 days or more and must attend the briefing within 5 days of return prior to approval of R&R. Family members and/or significant others are highly encouraged to attend. Individual and family assistance is provided, and appropriate referrals are made for other deployment-related concerns not available at the M&FRC. The link to the Share Point Site for registration is located on Barksdalelife.com (M&FRC page) or members can contact their unit UDMs for more information. 

The Post-Deployment Phase begins 30 days after re-deployment and lasts until 180 days following the members return. Service members and their families are trying to adjust to one another, re-establishing habits, and creating new norms. Our M&FRC Readiness program focus is placed on successfully reconnecting deployers with their families, back into their units and within their military and local communities. It is highly recommended that service members include their spouse and family members when attending reintegration programs and briefings. Leadership, Units, Commander Key Support Liasions and helping agencies continue to monitor service members and their families as they reintegrate back into home-station and following Return and Reunion activities. Contact the M&FRC at 318-456-8400 for further details and information.