Deployment Support

The family readiness program assists with all stages of deployment, mobilization, separations, local or national emergencies, disasters and evacuations. The Kadena Military and Family Readiness Center’s readiness non-commissioned officer and staff provide preparation information, education and guidance aimed at optimally preparing military members and their families for deployments and extended temporary duty assignments. Services include pre-deployment briefings, child care, Bi-monthly social events and other programs offered to assist families while their loved ones are away.

Pre-Deployment Briefings

Briefings are held every Monday at 9 a.m. at the M&FRC, Building 220. Briefings are mandatory for all military personnel deploying from Kadena AB for more than 30 days. Briefings provide an overview of deployment checklist items, a review of the cycles of deployment and resources for the military member and dependent(s). Spouses are highly encouraged to attend pre-deployment briefings.

Resources and information provided at these briefings include:

*            Give Parents A Break – This AFAS-sponsored program is designed to offer eligible parents a few hours’ break from the stresses of parenting. At Kadena, we offer 4-5 hours of free child care to parents who need a break while their active-duty member is deployed. Care is offered one weekend a month at either Wakaba Child Development Center or Niko Niko CDC for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age and at Himawari School Age Program for children 5-12 years of age.

*            Family activities – The M&FRC hosts a deployed family activity for spouses and children Bi-Monthly. These activities are open to all military branches of a deployed service member. It's a great opportunity to meet other families and network in a fun and festive environment. Child care is available onsite.

There are a number of resources to make a deployed member's reunion a successful and joyous one. Please see the following resources for further information.

Post-Deployment Briefing

Briefings are held twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) at 9 a.m. in the Building 220 training room. Briefings are mandatory for all military personnel returning from deployment. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend post-deployment briefings.

Other resources available for post-deployment

Returning home child care – Active-duty members returning from deployment 30 days or longer are eligible for 16 hours of child care through the Family Child Care center. Service is provided on a space-available basis. Call the FCC office at DSN 315-634-0514, Bldg. 1850 for more information.

Disaster Preparedness

• Emergency evacuation training for units is provided by the Military and Family Readiness Center in the event of an emergency during which family members must be evacuated.
• Emergency evacuation packets are issued by the military member’s host organization. All family members are defined as "noncombatants.”
• All active duty and their spouses (if applicable) are required to meet with their noncombatant evacuation operations warden within 60 days of their arrival to complete the emergency evacuation program.
• EEP's are kept with the family and include all necessary paperwork for noncombatants to evacuate and leave Okinawa in an event of an emergency.
• Prior to deployment, ensure that all information in your family's EEP is current.