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, bi-monthly social events and other programs offered to assist families while their loved ones are away.

Pre-Deployment Briefings

Please check our tockify website for the dates and times. Briefing takes place 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. Please contact the Military and Family Readiness Center to sign up. The link to access brief dates and times: https://tockify.com/kadenamfrc/pinboard

Resources and information provided at these briefings include:

• Give Parents A Break – Supporting Air Force and Space Force families with childcare assistance during times of stress. Service members and their families are subject to unique stresses due to the nature of military life – deployments, remote tours of duty, frequent moves, etc. Families are often separated from spouses and extended family members who might otherwise offer support. To assist these families, AFAS provides assistance with the childcare costs for active-duty Air Force and Space Force families, Air National Guard and Reserve members under the GPAB program. The purpose is to offer eligible parents a few hours break from the stresses of parenting. For more information please visit: https://afas.org/gpab/
• 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. If you would like to sign up, please contact the Military and Family Readiness Center (634-3366) or email 18FSS.FSH.EFMP-FSORG@US.AF.MIL

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

To see the dates and times for the Post-Deployment Briefings please visit our tockify website. These briefings are mandatory for all military personnel returning from deployment. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend post-deployment briefings. To sign up for the brief, please contact the Military and Family Readiness Center at 634-3366 or 098-961-3366.

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 (NEO) 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.