Military and Family Support Center

The Voting Assistance Office is located in the Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC). This is your one stop shop for all of your voting needs. For further information you can contact Shaw's Voter's Assistance Office at (803) 895-1253. Voting.Assistance@us.af.mil  or visit the FVAP site at https://www.fvap.gov/.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program ensures that service members, their eligible family members and overseas U.S. citizens have the tools and resources to register to vote and request an absentee ballot, regardless of their state of residence. The Voting Assistance Guide is a reference guide for everything you need to know about absentee voting in all 50 states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

The VAG is available online. Select your state to find your local election office’s contact information.

Voting forms are also available online.

An installation voting assistance officer is available to assist and answer your questions at 803-895-1253.

Eligibility:  FREE to Active duty AF members to include Air National Guard and AF Reserve members who are activated under Title 10, USC for more than 15 days are eligible for the Give Parents a Break (GPAB) program. The Air Force Aid Society recognizes that Air Force 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 as well as from extended family members who might otherwise offer support. In an effort to help these families, care for active duty Air Force families under the GPAB Program. Air Force Aid Society now pays CDCs the $8.00 Standard Hourly Care Rate which became effective 30 October 2022 for Give Parents a Break Program and where approved to utilize the CDC, for Child Care for PCS Program. The purpose of this program is to offer eligible parents a few hours break from the stresses of parenting. Families may use this time to suit their personal needs. AFAS pays the cost of a monthly 4 - hour session at the base Child Development/Youth Center, to include FCC provider homes when an installation is approved for the revamped GPAB. Minimum of 8 Children required in attendance to have a GPAB session. A GPAB certificate may be issued when a parent is feeling stress due to:

• The military member being deployed, on an extended TDY or on a remote tour of duty

• A family crises or emergency such as serious illness of a family member, death in the family extended illness of family members, birth of a new baby, etc.

• Having a child with special needs • Unique circumstances or hardships (Note: Being a single parent is not in itself a reason for this program)

Military and Family Support Centers provide information, education and support programs to help balance the demands of military life. Offerings include:

• Deployment support to assist you and your family during all phases of the deployment cycle. Learn more about deployment support.
• Relocation assistance to help you prepare for an upcoming move and get settled into your new location. Learn more about the military Relocation Assistance Program.
• Confidential non-medical clinical counseling provides support for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments Learn more about confidential non-medical counseling.
• Personal and family life education assists with developing knowledge and skills to help you navigate your mobile military life.
• Personal financial readiness assists you and your family in building and maintaining your financial readiness.
• Employment assistance supports career exploration, education, training and licensing, career connections and employment readiness for military spouses, transitioning service members, and other family members. Learn more about the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, or SECO.
• Information and referral can assist you in identifying and clarifying needs and locating and connecting to services and programs available both on and off your installation.
• Morale, Welfare and Recreation, or MWR services provide lots of ways for you to connect with friends and others for entertainment, rest and relaxation — all at reduced or no cost. Learn more about MWR programs and services.
• The Transition Assistance Program provides the information, skills and knowledge necessary for a successful transition from military to civilian life. Learn more about transition assistance programs and resources.

Military and Family Support Centers may provide other programs such as the following:

Exceptional Family Member Program

Family Advocacy Program

New Parent Support Program

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Services may vary by location and installation. Use the Search tool to find contact information for your installation Military and Family Support Center. Just enter your installation name, Zip code or state.

The Weasel Welcome/Right Start Program is a required appointment for active duty personnel, and spouses are encouraged to attend. This briefing is designed to familiarize you and your family with the base and the local Sumter community. Service members should attend this briefing within 14 days of arrival. The program will begin at 0715 for introductions to our Shaw AFB helping agencies Team. Seating for the initial welcome by the wing commander/command chief will start promptly at 8 a.m.

Scheduling is handled when the member in-processes. Service members are required to wear their uniform of the day.

Child care: The Air Force Aid Society provides for up to 20 hours of free permanent change of station child care for service members who have recently arrived to Shaw Air Force Base to help you settle in before or after a PCS. Army personnel are highly encouraged to reach out to the family child care provider on base at 803-895-1212 for child care assistance. Please contact the Military and Family Readiness Center at 803-895-1253 for a list of authorized providers.