An orientation program designed for those who are newly married or just interested in learning more about Vandenberg and the Air Force and Space Force Life. The overall goal of the program is to ensure that spouses are aware of their importance and feel as though they are a part of Team Vandenberg. Information is given about community resources, TRICARE, deployments, and more. This program is offered quarterly. For more information and to learn the class dates, contact the Military & Family Readiness Center.

An official "Unit Family Readiness Program" that supports Airmen, Guardians, and their families. The Key Spouse Program is designed to enhance mission readiness and resilience in order to establish a sense of community. The program promotes partnerships with unit leadership, families, Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) and other on and off base helping agencies. The motivation of the program is to effectively take care of Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Key Spouses are appointed in writing and receive formal training and continuing education to keep their skills sharp. The unit Key Spouse is a point of contact for both the duty member and their family.

Working with local on and off base agencies, this program provides formalized assistance with referrals to appropriate agencies with specialized consultations for military families seeking to provide foster care or adoption to children in need. This is a confidential peer-to-peer support where families can speak to someone who has experienced adoption or foster care first-hand. Moreover, we utilize locally developed and researched resources (county, state, city & installation) to assist military families seeking to engage the Foster Care or Adoption life experience.

This 90-minute workshop provides individuals simple tools for renewing themselves in stressful and changing times. The course objectives help clients understand how increasing coherence and managing stressful emotions can improve health, well-being, and relationships.

Put the sizzle back in your marriage! Learn to resolve conflict, process anger, develop intimacy, and appreciate your differences while having fun dating your sweetheart. Developing a healthy growing marriage requires friendship, fun, and romance. There's no better way to develop these than having dates! Great dates involve communicating and reviving the spark that initially ignited your fire. This class is designed to assist you with that task.

It takes wisdom to have a good relationship and it takes understand to make it strong. It takes knowledge to fill a life with rare and beautiful treasures! Laughter can be a healing balm to the soul and spirit, especially during stressful times. Relationships are wonderful, complicated, fulfilling, stressful, exhilarating, and a hundred other things! This course tackles some of the most common challenges that most couples face. Learn to laugh, love, and live together in harmony.

If you love to travel, it's a good idea to have a current passport. The M&FRC hosts an annual passport acceptance event for people with base access. The Los Angeles Passport Agency sends agents to Vandenberg to accept passport applications.

This class offers a foolproof way to follow your heart without losing your mind. Jerks have no gender, the only difference is the package they come in. All of us act like jerks now and then, but the most identifying feature of true jerks is their persistent resistance to ever changing their core jerk qualities. In this course you will learn how to utilize both your head and heart. Learn to "pace" your relationship and utilize the five bonding dynamics to analyze your partner, judge character and compatibility, build relationship skills, and avoid emotional baggage.

Employment workshops are offered for federal employment, resume writing, interviewing skills, job search, and social media networking. Workshops are held at the center as well as online partnering classes with military supporting programs, fellow military bases, and local agencies.

Reimbursement up to $1000 for occupational state relicensing/recertification cost due to PCS/PCA. The Military Spouse Interstate License Recognition Options map (located at www.veterans.gov/milspouses/) can help identify the rights of a military spouse in the state for which the military installation is located on.

Local, on-base, and remote job postings are updated on our Facebook pages, Vandenberg FSS Employment Support and 30FSS M&FRC every Wednesday. Our "Working Wednesday" post also provides helpful tips on an employment topic along with upcoming employment workshops and job fairs.

The Newcomers' Orientation includes presentations from over 20 base agencies and is scheduled each month. Newcomers’ Orientation is from 0730-1600 for active duty military, and from 0730-1400 for all others. Orientations are held in the ballroom of the Pacific Coast Club, 758 Nebraska Ave, Vandenberg SFB, CA. Participants will be released for lunch at 1130 and must return at 1230. Newcomers' Orientation is MANDATORY for all active-duty personnel, regardless of unit of assignment or prior assignment to Vandenberg SFB. Spouses of active duty personnel and DoD civilian employees are highly encouraged to attend. Participants should not schedule any other appointments during this orientation.

The M&FRC Relocation Program is here to support Sponsors and Command Support Staff who are charged with managing and monitoring the unit level Sponsorship Program. The first step to becoming a successful Sponsor is taking the eSponsorship Application & Training (eSAT). This Department of Defense training is mandated for all new Sponsors and Sponsors who have not taken the eSAT training within the year prior to a new Sponsorship assignment. Training certificates must be submitted to your unit Command Support Staff for unit Sponsorship Program record keeping. In addition to offering the Sponsorship training, this website provides Sponsors with information on the MilitaryInstallations and Plan My Move websites. It also provides a sample welcome letter, a Sponsorship duty checklist, and a Newcomer and Family needs assessment, which should be tailored to fit the needs of the inbound member and their Family.

Are you relocating from Vandenberg SFB? If this is your first PCS or your fifth, our M&FRC staff can help guide you through the steps to better Manage Your Move. Several Presenters such as Finance, Housing, TMO, EFMP and the School Liaison will be on hand to provide insights that might assist in your transition. Call us and register to attend the "Manage Your Move" briefing for a relocation assistance overview. This briefing is mandatory for all E-4’s and below, as well as all O-2 and below, however all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Assists with coordination of family support services on and off the installation to EFMs who have physical, developmental, emotional, social or intellectual impairments/disabilities.

The EFMP-FS often coordinates family camps and/or activities introducing families to new interventions and opportunities to learn. Activities normally provide an environment filled with entertainment for the entire family.

TAP provides individualized transition counseling to help clients explore and assess their employment strengths. Our desire is to provide the duty member, DOD civilians, and their families with as many transition options as possible.

TAP teaches subjects outside the normal transition time parameters (i.e. resume writing, skills assessment, etc.) so that potential separatees/retirees can anticipate future needs. TAP’S priority is to prepare those aforementioned with the information, skills, and knowledge necessary for a successful transition from military to civilian life. Beginning your transition process consists of the following four congressionally mandated steps:

STEP 1: INITIAL COUNSELING (IC)
The pre-transition interview allows the client and the counselor to determine a personalized plan for the transition process.

STEP 2: PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING
All separating and retiring Airmen are required to have Pre-Separation Counseling NLT 365 days prior to leaving Active Duty. This information is available through scheduled group briefings (a prerequisite for the TAP workshop). Contact the A&FRC for availability.

STEP 3: TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) WORKSHOP
Mandatory for all personnel retiring or separating from the military. Through the mandated components of TAP, separating service members have access to an array of workshops, assessments, and services to prepare them for the transition from active duty to civilian life. Seats are limited. Contact the A&FRC to register.

Step 4: CAPSTONE
Verification of Career Readiness Standards (CRS) is the Department of Defense’s tangible measurements of a service member’s preparedness for a civilian career. (Contact the A&FRC for requirements and to schedule your one-on-one appointment)

Other optional 2-day courses provide more in-depth information to assist with your transition:

DOL EMPLOYMENT TRACK
This track assists members seeking employment with resume writing, interviewing skills, networking, labor market information, and federal employment.

DOL CAREER & CREDENTIAL EXPLORATION TRACK
The C2E track assists with establishing clear goals, evaluating training options, and building an action plan. (Contact the A&FRC for requirements and registration).

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK (Boots2Business)
Airmen pursuing self-employment in the private or non-profit sector will learn about the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the benefits and realities of entrepreneurship, and the steps toward business ownership.

DOD EDUCATION TRACK
(Schedule via Ed Center at 805-605-5904)

The Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) works closely with commanders at all levels to ensure the success of the program. The CAR works closely with survivors of retired Air Force members to ensure potential benefits are applied in a timely manner. The CAR provides limited casualty service to members of sister services, certain foreign nationals, and civilians.

Do you have a casualty or SBP question you wish someone could answer for you? Your M&FRC at Vandenberg SFB can help. One-on-one casualty/SBP counseling is available to all military members at Vandenberg SFB. Do not have time to come, just email us your casualty or SBP questions. We will research and respond to your questions within three business days. Most questions are answered within 24 hours. For more information about these programs, call (805) 606-0039 or visit us in Building 10122.

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force and has been meeting the unique needs of Airmen and their families since 1942. AFAS's mission is to support Airmen and enhance the Air Force mission by relieving emergency financial distress, helping Airmen and their families achieve their educational goals, and improving their quality of life through proactive community programs.

Emergencies can cause a financial burden on families when they arise. AFAS provides no-interest loans and grants to help Air Force families meet immediate needs and make a positive step toward a lasting financial solution. Assistance can be provided on a case-by-case basis with situations, such as (but not limited to):

• Basic Living Expenses (Food, Rent, Utilities)
• Emergency Travel
• Vehicle Expenses
• Funeral Expenses
• Medical/Dental
• Child Care/Respite
• Moving Expenses

To apply for assistance, please sign in or register an account at https://portal.afas.org/ea-eligibility.

To continue working on an existing application, please visit https://portal.afas.org/my-applications.

• After completing your application, please contact the Vandenberg Military & Family Readiness Center to reach a caseworker at (805) 606-0039.
• If you are in need of immediate assistance that cannot wait until the next business day please contact the American Red Cross at 1 (877) 272-7337.

Bundles for Babies: Financial planning for expectant parents. Open to all ranks and services, but only active duty Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps families may receive an AFAS bundle valued at more than $75. Held quarterly.

Car Care Because We Care: Provides a cash-equivalent voucher so a primary vehicle can be given basic maintenance service to deployed families. Includes an oil/filter change and may include lubrication and a vehicle safety check on a modest grant basis.

Child Care Programs

• Child Care for PCS
  Helps relieve some of the stress felt by families during a PCS move. AFAS pays for up to 20 hours of child care per child in certified Family Child Care homes within 60 days of departure and/or 60 days of arrival at a new base. Open to all ranks if childcare is available.
• Child Care for Volunteers
  Air Force spouses who volunteer at on-base facilities (such as the pharmacy, tax office, legal office, M&FRC, and Airman’s Attic) in order to learn job skills are eligible for FREE childcare.
• Give Parents A Break
  Offers eligible active duty Air Force parents a few hours break from the stresses of parenting by provides funding child care for active duty Air Force families.

Do you have a passion to help others? Do you want to make a difference or even explore new interests? Try volunteering! You will be glad you did!

If you are interested in volunteering, check out our Volunteer Opportunities for the latest updates. Additionally, you may reach out directly to the organization you would like to work with.

The Installation Voting Office is available to assist with:

• Voter Registration
• Registration Updates after Separation/Retirement
• Absentee Ballot Requests
• Info on State, Territory, or National voting deadlines
• Including information on special and primary elections

If you need assistance, the Military & Family Readiness Center is here to help you fill in and mail your voting materials. You can also access many voting-related questions and answers on the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov.

The A&FRC staff work together with unit leadership to address personnel issues such as personal, interpersonal, and family concerns. Using a collaborative, multi-agency approach, the A&FRC assists leadership in addressing the organizations health, welfare, and readiness of its members.

• Morale and Workplace Dynamics: We offer team-building exercises to help individuals understand how to communicate effectively and work together more efficiently, to increase both morale and their level of camaraderie.
• Family Matters Consultant for Unit Commanders: We provide unit leadership assistance in assessing individual or family concerns and in making appropriate referrals.
• Facilitation of Personal Empowerment: Our team assist in providing individuals' a better understanding of their contribution and significance in the USAF.