JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
A continuing education training session from 9-11 a.m. Nov. 6 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Military & Family Readiness Center will prepare Key Spouse Program members for assisting individuals and families affected by emergencies ranging from airplane crashes to natural disasters.
During the session, which is open to key spouses and key spouse mentors, attendees will learn about the Emergency Family Assistance Center process and what duties they can expect to perform.
“When an EFAC is activated, we can’t do a lot without volunteers,” said Criselda Guerrero-Smith, JBSA-Randolph M&FRC community readiness consultant. “We want people who are trained and know the process.”
Key spouses are uniquely suited to serve as EFAC volunteers because they have been selected by unit commanders for the Key Spouse Program, Guerrero-Smith said. Key spouses support the families of deployed Airmen and ensure they have a direct line of communication to their loved ones’ units and M&FRCs.
“In just two hours of training, key spouses will have an opportunity to make a world of difference for their community should an emergency situation arise,” she said.
According to the EFAC Operations Guide, EFACs are activated “when needs are beyond the capability of the agencies primarily tasked to provide immediate crisis intervention.” The EFAC’s mission is to promote “short- and long-term recovery and the return to a stable environment and mission-ready status for Department of Defense personnel and their families following an all-hazards incident.”
Installation commanders stand up EFACs when the need arises, and M&FRC chiefs typically activate the centers so disaster relief and services can be provided to individuals and families affected by a disaster, Guerrero-Smith said.
M&FRCs serve as the primary location for EFACs unless there is a need for a larger space or alternate location based on the situation, she said.
M&FRC community readiness consultants, Military and Family Life Counselors, personnel from helping agencies such as mental health and the chaplain’s office, and representatives of other base units staff EFACs.
“Helping agencies come to the EFAC so people don’t go bouncing from office to office on base,” Guerrero-Smith said. “We have a flow plan that shows where each agency performs its mission.”
Key spouses and key spouse mentors provide valuable assistance as volunteers at EFACs.
“Some of their roles are escorting people, supporting parents who may need help with their children and attending to the staff’s needs,” Guerrero-Smith said. “It just depends on the crisis.”
During the training session, key spouses will be introduced to the EFAC process and to the various scenarios they may face.
“We will also assess their strengths so their roles can be defined,” she said.
EFAC training is similar to base exercises in that it promotes readiness, Guerrero-Smith said.
“We don’t want to be reactive; we want to be proactive,” she said. “We need our volunteers to be a big part of that. They are already versed in crises because they’re doing it with their units.”
Key spouses and key spouse mentors who wish to attend the EFAC training session should call the JBSA-Randolph M&FRC at 210-652-5321 to register.