LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The July 30 "Sizzling Summer Block Party" by the 802nd Force Support Squadron at the Warhawk Fitness Center and pool concludes Lackland events under the Year of the Air Force Family initiative.
A crowd of 1,500 or more is expected to officially end 12 months of YoAFF activities, which began Aug. 1, 2009.
"It's our big wrap-up, a fun way to celebrate the Year of the Air Force Family for the entire Lackland community," said Deb Willey, Airman and Family Services Flight chief, 802nd FSS.
The family event, open to all base personnel, includes a pool party with a disc jockey, children's activities, indoor sports activities for all ages in the fitness center, water games every hour, a Spurs activity booth, a dunking booth, a unit/organization cardboard boat race at 5 p.m. and a G-rated outdoor movie at dusk.
There will also be a drink concession stand, and free hamburgers and hot dogs, grilled by the First Sergeants.
Ms. Willey said the YoAFF initiative had a positive effect on Lackland. It fostered partnerships and better communication between base organizations and agencies to disseminate information about YoAFF programs.
"It brought us together and helped us find (more effective) ways to get that information out to the community," she said.
One program continuing is the web-based FitFamily, which encourages families to make healthy lifestyle choices together. A local spinoff from that program was the Lackland Youth Center offering various fun and healthy activities that are more family-oriented.
"YoAFF was a good start to get us going," Ms. Willey said. "It helped us refocus on the needs in our community and build partnerships, to think about some things we were doing and how to make them better.
"Having that focus, thinking about things differently and looking at ways to better deliver our services and get the word out has made it a successful venture."
The Air Force Services Agency surveyed families Air Force-wide through a series of discussion groups at various bases last fall that focused on quality of life issues. Lackland was one of two Air Education and Training Command bases selected to host discussion groups with AFSA commander Col. Sandra Adams.
From those service-wide surveys, funding has been allocated to help families with special needs at 38 bases. Based on a large number of registered families with special needs, Lackland will receive funding to staff a new position dedicated to assisting those families.
Ms. Willey said families with special needs will have a contact person at Lackland to connect them with resources and be an advocate to local agencies.
"The Air Force realized there was a gap in that service," she said. "That's a benefit to help our families."
The purpose of the YoAFF initiative was to assist Air Force families in reaching their personal and professional goals, enhance mission accomplishment and maintain a wartime operations tempo. It was supported by funding to create or enhance base programs, guided by a national theme, "The Air Force is a great place to LIVE, WORK, PLAY."