JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.- --
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.-
The military lifestyle can be a challenging and confusing experience for service members and their families. Having the right resources to help navigate these challenges can be invaluable to the success of the mission and family.
Whether it’s a deployment, finding the right school, or transitioning back into civilian life, the Military Family Support Center here is available to provide countless resources to make big life changes go a little smoother.
One of the many programs that the center offers is the Hearts Apart Program which was created to link family members with others that are experiencing deployments, via emails, activities and monthly events.
“The center is so important because it’s the connection and the liaison, between the mission and the family,” said Malesh Chanquin, 87th Force Support Squadron Military Family Support Center community readiness consultant, when talking about the Hearts Apart program. “Sometimes the service member cannot [always] tell you the answer.”
The resources that they provide at the MFSC are available to all five branches and can be tailored specifically for the service member or spouse, honing in on the specific concerns of each individual.
“We are here to support families and service members throughout their military career,” said Tech. Sgt. Paul Olmos, 87th Force Support Squadron Military Family Support Center readiness NCO. “From the very beginning, when they enter the service, to the time that they decide to separate, we have programs for everything during their military lifecycle.”
The Military Family Support Center is sought out for many different reasons so the MFSC members strive to give peace of mind to those in search of answers.
“We want people to leave here feeling like they got the assistance that they needed,” said Olmos. “We want them to leave feeling satisfied that they came out with all the answers, and information they were looking for.”
One of the biggest concerns for military members is whether or not their families are taken care of while they are away, and the MFSC plays a vital role in making sure family members of the Joint Base MDL community can tackle the roadblocks they may face, during their military journey.
The center has a unique mission, equipping people with roadmaps to guide them through what comes their way and by keeping them informed about resources the center has available.
“Happy family; happy mission,” said Chanquin. “If the family is happy, supported, and connected then it’s less stress on the family unit and it will reflect directly to the mission.”
To contact the McGuire-Dix Military Family Support Center call 609-754-3154 or find their location at 3435 Broidy Road, JB MDL, N.J. 08733, and to contact the Lakehurst Military Family Support Center call 732-323-1248 or find their location at Highway 547, Bldg. 488, JB MDL, N.J. 08733.