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Airmen helping Airmen when life happens

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Darrell Dean
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  "Mom's gone."

My wife could only push these two words past her sobs. Her mom's health had been declining for quite some time, but we weren't expecting her to go so soon.

I was a year into a 15-month unaccompanied tour at Lajes Field, Azores, when I got that phone call. Separation from family is difficult enough under normal circumstances, but hearing the pain in my wife's voice made a few thousand miles feel like light years separating us. I choked back my own emotions to console my wife and plan for my emergency leave.

As a supervisor, I was somewhat familiar with emergency leave. I knew the Air Force would pay for my flight back to the States. Getting to Phoenix from the port of entry would be out of my own pocket. I was booked on a flight leaving for Norfolk, Va., the next day and had to plan my travel from there.

Anyone who has experience booking commercial airline tickets knows that buying a ticket the day before a flight will typically cost much more than booking early. Additionally, I would arrive in Norfolk late at night and have to wait until the next day to get a flight. Now I had to add a hotel bill to my expenses.

I called the airlines and was told they no longer offer bereavement fares. I began to scour the internet to get the best ticket price. Finding an inexpensive hotel in Norfolk during the tourist season was proving to be a futile effort. I had to pay much more for my hotel and flight than I normally would.

I pride myself on being financially responsible, but life happens no matter how well you plan. I try to keep money in a savings account to cover unexpected expenses. However, circumstances at the time had placed me in a less than ideal financial situation. My wife was out of work and we were maintaining two households in two different countries. Add in some major car repairs and some other unexpected expenses and our savings account was looking pretty slim.

I had to get back to my wife. I had no other choice but to find a way to fund my travel while keeping up with the normal expenses. My wife and I went over some figures and came up with a plan to cover everything. We would have to tighten our belts and make some sacrifices for a few weeks, but we could make our plan work.

Later that day, I was in my first sergeant's office finalizing the emergency leave paperwork. I remember her asking if I could cover my travel expenses. I don't recall my exact response, but I'm sure it was something like, "No worries, ma'am. I have it covered." My pride didn't allow me to admit I was in a financial bind.

The first sergeant handed me a pamphlet about the Air Force Aid Society. She said they may be able to help if I changed my mind. I politely thanked her and stuffed the pamphlet in the folder with my other paperwork with plans to drop it in the recycling bin later.

The pamphlet never made it to the recycling bin. It somehow managed to make it to Arizona with me and find its way to my wife. She seemed to think it was something we needed to check into. I scoffed at the very idea that I would ask for a "handout" from anyone. She continued her gentle, yet persistent persuasion until I finally relented.

I reluctantly made my way to the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. I listened as the staff member told me about the different programs AFAS offered. I soon learned what I thought I knew about AFAS assistance was wrong.

The AFAS provides emergency assistance in the form of interest free loans and grants for Airmen and their families to cover basic living and unexpected expenses in an emergency situation. There is an application process that, in most cases, requires the applicant to provide their budget information. Each application is carefully considered before any assistance is given.

AFAS not only offers emergency financial assistance. The Society also provides education grants and scholarships, community programs such as spouse employment programs, free calling cards for deployed Airmen and much more.

AFAS is one of four affiliates of the Air Force Assistance Fund. The annual AFAF campaign allows Airmen to contribute to the affiliated organizations through one-time cash donations or monthly payroll allotments. The annual AFAF campaign supports the 'Airmen helping Airmen' philosophy on which the Society was founded.

I weighed the options and decided a Falcon Loan best fit my needs. I completed the paperwork and in minutes had a check in my hand and a weight off my shoulders. I no longer had to worry about my immediate financial needs. I could now focus on supporting my wife through one of the most difficult times in her life.

Life happens no matter how well we plan. One emergency situation can change our path from financial security to struggling to get by. It is comforting to know when life changes our plans, there are Airmen helping Airmen in their times of greatest need.

The JB MDL 2014 Air Force Assistance Fund annual campaign runs from March 4 to April 11. Contact your unit AFAF representative for more information or to make a contribution. Learn more about the Air Force Aid Society at www.afas.org or visit your installation's Family Support Center.