Air Force, Army, Navy family services expand for new joint base Published Sept. 22, 2009 By 020909 JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- As Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst moves toward Full Operational Capability Oct. 1, family services will expand to support Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel and their dependents. The Airman and Family Readiness Center at McGuire, along with Navy Fleet and Family Services, and Army Community Services will merge into one organization with a new title of Warfighter and Family Readiness Center. The W&FRC will adopt the best practice from any of the three services to support the health, welfare, and mission readiness of servicemembers and their families. "Air Force, Army, and Navy family readiness centers have built a reputation of providing exceptional customer service and activities, which will not change," said Don Divis, 87th Force Support Squadron flight chief. "All three centers have actually worked closely together for years; joint basing opportunities have just placed these great programs and professionals under one leader." All three family readiness center locations can now be utilized by military members regardless of their branch of service. Customers will also have the opportunity to register for any available activity, class or program sponsored by any of the center's for which they qualify. Such programs include Hearts Apart for families of those deployed, Bundles for Babies for expectant parents, Transition Assistance Program for servicemembers separating and retiring, several career-service programs, and many other programs, which are available to all JB MDL families. In addition to programs the Warfighter and Family Readiness Center offers, the 87th Medical Group Family Advocacy Program at McGuire will also gain strength as Oct. 1 approaches. "Family Advocacy will continue to sustain, support and provide services for the psychological and emotional health of the new Joint Base community," said Melodye Giovanni, Family Advocacy outreach manager. McGuire, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Family Advocacy will become one program under the 87th MDG - combining staff from all three offices, she said. Family Advocacy will continue to offer preventive domestic violence services, stress management classes, parent support programs and more to all servicemembers. "Mission and family life are closely connected; when issues surface in either area, both are affected," Ms. Giovanni said. "Well-adjusted families and servicemembers can have a positive effect on the mission. It takes a lot to win a war, and family support programs do make a difference in that effort."