Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday
7:30am to 4:30pm
HOURS OF OPERATION
Military & Family Readiness Center
Our goals are simple, we’re here for you!
The Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) is your one-stop information and referral center! We provide free assistance to all active duty, guard, and reserve service members, retirees, DoD civilian employees, and family members of eligible users, helping to connect them to information, resources, and community support agencies.
If it has anything to do with your family’s readiness in terms of money, relationships, career, or health, the Military & Family Readiness Center has resources for you! Check out our many services below, or call to request advice from one of our many professionals!
Our Services
Air Force Aid Society
The Official Charity of the Air Force
The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) supports the mission of the Air Force by relieving the financial distress of service members and their families through education, assistance, and proactive programs. Below are the various programs Air Force Aid Society offers:
Emergency Financial Assistance
When unexpected emergencies arise or there is a financial need, The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) can provide no-interest loans and/or grants to help meet immediate needs and make a positive step towards a lasting financial solution. Interest-free loans/grants are available for:
- Basic Living Expenses
- Emergency Travel
- Essential Car Repair
- Natural Disasters
- Dependent Funerals
- Pay or Allotment Problems
- Medical/Dental expenses not covered by TRICARE
- Falcon Loans
Education Programs
The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program provides up to $4000 in grants for college education for Air Force family members. Applications can be submitted online: www.afas.org.
Community Enhancement Programs
Bundles for Babies: This program offers an educational parenting class for Active Duty members and their spouses. This class is facilitated by the Family Advocacy Nurse Specialist (FANS) and is geared towards new parents. The AFAS provides each participant with a $50 gift card to be used at the Base Exchange to purchase items for the expectant mother & their new baby.
PCS Child Care: This program provides hourly child care for Active duty members on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and transitioning service members on retirement orders. Care will be provided at the local CDC or School Age Care based on space availability. A copy of PCS orders is required to receive a certificate. Members can obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the M&FRC.
Give Parents a Break: The Give Parents a Break program provides free hourly childcare for eligible parents who are subject to the unique stresses of military life, including deployments, remote tours of duty, and extended working hours. The program is offered once a month to allow families a few hours break from the stresses of parenting. In order to receive free care, parents must have a referral on file with the Military & Family Readiness Center. Referrals may be obtained from your commander, first sergeant, base chaplain, medical group, family support center, or child & youth programs personnel. See the Child Development Center page for the current schedule and more information.
Respite Care: This program is offered to active duty Air Force families with a family member(s) enrolled in the EFMP program. The goal of the program is to provide a break for a few hours a week/month to families who have the responsibility of 24 hours-a-day care for an ill/disabled family member. AFAS assistance for respite is based on need.
Resources
Casualty Assistance & Survivor Benefit Plan
Casualty Assistance Program
Losing someone is never easy. The Air Force Casualty Services Program provides prompt and dignified notification, as well as compassionate, thorough, and efficient assistance to family members. The Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) works closely with commanders at all levels to ensure the success of the program and with survivors of retired Air Force members to ensure potential benefits are explained and applied for. We provide limited casualty services to members of sister services, certain foreign nationals, and civilians.
Survivor Benefit Plan
The SBP protects a portion of the income a retiree receives and makes it payable to a surviving spouse or eligible children after death. SBP protection is provided for all active duty service members at no cost. If an active duty service member with a spouse and/or children dies, dependents will continue to receive 55% of the retirement income they would have received. At retirement, service members must elect to continue SBP coverage. After retirement, the government subsidizes a portion of the cost for SBP protection, but the service member is required to pay a share of the premiums equal to roughly 6.5% of the amount protected.
Resources & Downloads
Deployment Readiness
Preparing You and Your Family for Deployment
The Air Force is dedicated to ensuring the needs of deployed Airmen, Guardians and their families are identified and addressed. To assist commanders in this effort, we provide readiness briefings, deployment education, and support to military and eligible civilian personnel and their families at all phases of the deployment cycle.
Deployment-related programs deliver information, support and assistance, which foster competencies and coping skills to help deal with mission demands and family responsibilities. M&FRC services help reduce the stress of the military life cycle, increase morale and unit cohesion, and support operational and family readiness.
Resources
- Pre-Deployment Briefing
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 9am - Reintegration Briefing
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 11am - Deployed Family Dinner
2nd Tuesday of the month | 5pm
Sign up required
Employment Assistance
Helping You Achieve Your Career Goals
The Employment Assistance Program (EAP) supports military members, their families, and civilian employees in achieving short- and long-term employment by referring them to education and training opportunities, as well as assisting with federal and civilian resume writing, job searching, and training for interviewing and negotiating salaries.
The M&FRC provides comprehensive services to ensure customers are equipped with adequate knowledge and assistance to aid in their job search, as well as for volunteer opportunities both on and off an installation.
Resources
Exceptional Family Member Program
Supporting Families with Special Medical & Educational Needs
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) provides on-going non-medical case management services tailored to the unique needs of the family through needs assessments,
community outreach, resources, deployment support, education, information & referrals and more. Services are open to anyone with base access.
Resources & Downloads
EFMP Program Overview
PLAY Project Autism Intervention
EFMP 101 Orientation
EFMP & Me
Dept. of the Air Force Family Vector
Key Spouse Program
Connecting Spouses & the Squadron
The Key Spouse Program (KSP) is designed to enhance readiness and establish a sense of community between the unit, military members, and their families. Key Spouses are volunteers appointed by the Unit Commander and serve as a vital communication link between the unit and its families, as well as a peer-to-peer support system, providing information and referral assistance to other spouses.
Key Spouses must attend a series of initial and annual training sessions with the M&FRC. For more information on Key Spouse program training dates, how to become a key spouse, or connecting with the Key Spouse for your squadron, please call or visit the M&FRC.
Loan Locker
Borrow Household Goods During Your PCS
The Loan Locker offers a selection of household items for service members, DoD civilians, and their families to borrow while awaiting the arrival, or after the departure of their household goods shipment during a PCS or retirement move.
Items may be checked out free of charge for up to 30 days and are open to all ranks.
Items available to borrow include:
Dishes and silverware, pots and pans, tables and folding chairs, car seats, sleeping mats, coffee makers, crockpots, and more.
Military & Family Life Counselor
Free, Confidential Counseling
The Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC) supports service members, their families, and survivors with confidential non-medical counseling to address issues that occur with military life. Trained to work with the military community, Military & Family Life Counselors deliver free and confidential face-to-face counseling services, briefings, and presentations to the military community both on and off the installation.
Issues Addressed
MFLC’s can address issues such as relationship issues at home or work, stress management, adjustment difficulties, parenting, grief and loss, and more.
Issues Not Addressed
MFLC’s cannot address issues such as active suicidal or homicidal thoughts, sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, alcohol/substance abuse, or serious mental health conditions.
While the MFLC’s service is confidential and they can be trusted to keep your information private, they are required to report situations where you could be a danger to yourself or to others.
To reach your local MFLC and make an appointment, please call 701.405.5894.
Resources & Downloads
Personal & Work Life
Programs & Counseling for Everyday Life
The Personal and Work Life program offers programming and counseling services to increase the effectiveness of everyday living skills, learn to cope with life events, and realize one’s personal potential, resulting in increased quality of life and resilience for military members and their families.
Program activities are educational in nature and offered in group or individual settings. Topics range from interpersonal communication skills, adoption, relationship building, maintaining long-distance relationships (during deployment and other separations), marriage preparation, positive parenting, eldercare, time management and team building.
Check out our workshops and programs below, or call the M&FRC to speak to a Work/Life Consultant for assistance, information, and referrals for any personal or work issue you may be facing.
Personal Financial Management
Financial Education & Counseling
The Personal Financial Management Program offers information, education, and counseling to help military members, DoD civilians, and their families improve financial literacy & stability, resolve financial problems, and plan for their futures.
Our certified Personal Financial Counselors offer workshops and one-on-one counseling on a variety of topics including:
- Personal budget counseling
- Credit and debt management strategies
- Understanding your credit report
- Estate planning
- Home and car buying
- Investing in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
- And much more!
Give us a call at 701.747.3241 to see how we could help build your financial future!
Relocation Assistance
Your PCS Resource
The Relocation Assistance Program is designed to ease the personal and family stressors military families experience with a PCS by providing assistance, counseling, and education throughout all phases of the relocation process.
We offer the following services to assist service members and their families moving to or from Grand Forks AFB:
Destination area information
Including moving costs, housing costs and availability, childcare, spouse employment opportunities, and community orientation.
Counseling
Including information on financial management, home buying & selling, renting, property management, as well as shipment and storage of household goods, motor vehicles, and pets.
Settling-in services
Including information on available government living quarters, private housing, finding childcare, spouse employment assistance, cultural adaptation, sponsorship training support, and community orientation
Resources & Downloads
Newcomers Orientation
Second Thursday of every month | 8am
Sign up required
Transition Assistance Program
Preparing You for Life After the Military
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a mandatory program that provides information and training to ensure that service members, and their spouses, that are leaving the military understand the benefits and entitlements available to them and are prepared for their next step in life.
It is recommended to begin the TAP process within 18 months of separation or within 24 months of retirement. Regardless of status, service members MUST start the transition process no later than 365 days from their date of separation or retirement.
TAP is broken down into the following components:
Individualized Initial Counseling
This step begins the transition process. Service members will meet with the TAP counselor and complete their personal self-assessment tool to identify and develop a personalized plan for the transition process.
Pre-Separation Counseling
This informational briefing delivers detailed information on various benefits and services available to veterans, so service members can make an informed decision regarding their separation or retirement options.
TAP Workshop
This three-day workshop consists of courses facilitated by the Military and Family Readiness Center, Department of Labor, and Department of Veterans Affairs. Members receive information and tools that will help them be successful and thrive after their military careers. During this workshop service members will:
- Identify their current skills and abilities and how they translate to a variety of occupations outside of the military
- Assess future career goals and plans, and identify needs
- Develop a financial spending plan for transition
- Receive resources and training on searching the current job market, effective interviewing skills, and dressing for success
- Learn about veteran’s benefit entitlements and VA services including GI Bill benefits, the disability claims process, VA healthcare, vocational rehab and more
Optional Workshops
Dept. of Labor Employment Workshop: This course covers best practices in career employment, including learning interview skills, building effective resumes, and using emerging technology to network and search for employment.
Managing (MY) Education: This course is designed for anyone interested in pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, and includes information on choosing a field of study, selecting an institution, gaining admission, and funding your education.
Career & Credential Exploration (C2E): This course offers an opportunity to complete personalized career development assessments of occupational interests and aptitudes. Participants will then be guided through a variety of career considerations, including labor market projections, education, apprenticeships, certifications, and licensure requirements.
Boots to Business: This course is for those interested in exploring business ownership or other self-employment opportunities. Participants learn about evaluating business concepts, developing a business plan, the resources available to access technical assistance, start-up capital, contracting opportunities, and more.
Capstone
This one-on-one appointment with one of our trained M&FRC staff members will review the service member’s Individual Transition Plan and ensure Career Readiness Standards have been completed. Must be completed NLT 90 days prior to separation/retirement.
Voting Assistance
Absentee Voting & More
The Voting Assistance Program works to ensure that service members, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens overseas have the tools and resources to successfully vote from anywhere in the world.
We offer information and assistance with the following:
- Registering to vote by absentee ballot and requesting an absentee ballot
- Completing a back-up ballot in the event an official ballot is not received
- First time voter registration
- Help finding registration/voting deadlines
- Voting while deployed overseas
You can receive direct assistance by visiting the Installation Voting Assistance Office located within the M&FRC, calling 747-VOTE (701.747.8683) or emailing 319rw.vote@us.af.mil
Resources & Downloads
FVAP.gov – Voting Information & Forms
Federal Post Card Application
Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
Workshops & Classes
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Sensory & Relaxation Room
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Stop by our Sensory & Relaxation room to refocus and recharge. The room features a massage chair, mini zen gardens, and even a children’s sensory play area all in a calming environment meant to help you relax.
Stop by the M&FRC during business hours or call to reserve the room for yourself.
Airman’s Attic
The Airman’s Attic is a volunteer-run, donation-based shop offering free clothing, household goods, uniforms, furniture, toys, and more to all Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families that are in need. All items are donated by community members and are in new or gently used condition.
HOURS
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10am to 2pm
Questions? Call 701-747-3398 during office hours.
