Staying Mentally Prepared

  • Published
  • By Airman Alexis Frost
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE --  The Airman and Family Readiness center offers a wide variety of mission support services that enhance mission readiness, resiliency and the well-being of the Air Force community.

A service that is often over looked is the Military and Family Life Counselor program, which offers short-term, non-medical counseling services to active-duty service members and their families, National Guard and Reserve members, and Department of Defense civilian members.

The MFLC program also provides psycho-education to help service members and their families understand the unique challenges that come with military life.

“I’ve personally had help from an MFLC when my son was going through issues when I was coming back from my deployment,” said Tech. Sgt. Linda Larsen, 2nd Force Support Squadron readiness NCO. “My son was going through a lot of depression and a lot of trying times. Even though he was being seen by an off-base psychiatrist, we weren’t getting the explanations and the understanding of what my son was going through.”

MFLC’s are very flexible and are available both during and after duty hours. There is an MFLC available at the Youth Center and the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

“The MFLC was more helpful than my son’s own doctor as far as understanding what my son was going through and explaining to him that everything was going to be okay,” said Larsen.

MFLCs provide a variety of classes. They work with groups, individuals or within a unit to provide training.

An MFLC works with a variety of problems including deployment stress, reintegration, separations, relationship and family issues, grief and loss. With the exception of child abuse, domestic abuse and duty to warn situations, services are private and confidential.

If needed, the MFLC can refer you to medical counseling services in your community through a military treatment facility or through TRICARE.

Choosing to seek non-medical counseling through the MFLC program has no impact on a service member’s security clearance.

For more information, contact the A&FRC at 318-456-8400.