Family support captures DOD award Published April 12, 2006 By Tech. Sgt. Mary Hinson 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- It’s not about awards or recognition. It’s all about family. “We have a common goal,” said Ms. Lisa Sweatt, 315th Airlift Wing Family Support Office director, “taking care of the family.” “If I were called to go somewhere, I would want someone to care about my family,” added Tech. Sgt. Sid Hursey, 315th family support. And that is exactly what they do. The family support office is presently staffed by one director and four traditional reservists -- Staff Sgt. John Ellis, Master Sgt. Joann Gillespie, Tech. Sgt. Rob Grimsley and Sergeant Hursey. The office supports more than 2,500 reservists and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as an advocate for the Airmen and the families that support them. “Family support in the Reserve is a bridge between military members, their leaders and their families,” said Ms. Sweatt. The office looks out for the families and personnel of the 315th AW. This means everything from briefings for people deploying to providing useful information on family issues and making contact with families if the unit member is gone. “We offer peace of mind for some families because they know they are not alone,” said Sergeant Gillespie, 315th AW Family Support Office noncommissioned officer in charge. “If you give us the opportunity, we can help you.” For going the extra mile, the 315th Airlift Wing Family Support received the Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award for 2005, and Ms. Sweatt won the Family Support Individual Award Category IA for Air Force Reserve Command. “It’s a nice feeling to know we are being recognized for doing good things and taking care of our families,” said Sergeant Gillespie. “It shows that family support really is an important part of taking care of military families and military members.” According to the awards package, the family support office made more than 12,000 telephone and e-mail contacts in one year, building and maintaining excellent rapport with the Airmen and their families. Sergeant Gillespie believes these family contacts are the most important part of the job. “A lot of people think their families are going to be okay (when they are gone),” she said. “When we contact them, we find out they do have issues. “When you don’t have your spouse with you, it makes a big difference.” Sergeant Gillespie, who is currently on long-term orders along with Sergeant Hursey, said these contacts are also important because Reserve families have special needs from the active duty since the families aren’t always near a base where they can get help. Sergeant Hursey agrees. “Our family needs are unique from active duty,” he said. “Our families are away and some problems can’t be fixed locally.” No matter where a family is located, the family support works to get them the help they need, even if it means utilizing the assets of another base. To help streamline the contact process, Sergeant Hursey, who was selected for his position 12 years ago, even created a database which keeps track of all previous contacts and lets the office know when another contact needs to be made. Additionally, the family support team helps families through difficult times, such as financial hardships and deaths in the family. It is these times that are the hardest on the staff. “It’s because we take it so personally,” said Ms. Sweatt Despite the difficulties, the people who do this job cannot image doing anything else. “There’s no question where I wanted to be,” said Sergeant Hursey. “It’s because I love our family.” For Ms. Sweatt, “it’s a matter of the heart. It’s a calling, and we feel it very strongly.”