Yokota provides easier moves for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Fowler
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Changing duty stations can be a complicated process for military members and their dependents. The Airman and Family Readiness Center provides a class called Smooth Moves that will help people achieve a smooth transition to their next base.

Smooth Moves is a three hour workshop held at the AFRC usually once a month. The class is offered to anyone who is permanently changing station, separating or retiring.

"With the workshop, we hope to give something back to the military as well as to save time and money and help ease stress for people," said Robyn Endo, AFRC community readiness consultant. "Things are constantly changing and we want to make sure people have all current information available."

To make this easier, this class provides all this information in one centralized location.

"We bring all the agencies involved with a person's move to this location and let a person meet and interact with them," Ms. Endo said. "This is beneficial since many places will not see people unless they have their orders."

The agencies involved with the briefings include the AFRC, Traffic Management Office, Omega World Travel, housing, finance, Tricare and base legal.

Each group provides a short briefing about what needs to be accomplished with the agency before moving.

For instance, finance discusses when the cost of living allowance will be terminated, what entitlements people receive while traveling and taking leave in transit. A financial planning briefing is also available which helps people understand how much money they should have saved for emergencies and travel.

"Having the groups show up and provide briefings all in one place is incredibly beneficial to people," said Rashaud Smith, AFRC Air Force Aids Society Officer. "This will allow them to ask questions they may not have had a chance to ask otherwise."

"One-on-one sessions are also available to people who cannot make it to the workshop," Ms. Endo said. "I provide them with all the relevant information including copies of the slides used during the briefings because the representatives of the agencies are not available for one-on-one sessions."

One-on-one sessions can be held at any time but the group workshop is typically held on the last Monday of every month. To sign up for the class, call 225-8725.