Newcomers get off to a “Right Start”

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Yokota's Right Start program gives Airmen and their families, caught up in the hustle and bustle of inprocessing and integrating into a new base and community, the tools they need to make their transition as smooth as possible.

The two-day program, which is held weekly, provides Airmen with information about the wing's mission, the surrounding local communities and helps them expedite completion of their inprocessing checklist.

Jim Bibbee, 374th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant, is in charge of the program which hosted more than 1,800 attendees during 2011.

"This program is important even for those people who have permanently changed station before. The Right Start brief gives them an overview or a welcome to life at Yokota," Bibbee said. "The idea is to streamline the process, so the service members will be able to get to their duty sections faster and be prepared to support the mission."

Beginning on Wednesday morning, attendees participate in briefings from the wing commander and various group commanders, security forces, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and a variety of agencies located throughout the base.

On the second day, participants attend an information fair, allowing community and service organizations an opportunity to interact with and inform the newest Team Yokota members about what they have to offer and what is available both on and off base.

"One of the things I like about Right Start is that it is a positive way to introduce newcomers to what the base has to offer," said Joseph Alexander, University of Maryland University College enrollment specialist. "I also like to come and brief at the information fair because I get to meet people when they are just getting here and excited to be living and working in a new country."

Staff Sgt. Michael Cruikshank and his wife, Mienke, recently attended Right Start and he said they enjoyed it for a specific reason.

"I liked the fact that you get all of the critical information you need in one place," said Cruikshank. "You don't have to run around to all the different agencies to inprocess. Having everyone come to you in one central location is very convenient."

For spouses, the program is an opportunity for them to meet people who have also just arrived as well as provide them with resources to help them in the future or when their spouse deploys.

"Having all of the different agencies available in one place it, takes away the barrier to get up go talk to the different organizations," said Mienke, Cruikshank's wife. "I was able to walk right up to the Enlisted Spouse's Club and get a lot of useful information. For someone who has never been on a military installation, like me, it's a good place to learn about the base and what is available to me and my family."

Program attendance is highly encouraged for spouses. Free childcare is available for children 5 years old and younger through the Childcare for PCS program sponsored by the Air Force Aid Society.

Bibbee said most bases have a program similar to Right Start to give Airmen a good jumping off point when they come to a new base.

There are numerous resources and services offered by the A&FRC and other base agencies that help to lessen the burden and stress associated with moving overseas.

Visit the A&FRC or call 225-8725 for more information on the Right Start program or resources they offer.