M&FRC

The first thing I ask Maria Chapa, Military and Family Readiness Flight Chief, is what she wants Yokota to know about our local branch. “Our mission is to take care of airmen and families,” she says simply, and she has led with this goal in mind since she arrived in 2020. As it stands, M&FRC offers so many diverse resources that it seems impossible for someone to leave the building empty-handed, regardless of whether they’re active duty or a dependent. She takes the time to share with me the official M&FRC mission statement: to provide targeted airmen, guardians and their families support and services by contributing to mission readiness, and the well-being of the Department of the Air Force community. “We do a lot in the community. If you think about when they first come into the military and they’re being assigned to a new duty station, that’s our first touchpoint with them. But even before that, with sponsorship training, the sponsor is reaching out to them before they even get to Yokota.”

The sponsorship training equips current Yokota residents to help incoming personnel transition to their new duty station. It’s one of several offerings from the M&FRC. If an airman finds themselves saying goodbye to the military while at Yokota, “Our Transition Assistance Program steps in and helps them navigate through that path of the transition,” Ms. Chapa shares. “This is the one time you have to think about you. We get a lot of military members who are like, ‘I’ve got to take care of my troops, I’ve got to take care of this, I’ve got to take care of that,’” she shares sympathetically. She’s seen firsthand the hard work and dedication that Yokota’s forces bring to the table. “And I’m like, ‘Seriously. This is the one time you should feel comfortable in choosing you and choosing your family.’” And it isn’t just the service members that benefit. “Our Transition Assistance Program, all of the classes, our spouses are invited to attend as well, too.”

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Outside of the congressionally mandated courses, M&FRC hosts a plethora of other opportunities that sometimes fly quietly under the radar. “So, there’s not any area that we haven’t reached out to,” Ms. Chapa explains. Tucked in between TAP and sponsorship training are volunteer-run cultural programs. There are cooking classes, immersion tours and finance classes available to both single airmen and families. “If they have a baby, Bundles for Babies is available to them. If their spouse is looking for volunteer opportunities or employment, then […] they’ll either take our class, Resume Writing, [or] sit down with the employment manager to do a resume review or interview set up.” It’s an all-encompassing facility. “We pretty much will cover almost every facet of their military career while they’re on Yokota.”

The staff at M&FRC are determined to arm team Yokota with the services, information and tools they need to thrive. “I have dedicated staff members who will jump over the desk to help somebody.” If they don’t immediately have an answer for you, they’re willing to go the extra mile to find somebody who does. She speaks highly of her employees, saying “They are mindful [and] purpose driven.” The Military and Family Readiness team keep camaraderie in mind as they spearhead these programs. “Ultimately, it’s our community, because we live in it, we see it, we’re out there—some of my staff live on base, some of my staff have used the resources previously. I have. I’ve sat on both sides of the desk as a young spouse. I think our focus is, how do we serve our community? That’s our purpose. Our mission.”

The M&FRC is one of the most crucial resources that Yokota Air Base has to offer. Their services are of immeasurable value and the team is passionate about being a touchpoint for activeduty military and dependents alike. Whether you need to speak to a financial counselor about the home you own stateside, are looking to connect to the local culture or are ready to take the next step in your career, Military and Family Readiness is here for you.

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