Deployed ARC run by one of Holloman's own

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (ACCNS) --  A Holloman civilian from the Airman and Family Readiness Center is one of the first in the Air Force to deploy in support of a pilot program designed to support Airmen in areas of operation across the globe. 

Shirley Bratton, a retired first sergeant, deployed to Southwest Asia at the beginning of August as the element lead at the Airman Readiness Center there. 

The purpose of an ARC in deployed locations is to support Airmen with issues such as reintegration, relationship building, and connectivity with family, such as morale calls, e-mail and video clips, said Ms. Bratton. A lot of work is also being done in personal financial management, and transition, relocation and employment assistance. 

Basically, the ARC provides the same services as home-station AFRCs do, without the family aspects, she said. 

The ARC in which Ms. Bratton is working is the first of its kind and is being tested for a year before making it a permanent element in deployed locations. The site opened in April and since then, more than 3,300 Airmen have benefited from the services. 

The AFRC family at Holloman is proud of Ms. Bratton for being part of such an opportunity. 

"I highly encouraged Ms. Bratton to volunteer for this assignment," said Lenn Furrow, AFRC director. "She knows our mission inside-out and can easily master any challenges of the deployment. She's dedicated, energetic, positive and is a retired Air Force master sergeant with first-shirt experience. Who could be better prepared?" 

Ms. Bratton is glad she took the opportunity to do something so great for deployed Airmen. 

"It is a wonderful opportunity to be (deployed) working with our deployed members," said Ms. Bratton. "Especially knowing you are a part of helping keep this country free. We are available (in the deployed environment) to work with our Airmen, to help in any way we can. The goal is to help reduce their stress and anxiety, provide them some educational opportunities or just a big smile. This, in turn, allows our Airmen to focus forward on the fight."