We got such positive comments about that. Again, communication made all the difference in the world. And cooperation didn t hurt. We had one wife deploy who was a full-time mom, so her husband was working and had no day care, Chiapelli said. He drove, and she watched the kids.
Child care appears to be an issue that requires creative solutions throughout the command.
The situation at the 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C., is indicative of the challenge units face. We re working to develop a more extensive child-care referral service, said Lisa Sweatt, 315th AW family readiness director. Our challenge is on the weekend. Smith speaks highly of the growing trend among Reserve units to invite family members to attend briefings before a major deployment. The 919th Special Operations Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., did just that prior to the unit s deployment in April to Africa for a humanitarian and civic assistance exercise.