USAF helps deceased members’ families Published May 22, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Kristian Carter 92nd ARW Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AFB, WASH. -- The loss of a service member is a drastic blow to both the Air Force and the surviving family members. The Air Force Survivor Assistance Program was designed to meet the needs of the families left behind. The program is designed to aid the next of kin, whether it be a spouse, parents, siblings or other family. The program uses ties several organizations to help the family and the commander after a loss of life has occurred. The personnel functions on base help the families with benefits and available resources. These functions include the casualty affairs representative and the family support center. The Mortuary Affairs office is responsible with handling the funeral arrangements. The service member’s squadron will supply a summary courts officer to handle the deceased person’s personal effects. The chaplain is also a resource for the family. Chaplains are available for counseling and can help with funeral arrangements. One of the main functions of the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program is to assign a family liaison officer to a family that has suffered the loss of an Air Force service member. The FLO is the link between a family and the Air Force. Within 24 hours of notifying a family of a death, a family liaison officer and a summary courts officer will have made contact with the family. The initial shock of a service member passing away can be overwhelming, said Senior Master Sgt. Mark LaGasse, 92nd Communications Squadron base multimedia superintendent, who has served in the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program as a family liaison officer. The family liaison officer is assigned to help the next of kin get the assistance they need from various Air Force agencies. As a family liaison officer, one doesn’t need to answer all of the questions of the family, but ensure the family is put in touch with people who can provide the services needed. Sergeant LaGasse compared the role of the family liaison officer to being a first sergeant. “It’s the most difficult thing that I’ve ever done, but probably the most important that I’ll ever do,” said Sergeant LaGasse.
