Mission Statement

To link families of fallen Airmen and Guardians to their Air and Space Force Family promoting Survivor resilience, thereby fostering well-being and connectedness.

Vision Statement

Remembering, Honoring, Connecting… Always a part of the Air and Space Force Family. 

AFFF Program Overview

Air Force Families Forever (AFFF) is a long-term survivor program established to provide support to family members of deceased Regular Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Reserve Component Airmen who died in an Active Duty, Inactive Duty for Training (IDT), or Annual Training (AT) status and whose relationship was established prior to the Airman or Guardian’s death..  Support is provided to eligible Next-of-Kin (NOK) through Airman & Family Readiness Centers (A&FRCs) at installations closest to where the survivor resides.

Next of Kin (NOK): widow or widower (remarried or not), each parent (mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, foster parents who stood in loco parentis), each child (natural, step-children, adopted), and each sibling (brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-sibling) of an Airman or Guardian.

Each active-duty installation’s A&FRC is the point-of-contact for NOK to receive long term support, including:

Information and Referral

• Engagement through targeted contact and incremental outreach
• Referral to eligible federal, state, and local resources to include partnering non-governmental organizations

Remembrance and Connection

• Connection to installation and community support networks
• Recognition/memorialization of deceased Airmen/Guardians
• Coordination with installation leadership to include family members in the AF culture

Installation Access (Find your local Installation) 

• Sponsorship for NOK through the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) process
• Introduction to installation approved Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities

Commanders are encouraged to include surviving Air and Space Force family members in installation activities such as: air shows, spouse luncheons, VIP visits and holiday activities.

 The Air Force Survivor Advocacy Council serves as a forum for the Air Force to champion survivor programs, recap key initiatives and next steps, and validate the ongoing role of survivors in the larger Air Force family. 

The Survivor Advocacy Council consists of senior Air Force leaders and survivor advocates who represent a diverse survivor population.

To be eligible for consideration, survivor advocates must be the NOK of an Airman in the Regular Air Force, or a Reserve Component Airman who died in an active duty status, Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) or Annual Training (AT) status. 

For more information go to: AF Survivor Advocacy Council 

The Surviving Family Member Representative is the Air Force advocate for surviving family members, created by Section 633 of the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 113-66). This representative is available to provide support and address complaints by spouses and other dependents of deceased Airmen regarding casualty assistance or receipt of benefits authorized by law.   

Contact the Air Force Representative
Phone:  703-693-0683, DSN:  223-0683
Email:  usaf.pentagon.af-a1.mbx.af-a1saa@mail.mil

TAPS offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in our Armed Services or as a result of their service.

To find out more information about TAPS, call their 24-hour helpline at 800-959-8277 or visit their website at https://www.taps.org/