An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Resource Links

   

AIR FORCE FAMILIES FOREVER PROGRAM

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) facilitates long-term case management procedures and provides support for surviving 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 Military & Family Readiness Centers (M&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 M&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 Department of the Air Force 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

LOCATE A MILITARY AND FAMILY READINESS CENTER
Find Your Nearest Military and Family readiness Center and Air Force Families Forever program by filtering by service and searching your state.

The Connection

The Connection newsletter provides an additional method of communicating with the Department of the Air Force survivor community. It serves as a visual platform to remember our fallen Airmen and Guardians, initiates survivor connection to each other and their Air and Space Force family, and provides updates on DAF survivor initiatives.

DAF SURVIVOR ADVOCACY COUNCIL

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

The DAF Survivor Advocacy Council consists of senior Air and Space 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, Guardian in the Space Force, or a Reserve Component Airman/Guardian who died in an active duty status, Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) or Annual Training (AT) status. 

For more information go to: DAF Survivor Advocacy Council

air force SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE

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:  af.a1saa@us.af.mil

 

TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS (TAPS)

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/

Resources

LATEST NEWS

  • AF Year in Photos

    This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • 36th EAS members honor fallen Airman during Operation Christmas Drop

    Near the end of Operation Christmas Drop 2022, Airmen participating in the event paused to honor the memory of a fallen member during a memorial ceremony on Dec. 9, 2022.Senior Airman Jeremy Jutba-Hake, a member of the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, passed away due to heart

  • Transgender day of remembrance

    Hill Air Force Base – Every year, on November 20, communities and organizations around the country gather to show support on Transgender Day of Remembrance. A day started by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999 to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a trans woman killed in 1998, whose murderers still have not

Contact Us