MFLCs: committed to caring Published May 12, 2017 By Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Military members and their families are no stranger to service challenges, including separation from loved ones, deployments and more. One resource for military members and their dependents facing service challenges is the Military and Family Life Counseling program. “The purpose of the MFLC is to provide short-term, problem solving techniques and resolutions to military members and their families,” said Master Sgt. Eric Alvarez, 39th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center NCO in-charge. “They cover a lot of topics and provide the necessary coping techniques so military members and their families can better deal with them.” MFLCs are trained, licensed professional counselors for military families to speak with free of charge, for up to 12 sessions. Some issues that are addressed by the MFLC include stress, communication, conflict resolution, aggression and more. The MFLC program offers non-medical counseling at no cost to service members, including Active Duty, National Guard and reserve members (regardless of activation status) and their families, as well as Department of Defense civilian expeditionary workforce members and their families. The program also falls under the Integrated Delivery System, which is aimed to better assist base personnel. “The IDS is a program that brings together all of the helping agencies on base,” said Capt. Michell Greenidge, 39th Medical Operations Squadron family advocacy officer. “We talk about what’s going on in each of our programs and how we can help each other promote or better those programs to further help Airmen on the base.” The service protects their client’s confidentiality by keeping no records, except a first name and phone number for contact purposes. However, MFLCs must report situations where the individual is at risk for harming themselves or others. “Having an MFLC here adds one more tool to the toolbox and gives Airmen another option,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Anthony Wade, 39th ABW deputy chaplain. “If they feel uncomfortable talking to a chaplain or mental health personnel, then they can go to the MFLC. They are separate, outside the chain of command, and available for our Airmen.” The MFLC program offers services through the Airman and Family Readiness Flight. “It’s important for Incirlik to have an MFLC because it compliments other services around the base such as chaplain services and mental health services,” said Alvarez. “Incirlik Air Base has a unique situation where members PCS and/or deploy here without their families, so you add an extra layer of issue and concern that the MFLC can help address.” To set up an appointment with the Incirlik MFLC or for more information, call 676-3926.