Incirlik's Airmen and Family Readiness Center is Magic for Families of Deployed Airmen Published June 1, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Paul Hughes Det 7, Air Force News Agency INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Members of the Airmen and Family Readiness Center threw a little get-together for family members of the base's deployed service members April 28. "This particular event is arranged to boost the morale of the families while increasing their readiness," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Moulton, AFRC's readiness coordinator. Senior Master Sgt. Tom Benson, part-time magician, worked the crowd: a group of pre- and grade-school aged children. The kids tried in vain to figure out how the blue silk he put in his bag turned red, or how the rings that were chained together one moment were suddenly separated. While Sergeant Benson entertained the kids, Maj. (Dr.) Lisa Blackman 39th Medical Group psychologist, spoke with parents about what to expect when their loved ones return from down range. "If they see things on the side of the road and they're wondering, 'is that an IED (improvised explosive device),' it seems weird, but it's not weird, it's actually very normal," said Major Blackman. "Think to yourself, weird is normal; don't interpret weird." The Air Force recognizes reintegrating is a challenge and invests heavily in times and programs to maximize the probability of a happy reunion. This event was a first step in that process. "Often people have expectations about reunions and reintegration, but the perspective of the families remaining behind isn't always the same as the perspective of the members deploying," he said. Sergeant Moulton and the other members of Incirlik's Airmen and Family Readiness Center hope events like the family barbecue help to prepare families for their spouses' and parents' return so that all of their reunions are special ones.