I started searching for
jobs related to the field of early childhood education and the military child
and family community and discovered several organizations that appealed to me. The
top three are the Airman and Family Readinesss Program Manager, Child and Youth
Program Director and The Military Family Life Consultants.
The first organization
is considering being a part of the Airman and Family Readiness Team. According
to the USA job site the Airman and Family Readiness program manager will have
some of the following duties to include “providing plans for an efficient
resource management program and provide maximum support of service delivery…to
identify family issues that require exploration, development, and resolutions,
determines appropriate methods and resources” (“USA Jobs Search jobs Airman and
Family Readiness Program Manager n.d. 2015”) Some of the job opportunities
currently available in this profession are located in the state of Illinois and
Tennessee. I became very interested in this organization because I’m interested
to know how military families are receiving support for their needs and how
military members who separate or retire from the military receive supports as
well. Some of the skills needed to perform this duty have 3 optional
requirements to include one year experience performing previous duties, a
degree leading to a PhD and several management, counseling advising and
developing newsletters. I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the Airman and
Family Program Managers at my current location and she provided guidance as to
what her job encompasses but to remember that “each military family has a
different need of a support system” (D. Rampolla 2015) and it is her job to
provide resources to receive support. I liked the fact her job is flexible and
impacts the lives of military families by providing information on different
types of support resources. It seems she tries to and leads military members
and their families in the right direction and sparked an interest to be a part
of the Airman and Family Readiness Team.
The next job of interest includes a
child and or youth program director for the military installation. This job
description is also found on the same job site as the Airman and Family
Readiness Program Manager Position. Some of the skills and experience needed to
qualify for this position include a bachelor’s degree in child development,
early childhood education, elementary or special education, at least 24 months
of experience managing a child or youth facility. Currently these positions are
available on military installations located in Germany, United Kingdom,
Virginia and Japan. As I spoke to other directors within the child development
community across the United States some have held these positions overseas and
enjoy the travel, exposure to different cultures and the experience.
Lastly the Military
Family Life Consultants are licensed Health Professionals The responsibility of
the Military Family Life Consultants are providing child and youth behavioral
counseling to children of service members located on military installations.
They provide a variety of counseling to include, non-medical, training/health
and wellness, consultation with parents, child and youth center, school
providers as well as behavioral health issues affecting children and youth.
Some of the skill requirements: a minimum of a master’s degree in clinical
experience as well as a license in professional counseling. I had the pleasure
of speaking to the current military and family life consultant on the military
installation located in Nevada and she says some background experience with the
military culture is highly recommended but not required to hold these
positions. Currently jobs are available in Georgia, Virginia, Texas,
California, Minnesota and Washington DC and several others across the United
States. I became interested in these Military Family Life Consultants or (MFLC)because
of their commitment to serve military families and upholding to confidentiality
and the determination to meet the needs of the children and family. My first
experience with a Military Family Life Consultant happened when I was preparing
to enter military service. The Military Family Life Consultant was very helpful
in providing me the right tools to succeed as I had text anxiety. Further into
my experience as a Training and Curriculum Specialist at the Child Development
Center on the military installation I witness the MFLC providing information to
child care providers on a particular child diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive
disorder and strategies on helping young her with behavior. I was amazed at how
much her willingness to care for children and encourage military families with
separation and employment helped the reputation of the Child Development
Program.
Job Links
Airman and Family
Readiness Program Manager
Child and Youth Program
Director
Military Family Life
Consultant Through Magellan Health (Contracts)
