Military Families from Japan Arrive to Support In Seattle

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Lockwood, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

SEATTLE (NNS) -- SEATTLE – More than 120 DoD family members arrived at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC) March 21, from Japan.

Fleet and Family Support Centers throughout Navy Region Northwest provided assistance with lodging, relocation, child care, new parent support, phone contact information, interpretation services and along with Navy Region Northwest's manpower department, helped families with Navy Family Accounting and Assessment System (NFAAS) updates.

"NFAAS is actually critical," said Lynne Flynn, program director for Fleet and Family Support Center, Naval Base Kitsap. "We have to make sure we know where all our family members are, so in-taking them here is critical in inputing them into NFAAS."

NFAAS is a standardized method for the Navy to account, manage, and monitor the recovery process for personnel and their families affected by a wide-spread catastrophic event. The NFAAS provides valuable information to all levels of the Navy chain of command, allowing commanders to make strategic decisions which facilitate a return to stability.

"NFAAS plays a very big role in accounting for the families as they leave Japan, and again once again when they land here," said Navy Region Northwest Regional Master Chief (AW/SW) Dave Bisson. "Make sure that we understand where all the family members are so we can account for them at any given time."

After landing at SEATAC the families were given a short briefing on what to expect during the check-in process after landing. Once the families departed the plane Naval Base Kitsap Command Chaplain Cmdr. Manuel Biadog, Jr. greeted and led them to baggage claim where Sailors waited to help transport bags provide escorts to the next station in the check-in process.

"The process was great; I was surprised how organized it was," said Stephanie Castro, wife of Lt. Jaime Castro from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. "Everybody helped with the bags. A bunch of us are traveling alone with several kids and that can be hard, but I was really impressed with everybody's generosity."

Along with the families, 19 pets arrived and were taken to a pet staging area where they were accounted for, fed and watered then examined and treated by an Army veterinarian.

Two DoD-chartered flights carrying more than 350 passengers have arrived at SEATAC to date. The first flight arrived March 19, bringing more than 230 family members. The second flight arrived today. Presently, an estimated 6,800 family members are expected to arrive at SEATAC as part of Operation Tomodachi on 20 separate flights.

For more information on the voluntary authorized departure for eligible DoD family members from designated areas in Japan, read NAVADMIN 093/11 at www.npc.navy.mil.

All Sailors or family members who are in need of assistance should utilize the NFAAS support site at www.navyfamily.navy.mil to ensure the Navy can track and assess support requirements for all parties affected. Navy Fleet and Family Support Center has a 24-hour hotline available to provide family support information at 866-854-0638.