Retiree Assistance Office Opens at Altus AFB

  • Published
  • By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Megan E. Myhre
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing, Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Retiree Assistance Office opened April 21, 2017 at Altus Air Force Base, OK and aims to assist U.S. Air Force active duty, guard and reserve retirees as well as their widows or widowers.

The base has not had a RAO for more than five years and retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steve Francis is currently serving as the Director after the need was identified by Francis and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Philip Eckenrod, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief.

“My goals are to assist retirees with any problems they have. This includes things like pay and documentation needed to receive any benefits.”

The Retiree Assistance Office is completely comprised of volunteers and plan on hosting a retiree assistance day for all the local retirees in the community to come out and receive briefings on the benefits available to them.

“We will also be doing a newsletter. We just opened about two weeks ago and right now I’ve only got one other volunteer. Once we recruit some more volunteers, we’ll be putting together a newsletter with information for retirees about pay and benefits,” said Francis. “If a retiree comes in and needs help with pay, getting documentation of their service like their DD Form 214 or getting an ID card, we will put them in the right place to get assistance and help them where we can.”

“It’s an ever-changing environment for retirees because the Veterans Affairs is ever-changing. They are in the process of and looking at closing a bunch of facilities and that can affect people,” said Francis. “If somebody comes in and needs something, we’re going to do our best to help them. There are services available to retirees. The Air Force care’s about its retirees and they aren’t forgotten.”

For more information, call (580)481-6831 or (580)481-0281.