Work and Family Life

Work and Family Life 

Work and Family Life (WFL) programs directly support mission readiness by preparing service members and their families for the physical, emotional, interpersonal and logistical demands of the military lifestyle. 

Our programs and services include: 

Deployment Readiness Support 

The Deployment Support Handbook, developed in 2015, contains resources and information that will help you prepare for deployment, handle the challenges that arise during deployment and successfully adjust during the return and reintegration phase at the end of the deployment. Be sure to attend your command-sponsored deployment briefs for more specific information. 

Use this Deployment Checklist to keep track of all your preparations for your next deployment. 

Individual Augmentees Spouse and Family Support

In support of Individual Augmentee (IA) spouses and family members, the Fleet and Family Support Office have developed programs directed at their specific needs, such as the IA Family Handbook, Deployment Readiness Briefs, Family Connection Newsletter, and Families of Warriors in Transition Homecoming Program.

For more detailed information for sailors, families, commands and employers visit the Individual Augmentee website. 

Ombudsman Program

An Ombudsman is an official representative of the Commanding Office and plays a vital role in establishing and maintaining current and accurate communication between the command and its family members. 

For more information about the Ombudsman program and how to become an Ombudsman for one of our tenant commands please reach out to our FFSO, SARC/WFL Coordinator. 

Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

The transition Assistance Program (TAP) prepare eligible Service members and their families to face the many challenges of transitioning from active duty back to civilian life. TAP enables Service members to fulfill the requirements of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (OW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2012 and meet their Career Readiness Standards (CRS) as mandated by the TAP for Military Personnel Departmenent of Defense Instruction 1332.35.

Effective 1 Oct 2019, all transitioning Service members must attend Initial Self-Assessment Counseling (IC) no less than 365 days prior to official separation, which prepare them for their TAP Workshop that compass 3-days of core mandate curriculum and selected career tracks that focuses either on Employment, Entrepreneurship Education or Vocational training. Training is in a classroom setting, but is available on Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) for Service members deployed or stationed in isolated areas. Military spouses are highly encouraged to attend TAP with their transitioning Service members.  

To sign-up for the next TAP class. Please contact your Command or the FFSO, SARC/WFL Coordinator. 

Relocation Assistance

The Fleet and Family Support Program's Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) can make your move a lot easier, whether you are settling in or departing from a duty station. The RAP is designed to make the moving process run as effortlessly as possible for the service member be they single, married, married with children, single parents, also family members of active duty and mobilized reservist and active reservist personnel relocating. 

Interested in learning more about your new installation? Go to Military Installations. You'll find over 250 installations worldwide- Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Defense Logistics Agency and Veterans' Affairs. 

Fore Personal Procurement. Contact the FFSO SARC/WFL Coordinator for assistance and review the information for Personally Procured Move (PPM) on the Navy Household Goods website. 

For further resources on Housing and Lodging, CYP & School Research, Moving with Vehicles and Pets, and relocation assistance. Please contact the FFSO, SARC/WFL Coordinator. 

Hospitality Kits are available to incoming and outgoing personnel for check-out up to 90 days. They consist of general kitchenware items (dishes, cookware, utensils, etc.); linens and towels are not included. Please contact the FFSO SARC/WFL Coordinator to obtain any Hospitality Kits.  

For those families and individuals who are leaving Singapore, we offer a Send-Off Brief to assist in all your departing endeavors.Family Employment 

The Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) provides no cost consultations, programs and services to help families in the job search process. Consultants are available to guide spouses and family members on career planning, job seeking and resume writing , as well as to help them prepare for interviews and negotiate offers. 

The Department of the Navy is dedicated to supporting families and currently provides resources and advocacy for spouse employment. The National Defense Authorization Ac for Fiscal Year 2024 expands the Navy's authority to reimburse service members up to $2000 for state licensure and certification costs and for business cost (combined total) for a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces. This is for the costs arising from relocation to another state due to a permanent change of station (PCS) or permanent change of assignment. 

MILPERSMAN 1754-040- Military Spouse Licensure and Buisness Costs Reimbursement. This article provides policy and procedures for Military Spouse Licensure Reimbursment. 

Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO). Consultants provide professional guidance to military spouses on careers, education and training, employment readiness and career connections. Spouses may search for jobs online using the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) which connects military spouse-friendly companies with jobs to military spouses seeking employment. 

For Spouses wanting to enhance their career goal. Please visit Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA). MyCAA provides financial assistance to eligible spouses pursuing Licensure, Certificates or an Associate Degree. 

For further support or assitance with family employment, resume building, interview prep, self-employment, federal-employment or Volunteerism. Please contact the FFSO SARC/WFL Coordinator. 

Peronal Financial Management (PFM) Education, Traning, & Counseling Program

Managing personal finances remains a top concern for DON personnel and family members. Financial issues for Service members can have a direct impact on readiness and retention. In many cases, resultant financial problems have had a serious negative impact on DON personnel and families, as well as a significant effect on operational readiness, morale and retention.

For financial guidance and assistance please contact your command or the installation through qualified Command Financial Specialist (CFS) and certified Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) who work within the Fleet & Family Support Office umbrella. Both CFS and PFMs provide factual, unbiased financial counseling to service members and families upon request regardless of service affiliation or location and assist them with developing skills and strategies to meet financial goals and achieve and maintain financial readiness. 

Financial Resource Links

Emergency Response 

Please explore Ready Navy to find information and tools to help you and your family prepare for emergency situations that could arise any time without warning. 

Use this Basic Emergency Kit checklist to make sure you are prepared. 

Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System standardizes a method for the Navy to account, manage and monitor the recovery process for personnel and their families affected and/ or scattered by a wide-spread catastrophic event. 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 allows Navy Personnel to do the following:

  • Report Accounting Status
  • Update Contact / Location information
  • View Reference Information
  • Complete a Needs Assessment Survey

You can log into NFAAS by going to https://navyfamily.navy.mil/

Installation Sequirty 

The Installations Auxiliary Police Force (IAPF) provides security for the Sembawang Naval Installation. Report all emergencies, such as a housing break in, assault, attack, or suspicious visitors, to the IAPF immediately. For patrol purposes, it is also recommended to notify the IAPF should you be absent from your housing unit for more than 3 days. 

The IAPF is available 24/7/365. For assistance, please call the IAPF Office at (+65) 6750-2578. 

Life Skills

Life Skills are all about self-discovery, exploring new ways to think, interact and problem-solve. The Fleet and Family Support Office offers workshops that are focused on using conflict to direct positive change; connecting the power of communication to strengthen relationships through mutual respect and understanding; and employing mindful thought management and problem solving strategies. 

Here are some of the great opportunities we have for you:

  • Parenting  Education (New Parent Support)
  • Mind Body Mental Fitness Curriculum
  • Stress Management / Resilience
  • Building Effective Anger Management Skills
  • Responsible Anger Management
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Time Management 
  • Couples Communication
  • Love / Communications Long Distance
  • LGBT Support Groups
  • Navy Spouse 101 - all things new military spouse needs to know

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevenetional Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK and online, providing 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. 

Exceptional Family Member Program

The Navy's Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) serves military families with special needs. The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for sponsors with qualifying family members. Enrollment in the EFMP ensures maximum provision of services to the family throughout the sponsor's career. 

The EFMP included identification of the family member's special needs, enrollment int he program, assignment coordination, and family support. The Program assist Sailors during the assignment process by addressing the special needs of their exceptional family member (EFM), and ensures they are assigned to areas where they can access necessary resources. 

Qualifying conditions include medical (physical, mental, developmental), and/ or educational requirements that are chronic (expected to last six months or longer); requirements for adaptive equipment, assistive technology devices and services, and/or wheelchair accessibility. 

EFMP enrollment forms are mandatory and required to be completed immediately upon identification of a special need. 

  • DD Form 2792, Family Member Medical Summary 
  • DD Form 2792-1, Early Intervention/Special Education Summary

Enrollment forms can be found at DoD Forms. DoD civilians employees and their family members do not enroll in the EFMP. 

* 24/7 SARC Support Line: +65 9139-7015    * 24/7 FAP Support Line: +65 9786-1400