Military & Family Readiness Centers

Washington, D.C., (Aug. 13, 2018) —The Department of Defense (DoD) announced extended eligibility for Military OneSource benefits from the current 180 days to 365 days after separation or retirement from military service to ensure all service members and families have access to comprehensive support as they transition to civilian life. This change goes into effect on 13 August 2018 in accordance with the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2019.

As a DoD program, Military OneSource offers a wide range of services designed exclusively for the military community. Services include help with relocation, tax support, financial planning, health, and wellness coaching, as well as confidential non-medical counseling and specialty consultations for spouse employment, education, adoption, elder care, special needs, and much more.

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Learn how to apply for U.S. Citizenship, petition for service members and family members to immigrate to the U.S. USCIS personnel are available for one-on-one appointments (offered monthly) to answer questions on pending applications, work, and employment authorizations. *Note, must be a DoD ID holder with base access.

Appointments are required; call the Military and Family Support Center at 609.754.3154 (JB MDL McGuire) or 732.323.1248 (JB MDL Lakehurst).

Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Advisors are available on JB MDL in Bldg. 3011 Tuskegee Airmen Avenue, JB MDL McGuire and Bldg. 5418 on JB MDL Dix. If you have questions about your VA Benefits, please contact us for assistance at; 609.754.0563/0558 or 609.562.3683/4830/2105.

Visit the MFSC Career Center where you will find a collection of all career-related classes, special events, links, and local job postings. 

The National Military Family Association has extended a scholarship opportunity for NJ active, guard, reserve, retired, or fallen for Military Spouses. This program is specifically looking for spouses from NJ with $1,000.00 scholarships. Scholarships can be used for traditional degrees along with certification programs and professional licensure (i.e. Nursing, teaching). Please send NJ spouses to apply for a scholarship today! Apply here!

Zero Percent Student Loan Interest Relief

Information & Referral is a clearinghouse that provides telephone and in-person assessments to help determine your needs and the right resource. You may be referred to a Military and Family Support Center program or to another organization on or off base. The MFSC maintains an extensive list of available services and contact information.

If you are unsure of where to turn, please call one of our MFSC locations and a specialist will point you in the right direction.

Located within the MFSC there is a Discovery Room with Free Wi-Fi as well as access to computers with Internet, printers, and base/local community information.

Deployments, temporary duty travel and remote assignments are synonymous with life in the military and present unique financial, legal, and relationship challenges for members and their families. Family Readiness prepares the entire family for separation through planning and has deployment resources such as calendars, books, and children's activities. Mandatory Pre/Post-Deployment Briefings are held weekly. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend. What I Love About You By Me Journals are available to Service Members upon completion of Pre-Deployment Briefing to use with their significant other while deployed. 

Hearts Apart is a vital element of deployment readiness activities hosted by the MFSC helping families stay connected to Airmen. Hearts Apart activities focus on deployment support for Service Members and Families during pre-deployment and sustainment. Hearts Apart also includes support to families separated due to extended TDY lasting 30 days or more as well as to families whose Service Member is on a remote assignment. If you are a deployed spouse and not receiving communication/information from the MFSC, please contact us to be added to our contact list. Pre & Post-deployment briefings are held every week. Spouses are encouraged to attend.

EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical, and personnel services to families with special needs (child or adult). Any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment warrants enrollment.

EFMP Services include:

• Family Support Services
• Medical and Educational Information and Referral
• Relocation Assistance
• Advocacy Services
• Accessibility and housing
• Support groups
• Respite information
• Recreational activities
• Family Needs Assessment & service Plan (DD 3054)

Personal Financial Readiness provides financial education, information, and one-on-one counseling. Goals are to help maximize your purchasing power, improve your standard of living, reduce stress and anxiety during a financial crisis, and increase personal productivity. The Financial Readiness Program assists service and family members with improving their credit reliability, reducing indebtedness and making their money work for them. Services include a personal financial evaluation, budgeting information, credit management, debt management resources, basic investment information, credit report/score, and workshops/seminars.

Military & Family Support Center has information about Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and neighboring communities available for newly arriving members, as well as service members and families preparing to depart the area. Our relocation services include individual counseling with a personalized needs assessment, information on local schools, and Smooth Move Seminars and workshops for parents and children, overseas information, Sponsorship Training, Citizenship and Immigration Services and International Spouse Group.

We encourage relocating service members and spouses to attend the monthly Newcomers Orientation and Information Fair. Please check with your CSS (Command Section Staff) Office or the Military & Family Support Center for Newcomers Orientation info.

Effective 1 Oct 19, IAW Section 552 Public Law 115-232, John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2019. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) offers separating or retiring personnel an individual transition plan to ease reentry into civilian life. Service Members are required to initiate the TAP process no later than 365 days from the date of separation or retirement. However, the process cannot begin until within 24 months from retirement or within 18 months from separation. MFSC provides TAP workshops and pre-separation counseling as well as information about additional training tracks. TAP is designed to provide the necessary tools to effectively transition from the military to the civilian community. Mandatory steps for completing TAP are four separate requirements. Step 1: Individualized Initial Counseling, step 2: Pre-separation Counseling, step 3: TAP, and step 4: CAPSTONE. Individualized Initial Counseling is via appointment only. Pre-Separation briefings are held bi-weekly each month and must be completed prior to the attendance of TAP. CAPSTONE is held weekly via appointments after the completion of Pre-Separation and TAP.