Mountain Home AFB welcomes first school liaison officer

  • Published
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Mountain Home Air Force Base recently welcomed their first school liaison officer.

"As the school liaison officer, my job is to inform and connect military families, home school groups, private schools and public schools in Mountain Home and the surrounding Treasure Valley communities where military children may attend school with Mountain Home AFB to meet the educational needs of military children," said Robin Riger, 366th Force Support Squadron. "I also serve as the installation point of contact for all who desire assistance with school-related matters."

To become an SLO, Ms. Riger first had to complete a Bachelor's degree in a social services related field and demonstrate a broad knowledge of primary and secondary school program practices.

"My background includes mental health case management, family life education, victim advocacy and developmental disability services for children and adults," said Ms. Riger.

As the SLO, Ms. Riger aims to improve the educational environment of military dependent children; facilitate a deployment activity and support program in the schools called "Smiles Across the Miles" for kindergarten through sixth grade military students; promote communication, awareness and partnerships between schools, military organizations and parents; act as the primary representative for the installation commander at school functions including monthly school board meetings; and serve as an advocate for military families to include special needs children and families to make sure children and youth are not penalized in school by their families' service to our nation.

"Military families have historically been left to deal with school-related issues on their own without support or advocacy," said Ms. Riger. "Today, approximately 1.5 million children and youth attending U.S. public schools have a parent serving in the military. The mobile lifestyle of a military family creates tough challenges for children who may attend as many as 13 schools in 12 years. This, added to the anxiety of parental separation during deployments, creates the tough challenge of easing transitions for our children and youth. I'm here to help bridge that gap with the goal of making the process smoother for service members and their families."