Over the past few years AFR has established itself as a highly acceptable Event Planner for DOD conferences. In over 25 years of event planning 100% of events planned by AFR have been military oriented. The Department of Defense took notice. We specialize in contracting for Returning Warrior Workshops, Strong Bond Retreats, Family Readiness Retreats, and other DoD conferences.
In July, 2008 AFR was awarded a two year contract (N0018908PZ739) to provide hotel and event planning services for a series of U.S. Navy Reserve Returning Warrior Workshops. for planning U.S. Navy Returning Warrior Workshops nationwide. AFR managed hotel, food and beverage, and conference services to support workshops in 31 cities from September, 2008 through July, 2010. The program served 4,100 Navy reservists and their spouses. Capt. Virginia M. Torsch, special projects coordinator for the Office of the Chief of the Navy Reserve, stated: “We selected AFR over other bidders because of AFR’s experience in planning and managing military conferences. Their understanding of military protocol and procedure was invaluable.”
In September, 2012 AFR was reawarded a contract (N0018913CZ002) to continue planning this series of U.S. Navy Returning Warrior Workshops in 2013 and 2014. Clearly, the Navy was highly satisfied with AFR’s performance.
In 2011 AFR was awarded and planned an Air Force Public Affairs conference for 250 attendees in the Washington DC area (FA7014-11-P-0055). AFR provided all logistical and administrative support necessary to conduct the seminar, from planning through execution, including AV and IT support, speaker support, and professional consultation, advice and research. Commented Brigadier General Les A. Kodlick, Director of Air Force Public Affairs: “Please accept my sincere thanks for your outstanding support to the Air Force Public Affairs Professional Development Seminar. Through the exceptional service provided by you and the entire Armed Forces Reunions Team, you helped ensure the event was a resounding success!”
AFR has also been awarded contracts in the past for Strong Bonds Marriage Retreats for the Virginia Army National Guard.
Art Sifuentes, Executive Director of the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) and a retired Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps, said “AFR is absolutely golden. They work with the customer better than any other organization I’ve ever seen. Defense contracts are a perfect fit for them because they understand military culture so well and how to match it with the civilian side of hotel, hospitality, transportation and catering services. They are a complete organization.”