Page 7 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 11-25-15

Novemer 25, 2015
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Key Spouse Program connects units, families
by Rebecca Amber
Staff writer
The Edwards community is made up of
two distinct groups, those who work for the
Air Force and the families of those who work
for the Air Force.
Both have their own unique challenges
and daily tasks. Then there are those volun-
teers who fall in between both worlds, Key
Spouses.
The Air Force Key Spouse Program is an
RI¿FLDO$LU)RUFHXQLWIDPLO\UHDGLQHVVSUR- so they can help them navigate some of that.”
gram designed to enhance mission readiness
and resiliency and establish a sense of com-
munity. Air Force requirements for the Key
Spouse Program are found in AFI 36-3009.
“It’s the formal commander’s program that
offers informal peer-to-peer family support,”
said Maria Chapa, Airman and Family Readi-
ness Center team lead.
The program is commander-directed to
meet the needs of the individual unit. For in-
stance, the 412th Security Forces Squadron
has very different needs than the 31st Test
and Evaluation Squadron.
The spouse’s may have a range of respon-
sibilities depending on the needs of the unit
they work for. Typically, they will main-
tain contact with families through phone
calls, emails or newsletters. They encourage
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spouses to attend the Air Force 101 program,
Heart Link and offer referrals for base and
community resources as needed. This is true
for spouses of both deployed members and
those at home.
Essentially, the key spouse acts as a liaison
connecting the families and units.
“Some new, younger spouses, if they’ve
never been away from home, they have no
clue what the Air Force is like,” said Chapa.
“Key spouses are usually seasoned spouses
who have been in the Air Force for a while
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A key spouse might also keep the families
informed about what’s happening on the base.
For instance, if an exercise is happening, the
key spouse can alert families to expect longer
duty hours that day. Or, if there’s a unit burger annual orientation training.
burn, they’ll invite the families to that.
“What if their husband who typically goes
home for lunch isn’t going home? Or they
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have one car and they have to drop him off can be any military member, DOD civilian,
before they go to work. Now they can plan,” spouse or even a service member’s mother.
she said. Once appointed, they will be paired with a
mentor to help them learn the job.
The program is a resource for all members
of Edwards, both active duty and civilian. Each key spouse is required to complete
While not all services are available to spouses annual training for suicide awareness, sexual
of civilian workers, many resources are. The assault and response and resiliency. Atten-
key spouse can also connect them with the dance is also highly encouraged at the four
unit’s social events. continuing education trainings offered during
the year.
“Some of them don’t know they can attend
these family events too. They want to be part New Key Spouse Program Orientation will
of this Air Force family; when the squadron be offered:
DVSRXVHFRIIHHWKH\JHWWR¿QGRXWDERXWLW´ Feb. 23, 2016
May 17, 2016
Chapa estimated that there are currently Aug. 16, 2016
around 44 key spouses at Edwards. The new-
est spouses were welcomed Nov. 10 at the Quarterly Key Spouse Continuing Educa-
tion Training will be offered:
According to Chapa, commanders can ap- Jan. 19, 2016: Disaster Preparedness with
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cations. Key spouses, in spite of their name,
April 6, 2016: TBD
July 19, 2016: Suicide Awareness/Sexual
Assault Response (annual requirement)
For more information about the Air Force
Key Spouse program, call the Airman and
Family Readiness Center at 661-277-0723
or email maria.chapa.1@us.af.mil.
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