2LRS Key Spouses renovate program through innovation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mozer O. Da Cunha
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. – --  Key Spouses from the 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron incorporate the squadron’s slogan of “LRS: Nothing But The Best” by applying innovative ideas to better assist Airmen and their families.

By customizing an Air Force-wide program to the needs of the squadron, the key spouses were able to expand assistance programs for families and single Airmen alike, increasing a sense of support within the squadron.

“After my husband’s assumption of command we saw the need to change the key spouses program,” said Renee Thomas, 2nd LRS Key Spouse mentor. “A big part of that was increasing the number of spouses in the program. To do that, we toured the flights and talked with the Airmen to gain their trust. We asked them to relay our message to their spouses and let them know we wanted to help.”

With the number of volunteers growing, the key spouses refocused their efforts to increase the program’s visibility and connect key spouses to their designated flights.

“One issue squadrons have 90 percent of the time is that Airmen usually won’t know who their key spouses are,” said Shellie Neuman, spouse of Col. Ty Neuman, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. “To solve that the key spouses created a bulletin board with pictures of the key spouses and what flights they are assigned to, giving families the information to contact their key spouses proactively.”

As part of the new approach, the key spouses branched to both families and single Airmen living in the dormitories.

“I think what makes their program more effective is the fact that they are encompassing the entire unit,” said Selina Lyle, Airman and Family Readiness Center Key Spouse program coordinator. “They are not focusing solely on deployed spouses, which is what the program was originally intended to do.

During the past holiday season, the key spouses dedicated time to care for Airmen away from their families.

“Recently they have completed two events focused primarily on Airmen living in the dormitories,” Lyle said. “They did Operation Cake Drop during Halloween and Operation Cupcake Drop during Christmas, delivering treats to those Airmen who might not necessarily have family nearby.”

Key Spouses also hand-made blankets for new parents.

“I think one of the great things they have done lately was Operation Baby Blanket,” Lyle said. “It’s a really big thing for a young couple that just had a baby to feel embraced not only by the flight but by the entire squadron.”

The newly renovated program uses current online resources and repurposes them to assist Airmen in the squadron.

“We are also using an online program called ‘meal trains’ for families going through a tough time where our spouses sign up to take a family a meal for a week or two,” said Thomas.

The services provided are designed to let Airmen know that if they are unreachable to their families, they have someone to talk to and assist them with their needs.

“When the Airmen are out doing the mission, it’s important for them to know their families are being taken care of,” Neuman said. “They know that no matter the circumstances, key spouses are there as a resource to link their families to any support they might need.”