Base reserves deployed spouse parking at Commissary

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Visitors to the Barksdale Commissary may have noticed some new, reserved parking spaces during their shopping trips over the past week.

The 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron installed signs Oct. 31, reserving two parking spots for the spouses of local deployed servicemen and women.

The idea for the reserved parking came from the wife of a retiree, who told base leadership about another base with a similar program that had great response among the base community. Col. Andrew Gebara, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, felt the idea was a good one and decided to implement it immediately.

"We all know that the men and women of Barksdale deploy at a high rate, and anything we can do to make the spouses of our deployed Airmen's lives a little easier is a good thing," Gebara said. "Deployed Airmen need to know that we haven't forgotten them, and we will do what we can to help their loved ones during trying times."

For some of Barksdale's spouses impacted by deployments, that message was received loud and clear.

"I appreciated [the reserved parking spaces] being there," said Jennifer Hayden, whose husband is an Airman with the 2nd Munitions Squadron and is currently deployed. "I had my two children with me and when I saw the spot. I felt overwhelming gratitude."

The two spots may seem insignificant to some, but for Hayden it reinforces the sense of family she's found as a member of the military community.

She said that while she never expected or asked for any special treatment for being a spouse, Hayden feels a lot of pride in how the base cares for its Airmen and their families.

The addition of two reserved spaces is not anticipated to negatively impact the overall parking situation at the commissary, and there are plenty of available spots.

"No other special parking, such as handicapped or maternity spots, were removed to put these new parking locations in," said Scott Vincent, 2nd CES deputy commander. "We took two of the more than 300 normal parking spaces and converted them after determining that the new spots would not inconvenience or unduly restrict normal parking for the rest of our community."

The new parking spots are just one of several programs available to the spouses of deployed Airmen. Qualifying spouses can participate in the Airman and Family Readiness Center's Family First program, where they are notified of upcoming events for spouses; sign up for the Play Pass program, where they can take advantage of more than $500 in Force Support Squadron activities for free; and the Child Development Center's Give Parents a Break program, where they can get an evening of free childcare once a month.

Airmen or spouses wishing to learn more about these programs may contact any of the agencies listed above for participation qualifications.