Motivated spouses enhance Airmen quality of life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center is looking for motivated spouses who want to volunteer to help other military families improve resilience and quality of life.

Since 1999, Key spouse volunteers have been helping unit commanders support the families within their units.

"The Key Spouse program is an official unit program that offers informal peer-to-peer family support during the relocation, sustainment and deployment/separation phases," said Tech. Sgt. Rhoneiula Johnson, 2nd Force Support Squadron personal readiness technician. "These spouses are trained volunteers of any active duty, reserve or DoD Civilian. Key spouses are selected, interviewed and appointed by the unit commanders."

Airmen resilience is what keeps the Air Force running, but spouse resilience is a lifeline for families of deployed Airmen.

"We help out by assisting other spouses with things that happen at home," said Katie Blackwell, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron key spouse. "We try to provide them with resources for what may happen while the spouse is away."

With this support Airmen, will be able to focus on the mission at home station and downrange.

"If the Airmen are focused on the well-being of their families, they aren't focused on the mission," said Blackwell. "If we are able to take a little of the pressure off the Airmen they can do their job."

The spouses volunteer their time to not only improve other spouses morale. Together their opinions also help influence base issues.

"Key spouses get information from squadron commanders and get it out to the spouses and vice versa," Blackwell. "We also let our commanders know what is going on within their squadron, and what they can do to help both the spouses and Airmen."

Since the Key Spouse program is made up of volunteers, it runs even during times of fiscal constraint.

"We are able to continue to provide support to families even in the event of a government shutdown," Johnson said. "It's strictly a volunteer program, so there is little to no cost to the government."

With dedicated volunteers like Key spouses, Airmen and commanders' can focus on getting the job done without sacrificing families.

For more information on becoming a Key spouse contact the A&FRC at 456-8400.