Key spouses contribute to mission success

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
On any given day, thousands of servicemembers are deployed around the globe in harm's way. Others are hundreds of miles away from their home station on extended temporary duty assignments or attending important meetings.

The common denominator for almost all of these men and women are their families waiting back home. The Air Force recognizes the many sacrifices families make for their Airmen and wants to make sure they know there is someone to turn to for help, guidance and support. Part of this is accomplished through the Key Spouse Program.

At Hanscom, 11 volunteers serve as Key Spouses, Key Spouse Mentors and unit points of contact for the program. These volunteers make sure they establish and maintain contact with families of deployed members, provide information and referral to base and community resources and promote individual, family and unit readiness.

Key Spouses act as unit ambassadors and conduits of information to help ease the stress of temporary separations.

Deb Leister, a Key Spouse Mentor, wants spouses to know their contributions are also important to the mission.

"Family support to the military member is vital to the success of the mission," she said. "The military member cannot concentrate on the mission if they are worried about the family at home. So, often times the spouse and family have to put on a brave face and take care of business until the family is reunited. I want them to know that I get that."

Leister wants to make sure Airmen know their families are being taken care of, as well.

"I will be the eyes and ears for them," she said. "I will make sure the family is taken care of while the deployed member is protecting us. That's why the Key Spouse Program exists."

Key Spouses also help family members feel a part of the mission their Airman is supporting at home or abroad.

"I volunteer as a Key Spouse to help spouses continually feel connected to the programs their servicemembers live and breathe," said Cristina Benitez, 66th Security Forces Squadron Key Spouse. "It is a great way to connect and network with individuals who may have wisdom to share with you, as well as allowing us the ability to help out fellow spouses and keep the morale and camaraderie alive in the squadrons on the home-front level."

Another Life Cycle Management Center Key Spouse volunteer, Nancy DeLory, feels like she can offer advice to spouses.

"I have been a spouse for over 18 years," she said. "I have been around the block and feel I can give support and advice to those who need it. I did not understand the program and did not use it when my husband was deployed, but could have used it. I want to make sure that others know that the support is there when they need it."

For some volunteers, the mission is to help relieve the worries of both the Airman and family members.

"Participating in the Key Spouse Program is one of the ways I can support our deployed warriors," said Roger Larsen, 66th Medical Squadron Key Spouse. "If we can, in some way, help to relieve the stresses that are experienced by the families while their Airman, Soldier, Sailor or Marine is away defending our country, then we have succeeded to some measure in our endeavors."

Verena Gizelbach, another LCMC Key Spouse, echoed Larsen's comments.

"I want to be one additional person checking in on the spouse and family that stay behind, and to be someone you can turn to in case you need help with anything," she said. "I am hoping to relieve a little bit of the stress that comes with a deployment by providing support to the spouse."

Other Key Spouses volunteer their time for no other reason other than to be there for someone.

"Everyone should have someone who they can call, who will be there for them at a moment's notice," said Shannon LaPuma, Key Spouse Mentor.

Although Hanscom has several Key Spouse volunteers, in a high operations tempo environment, more are always needed.

A Key Spouse volunteer is usually the spouse of a military member who is willing to share a few hours a month to connect with families of a deployed member. Before being officially appointed, Key Spouse volunteers must attend initial training conducted on base and attend monthly training as their schedules permit.

"Key Spouses not only give support, but get support, as well, " said Dawn Andreucci, Airman and Family Readiness community readiness consultant team leader and Key Spouse Program coordinator. "Key Spouses have a support team consisting of mentors, first sergeants, the 66th Air Base Group commander and Airman and Family Readiness Center. We're all in this together."

In the end, Key Spouses become more than just a person to contact in times of need.

"It's great to share the happy occasions," said Terry Knorreck, Key Spouse Mentor for the 319th Recruiting Squadron. "It feels like a family."

For more information on the Key Spouse Program, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 781-225-2765.