Key Spouse program offers vital link to families, units during separations

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  The Key Spouse program, currently being revitalized by Hanscom's Airman and Family Readiness Center, serves as a communication link between the commander, first sergeant and unit families experiencing duty-related separations.

The Key Spouse program's objectives are to enhance mission readiness by supporting the family through information sharing between leadership, base agencies and spouses of personnel who are deployed, on remote tours or are experiencing extended TDY.

"This is an organized program of the Air Force where spouses are helping other spouses," said Dr. Sondra Albano, Airman and Family Readiness Center flight chief. "It offers a non-threatening focal point for information, referral and support to unit families and provides a partnership between the key spouse, unit leadership and the unit as a whole to ensure that families have the support that they need during deployments or separations," she said.

"The goal is to provide another avenue of support to spouses and military families and let them know they have open communication to their unit leadership," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "We're always committed to taking care of our families here at home, but our support is especially critical when our Airmen are serving away from Hanscom and focusing on their deployed missions."

Marcia Bowlds, wife of Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds and Hanscom's Key Spouse advisor agrees. "The Key Spouse program is spouse-centered but command directed," she said. "The Airman and Family Readiness Center provides the tools to help the key spouse create a network of support with the families. The Key Spouse is directly connected to the unit's first sergeant. The structure of the program attempts to insure families experiencing separation are contacted by a fellow spouse from their unit."

"I hope those interested in volunteering will consider this an opportunity to personally serve the Air Force families in their units by giving a few hours a month to this very important mission," she added. "The key spouse is a value added-member of our community -- a potential force multiplier. The key spouse volunteer truly becomes a helping pair of hands and feet supporting the work being done for families by our first sergeants and Airman and Family Readiness staff."

Under the program, each unit's key spouse shall have an official appointment letter from the unit commander, shall attend key spouse training held by the Airman and Family Readiness Center and will serve as an official liaison for leadership and families. The commitment of volunteer time varies with need, but can be estimated at two to three hours per month.

"Bridging the gap between families and the official chain of command increases the sense of caring and connectivity within each unit," Dr. Albano said. "To be chosen as a key spouse, the candidate should be approachable and non-judgmental, while the most effective skill they can have is listening, because this dynamic group of individuals can do much to enhance the flow of communication between spouses, leadership and base support agencies as they cope with the challenges of deployment, remote tours and extended TDY's."

The Key Spouse program was first tested in the Air Force in 1997 at five high-deployment bases, providing insight on assisting family members while the service member was deployed or otherwise separated from their family.

There are four key players in the program: unit commander, first sergeant, key spouse and the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

The unit commander provides administrative support to the program and appoints a key spouse after an interview.

The first sergeant is the main point of contact for the key spouse and is the communication link between the key spouse and the unit commander. The first sergeant also recruits key spouses and coordinates their training.

The key spouse's basic duties include informing and referring family members to appropriate support agencies, supporting families in times of separation and bringing unit attention to family issues.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center provides oversight and coordination on family readiness issues and conducts key spouse training. The center also provides information and referral support for the key spouse.

For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at (781) 377-4222.