Key Spouse Program vital to family readiness Published May 7, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden 15th Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Air Force spouses are essential to maintaining stability on the home front as Airmen maintain focus on the war front and the 647th Civil Engineer Squadron Key Spouse program takes it to heart. The key spouse program is an official unit/family program overseen by commanders designed to enhance readiness and establish a sense of unity within the Air Force community. The program was standardized across the Air Force in March 2006 to address the needs of all military families with special emphasis on support to families across the deployment cycle. "Key spouses are not a social group per say so we do not plan activities," said Amy Anderson, 647th CES key spouse. "However, we do encourage group gatherings and events within the spouse community, and as key spouses we do attend and participate in the events put on by the booster club or other leaders. We participate in these events to encourage a stronger community. Our attendance helps the other spouses know who the key spouses are so they know who they can comfortably turn to during the struggles of deployments." The CES Key Spouses routinely works with the squadron booster club to lead children activities throughout the year. The program is also integrated into the newcomers' orientation so that married Airmen and their families have a chance to gather information and introduce themselves. "I believe this program is important because it helps relieve stress on the home front," said Nakeita Wilson, 647 CES key spouse. "The service member is sometimes consumed with their mission duties and the spouse is left to care for all the extracurricular things such as housing, schooling, healthcare, ect., so this program offers the squadron spouses resources and links to the community outside of their active duty spouse." The program recognizes everyone on the unit's team -- commander, key spouse mentor, first sergeant, key spouse and the Airmen and family readiness center -- impacts the unit's culture and contributes to its ability to accomplish the mission at home or abroad. "All in all, our program is very strong. That being said, we are going through some turnover when three of our long-time spouses departed in late 2014," said Senior Master Sgt. Kyle Scafidi, 647th CES First Sergeant. "Adding several new ones, reorganized the composition and are currently balancing fresh ideas with our squadron priorities. I anticipate that we will have an even better program moving forward." Scafidi said the key spouses program is one that is near and dear to his heart. "It's all about getting to know each other so we're better able to help one another; that's how the program strengthens our Air Force," he said. The program helps to provide guidance and support in these areas, which key spouses are trained on: - Increase awareness of installation/community resources - Identify and help resolve issues at lowest levels (providing info on programs, benefits and more) - Prepare and support families during separations - Improve quality of life among unit families - Enhance family resilience - Strengthens leadership's support team "We use each other's strengths and talents to focus on our mission," said Ria Muller, 647th CES lead key spouse. "We have wonderful leadership that supports us in everything we do. We have five trained key spouses in total along with volunteers/helpers and they all have families and busy working schedules however; they never fail and still manage to give and show support to our spouses. In this type of community we need those strong commitment and motivation in order to go forward." Mueller said being a part of the key spouses is an experience she will cherish for the rest of her life. "Honestly, this is the best group I have ever been a part of," she said. "I learn every time we get together for our monthly meetings. We cheer and empower and lift up each other. We make sure that everybody is well taken care of in times of trouble and provide the best resources and links when families need it. Being a key spouse can be challenging at times but we always try to stay positive and figure out what works best according to our squadron's need. We all enjoy working with each other. We respect, care, and connect as much as we can. I believed that staying connected is important not only in key spouse program but in any group."