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Key wingmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Sweeney
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  When a family is in need, these wingmen are always waiting to swoop in and save the day.

Whether they are facing financial troubles or hardships that can accompany deployments, the Shaw Key Spouse Program is dedicated to the men and women who support service members and the mission.

Key spouses act as a liaison to support their unit leadership and families. They also provide wingman support, refer family members to base resources and maintain contact with unit family members, incoming families and families with deployed service members.

“It leads to the Airman being mission-ready,” said Ara Thomas, 20th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center Key Spouse Program coordinator, speaking about the program. “He or she can focus on the mission instead of thinking about family and worrying about back home, because they know they’re connected and can access help if they need it.”

To become a key spouse, individuals must contact their spouse’s first sergeant and be approved by their unit commander. They then receive training to assist them as a liaison between spouses and helping agencies, such as the A&FRC, Family Advocacy and the Military Family Life Consultant.

“It’s really important to know the resources so you can pass them on,” said Whitney Armstrong, key spouse. “The key spouse is that buddy, that wingman for the spouse and the link between the squadron and family.”

One of the toughest issues key spouses respond to is deployments. They contact families prior to deployments to let spouses know they are there for them if they need anything.

“It just always seems that no matter how prepared you are for a deployment the minute your loved one goes downrange, all of a sudden everything that could go wrong goes wrong and you don’t know where to go for what, so you call your key spouse,” said Thomas.

Key spouses also put together resources for those facing emergency situations.

“We did our own version of a recall during the hurricane just to make sure all the spouses and service members were taken care of,” said Armstrong. “There was a key spouse in our squadron who opened up her home to people, a couple folks came and were able to shower because they didn’t have water and were able to charge their phones because they didn’t have power in their homes.”

Since March 2009, when the Air Force standardized the Key Spouse Program, volunteers have been operating to enhance readiness and establish a sense of community for families across the world.

Although no one can tell what the future will bring, Team Shaw families can rely on their key spouse to help with whatever life throws their way.