Heart of the Team Published July 14, 2006 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Just as the heart is vital to the human body, the Air Force spouse is the heart of the Air Force family and vital to the mission. For this reason, the Airman and Family Readiness Center periodically hosts the Heart Link program. This program is designed to teach spouses the basics of life in the Air Force, said Michelle Vance, New Parent Support nurse and master of ceremony for Tuesday’s Heart Link program. “When you first (marry into the Air Force) everything is so strange and new. (Heart Link) shows you everything is much more accessible than you think,” said Kimberly Bryant, wife of Airman 1st Class Ronald Bryant, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. During Heart Link Tuesday, experts from the AFRC, Tricare, 20th Fighter Wing Chapel, Family Advocacy, Life Skills, Health and Wellness Center, 20th FW Protocol, 20th Comptroller Squadron, 20th FW Legal Office, 20th Services Squadron and the first sergeants’ Diamond Council came to share what their organizations offer and the services or benefits spouses can utilize, Ms. Vance said. For example, Senior Airman Michael Roche, 20th CPTS, explained all aspects of the military leave and earnings statement. Not only did the experts talk about the services and benefits spouses are entitled to, they also addressed another aspect of military life. As part of being an Air Force spouse, deployments, TDYs and remote tours of duty can often require a spouse to keep things running smoothly on the home front while the member is deployed carrying out the Air Force mission. The experts helped give the spouses an idea of where they would need to go for help in a particular situation, Ms. Vance said. Col. Bill Hyatt, 20th FW commander, explained deployment cycles and how they may affect spouses. Communication between spouses and their sponsors is very important. He also said spouses should ask questions if they do not understand something. Chaplain (Capt.) Richard Compton, 20th FW Chapel, spoke about the importance of communication both in marriage and life as well as what do before, during and after a spouses’ sponsor deploys. Patti Busser, Shaw’s Family Advocacy Outreach manager talked about suicide prevention, how to look for possible signs what to do if you see them. The day’s events also included two informative games and a free lunch. Upon graduation, Col. Mike Byrne, 20th FW vice commander, presented each spouse with a special Air Force spouses’ coin. “I would urge spouses to attend (Heart Link),” said Mary Flaherty, wife of Lt. Col. Michael Flaherty, 609th Air Intelligence Squadron commander. “I learned a lot of valuable information about the 20 free hours of child care during a PCS, the general and special powers of attorney and what the 20th Services Squadron has to offer,” she said.