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Key Spouse Program key to family readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Dougherty
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  From planning squadron picnics and having holiday parties to assisting families in need, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina Key Spouse Program keeps Team Shaw members active in the community. The rewarding feeling of being able to provide a family-feel to Shaw or help a family who, after paying their bills, cannot afford food is what drives key spouses to continue helping their units.

The Key Spouse Program is a commander's program made of volunteer spouses from units and squadrons across an installation who provide support and information on resources and events to the families in their units.

"A happy home creates a focused Airman who's able to focus on the mission," said Kayla St. Pierre, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron lead key spouse.

The program provides opportunities for key spouses to give back to their sponsor's units. Spouses help put together events, refer families in need to the proper programs, and assist families throughout all stages of deployment.

In order to support their units, key spouses must complete a nine-module training course in addition to sexual assault prevention and response and suicide awareness training.

"It is important to know about the different services and agencies on base in order to make effective referrals," said Ara Thomas, 20th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness specialist.  "Key spouses have to listen with an ear for understanding how to best assist a community spouse in need."

More recently, some of the Team Shaw key spouses received CPR and automatic external defibrillator training. 

The KSP, made Air Force-wide in 2009, strengthens units, acts as a liaison for Shaw's resources, and assists families during separations.

"As a key spouse you get the rewarding feeling of being able to help others," said St. Pierre. "It's amazing."

The KSP helps create a sense of community, raises awareness of base resources, actively helps families through deployments and keeps people involved on Shaw. Through an effective communication flow between leadership and unit families, the KSP empowers spouses and creates resilient families and strong Air Force communities.