Key Spouse Program

A new welcome mat graces the entrance for the 913th Airlift Group campus at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Oct. 31, 2016. Key 913 AG offices, from several locations around Little Rock AFB, have been consolidating into the newly remodeled building. Moving into the new campus, which is located in building 262, began on October 17, and is scheduled to be completed by November 8. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeff Walston/Released) — Key Spouse

The U.S. Air Force Key Spouse Program (KSP) is an official Air Force Unit Family Readiness Program designed to enhance readiness, personal/family resiliency and establish a sense of Air Force community. Key Spouses are commander-appointed and serve as a vital resource to command teams in an effort to support Air Force families. The strategic vision is to increase resiliency and unit cohesion amongst military members and their families throughout the military life cycle.

This commander program promotes partnerships with unit leadership, Key Spouses, family members, the Airman & Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) and other community and helping agencies. In March 2009, the KSP was standardized across the Air Force to address the needs of all Air Force families. The KSP provides service-minded volunteers an opportunity to contribute to their communities, with a special emphasis on support to families throughout all phases of the deployment

cycle.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Key Spouse program is to provide information and resources to military spouses, supporting families in successfully navigating throughout the military life cycle.

Vision Statement: The Air Force Family - Empowered and Resilient

WHO WE ARE:
Air force Spouse & Families helping other spouses and families
Volunteer organization for 913th families
Peer-to-peer support network

WHAT WE DO:

Initiate communication between Key Spouses and families during deployments or TDYs
Help facilitate communication with Group leadership
Provide community information, volunteer opportunities, and referral services

WHY IS THE KEY SPOUSE PROGRAM IMPORTANT?

Promotes individual, family, and unit readiness and resiliency

Establishes and maintains continuous contact with spouses and families

Encourages peer-to-peer Wingman support amongst spouses and families

Builds family links to leadership

Provides an informal sounding board to leadership

Strengthens leadership’s support team

WHAT ARE THE KEY SPOUSE PROGRAM OUTCOMES?

Increased awareness of installation and community resources

Identified/resolved issues at lowest levels

Enhanced up and down information flow

Prepared and supported families during separations/deployments

Increased sense of unit support

Improved quality of life amongst unit families

Increased readiness and retention

Enhanced individual and family resilience

The goal is to have a cadre of trained volunteers who can support your unit’s military families in an official capacity.

The Commander’s Guide provides commanders with information and resources to help units manage their official KSP. The guide is designed to provide a practical approach to develop an effective unit KSP, with tips and tools to assist commanders in recruiting, interviewing and selecting unit Key Spouse(s) and Key Spouse Mentor(s).

The KS and KSM Guides provide volunteers with guidance, information and resources on how to meet the expectations of their role and vision set forth by their unit commander.

Email at: 913thkeyspouses@gmail.com

Head Key Spouse: 979-229-9996

While most reservists work one weekend a month and two weeks a year, there are several other categories of service in the Air Force Reserve. Some are part-time, such as Traditional Reservists and Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and some are full-time, such as Air Reserve Technicians and Active Guard Reserve Airmen. Regardless of duty-status category, all Reserve Airmen contribute to the Air Force Reserve by providing an integrated, flexible and combat-ready force that supports national security objectives.

Air Force Reserve categories of service break down as follows:

Traditional Reservists (TRs) - 69%

The majority of Reserve Airmen are TRs. They serve part-time, usually one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Most TRs serve at Air Force units that are close to home.

Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs) - 12%

A smaller but equally important category of TR is the "Individual Mobilization Augmentee" (IMA). IMAs are part-time Air Force Reservists who are assigned to active duty Air Force units and organizations, combat support agencies, Unified Combatant Commands and the Joint Staff to do jobs that are essential in wartime and/or during contingency operations, but do not require full-time manning during times of peace. They typically report for duty 24 to 48 individual training days per year and twelve contiguous annual training days a year but, like their Unit Program counterparts, many IMAs serve well in excess of the minimum military duty requirement.

Air Reserve Technicians (ART) - 15%

While the Air Force Reserve takes pride in offering great part-time jobs, approximately 10,000 Citizen Airmen serve full-time in Air Reserve Technician (ART) positions. ARTs are dual-status employees of the Air Force Reserve, which means they serve both as reservists and as federal civilian employees. They provide the day-to-day management, operations and administration for traditional Reserve units. ART positions are available in more than 100 occupations, including commander, ﬂight instructor, aircraft mechanic, aircraft maintenance ofﬁcer, nurse, loadmaster and human resource ofﬁcer. As dual-status employees, ARTs enjoy a benefits package that includes programs designed for both military members and federal civilian employees. Available ART positions can be viewed on www.usajobs.gov.

Active Guard Reserve (AGR) - 4%

Reserve Airmen who work in AGR positions provide full-time support to Reserve Component organizations for the purpose of leading, organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing or training. Unlike dual-status ART positions that consist of military and civilian statuses, AGRs are full-time military servicemembers without any ties to federal civilian status. AGRs receive pay, benefits and entitlements that are nearly identical to those of active-duty Airmen of the Regular Air Force. Prior military experience is required.

LRAFB Airman & Family Readiness Center: 501-987-6801 (Monday-Friday)

American Red Cross (24/7): 877-272-7337

Chaplain Base Services: 501-987-6014

DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System): 800-538-9552

Family Advocacy: 501-987-7377

Mental Health: 501-987-7338

Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC): 501-941-6686 or 501-366-7703

Military One Source (24/7): 800-342-9647

Tricare: 800-444-5445

Walters Community Support Center: 501-987-2667