LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- A unique part of military culture is the sense of belonging or camaraderie that can be difficult to find in the public sector. A critical aspect of that military fellowship is the family support system. The Key Spouse program is a formal program that reaches out to military spouses to help build a sense of community.
Anyone can help military family members, but a Key Spouse is a commander appointed volunteer. They focus on channeling support and information to military families for deployments, temporary duty assignments, and welcoming new families to the unit.
“The folks in the program are here to help our military families with guidance, provide access to resources, or hosting social events such as the base’s deployed family dinners,” said Shanna Holmes, 913th Key Spouse, “Such events help bring families together and perhaps bond over shared military life struggles.”
The Key Spouse 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
The program aims to promote individual, family, and unit readiness, link spouses to leadership, strengthen leadership’s support team, and encourage peer-to-peer Wingman support.
“Life can be difficult at times, especially when a loved one is deployed. The important thing to remember is you are not alone, you are not a superhero with super powers, we are spouses and families missing a loved one,” said Holmes. “We can do this and we will be that much stronger in the end.”
Send a direct message to the 913 Key Spouses page on Facebook to learn more about how you can help support the program.