Spouses reach out to Fairchild families Published Feb. 8, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias 92nd Air Refueling Wing FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- A freshly trained team has hit Fairchild's streets, ready to work. Nineteen base spouses attended training on Saturday, Feb. 3, to become Wingmen for Fairchild's families as Phoenix Spouses. The Phoenix Spouse program reflects Air Mobility Command's updates to the previous Key Spouse program, which offered assistance to families of deployed Airmen. The improved program still helps families during deployment periods, but the family aid doesn't stop there. In fact, it doesn't stop at all. "The Phoenix Spouse program is about letting families know that someone is here for them before they even arrive," said Della Gooding, Community Readiness Technician at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, adding that a welcome letter for family members is now included in each sponsor package. "Then, within about 10 days of a family arriving at Fairchild, the Phoenix Spouse should make contact and welcome the new spouse." After this initial welcome, a Phoenix Spouse's responsibility really begins. Though the position is filled by volunteers, the role is a big one: to provide information referral, direction and family assistance to squadron spouses throughout their tour here. Saturday's day-long training session was the first step to prepare Phoenix Spouses for this important duty. "We went over the different roles of the program, such as the (squadron) commander's role, the first sergeant's role and the Phoenix Spouse's role," said Javonika McCree, training attendee and Director of Staff Phoenix Spouse. "We also talked about confidentiality, different activities we can do with families and Airmen, and we took a personality test and talked about dealing with different personalities." Saturday's session covered eight topics, ranging from team building to communication and stress management. The Phoenix Spouses left the course with an exhaustive handbook of information about the program, base and Air Force reference material, and family assistance guides. All of this information in hand, though, does not mean that the new Phoenix Spouse should be doing all of the work single-handedly. The very opposite is true, said Ms. Gooding. "This program uses the Wingman concept, and it's very important ... The Phoenix Spouse does not work alone; the spouse brings other people in from the squadron to assist," she said. Involving other squadron spouses in activities is actually one of the main purposes of the revised program, she added. "The more visible the Phoenix Spouse is, the more able she is to build relationships, which is a key point of the program." This visibility comes from heavy involvement in official squadron functions, such as commander's calls, along with constant contact with squadron families. Phoenix Spouses work very closely with squadron first sergeants, and the spouses often act as the eyes and ears of the squadron's family scene, bringing feedback to shirts and commanders on issues of which leadership may not be aware. And there's still the deployment issue - family members need a place to turn when the active-duty member is gone. "The deployment aspect is even bigger (than it was in the Key Spouse program)," said Ms. Gooding. "Phoenix Spouses maintain contact with family members throughout the entire deployment so the family is taken care of. A family may need their snow shoveled or their grass cut; Phoenix Spouses can make the connection between a need and the unit." Basically, the Phoenix Spouse is there to "build a community among the spouses," explained Mrs. McCree, saying that she's excited to start building. "I volunteered because ... having been to three bases now, I'd like to bring everything I've learned over that time to this base, and be available to help other people. I want to help the unit get the mission done, and I'd also like to get to know some of the other spouses." And now the new Phoenix Spouses at Fairchild are ready to do just that. Their training isn't quite finished, though. Additional training is scheduled for March, including suicide awareness training and Heart Link. "Suicide awareness training is a requirement because a Phoenix Spouse may encounter a family member who needs to be referred to a first sergeant or leadership," said Ms. Gooding. Heart Link is an event put on by the Airman and Family Readiness Center designed for spouses who have been affiliated with the military for less than five years. Attending this event orients Phoenix Spouses toward information new spouses will need. "At the completion of all training, the Phoenix Spouse will be equipped for any type of situation they may encounter, so they'll always know where to direct a family member for assistance," said Ms. Gooding. "The Airman and Family Readiness Center will also offer additional training and information every month for Phoenix Spouses from various agencies on the base." Upcoming initiatives within the program include a booth at Right Start, ensuring Phoenix Spouses are able to make contact with each new family during their in-processing period, and items such as T-shirts and business cards sporting the Phoenix Spouse and appropriate squadron logos. With this intense training and increased visibility, the Phoenix Spouse will be equipped to join the Squadron leadership team to realize the Air Force's goal - developing and caring for Airmen and their families.
