An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Spouses get a taste of mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  From fire truck to KC-135, family members of the Mission Support Group got a hands-on tour of Fairchild Wednesday. During the group's first-ever Spouse Orientation, spouses and children spent little more than half a day attending interactive demonstrations and mini field trips covering a large number of MSG and base organizations.

The chosen organizations generally fell into two categories: MSG units that affect the active-duty members' daily work lives, and base agencies that can be important and helpful to everyone in the family.

"We want to give (attendees) a brief look at the exciting things their spouses do, the cool things the SPACE has ... But we also want to bring together the spouses and recognize them," said 2nd Lt. Mark Perrault, orientation coordinator.

That attempt to both gather and teach spouses was a successful hit, according to orientation participants.

"We did so much in one day - it was incredible ... I thought the day was very informative, very hands-on," said Melina Bray, whose husband, Maj. Douglas Bray, works in the 92nd Communications Squadron. Mrs. Bray added that even though her husband has been in the service for 22 years and they've "seen a lot of bases," Wednesday was a learning experience.

"This helped me understand the MSG structurally, so when my husband comes home and talks about work, I'll know the structure of the organization, and know more of what he's saying."

Mrs. Bray also said that because of the orientation's all-inclusive scope, she feels much more prepared to answer other people's questions. In about five hours, the spouses interacted with the Security Forces Squadron, saw a Satellite GPS demonstration, learned what the base can offer to them when their spouse is deployed, and visited places like the Aquatic Center and Outdoor Recreation.

"Everybody who was presenting was very well prepared," she said. "I was so impressed."

The day culminated in a deployment demonstration and a KC-135 tour, activities that, according to Lieutenant Perrault, brought the orientation back to the very reason we're all here, both family and servicemembers.

"This is the tip of the spear," he said. "This is who we support on a regular basis."