Be an official Key Spouse member through Key Spouse Training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janelle Patiño
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center offers several programs to help spouses through hard times. One in particular is the Key Spouses Club, which is composed of appointed and volunteer military spouses who help communicate between unit leaders and spouses of unit members. Before joining, spouses go through what's called Key Spouse Training.

The training provides guidance and tools in order to prepare spouses for their roles as the face of the unit and provide the best support to other families.

"This spouse works as a liaison between unit leadership and other spouses in the unit," said Sharon McDaniel, A&FRC community readiness consultant. "They provide support and resources vital to the well being and happiness of other spouses, most often during deployments. It's also part of their duties to funnel information and messages from leadership to the rest of the spouses."

During the training, there is a Key Spouse mentor, which is usually a commander's spouse or a spouse that is experienced with the military, who can provide support to Key Spouses.

"Key Spouses have a regular task of keeping in touch with families, but also go above and beyond during times of crisis," McDaniel said. "Some Key Spouse groups contact family members during deployment and attend quarterly meetings, while other groups have get-togethers for unit spouses, provide welcome packets for new spouses and some perform charity work as a group."

The program started out as a Quality of Life Initiative. It was only run on a few test bases, and each base was allowed to form their own training and structure for the program.

"Many bases called the spouses, 'Phoenix Spouses,'" said McDaniel. "In 2009, the Air Force standardized the program and the training with the name 'Key Spouses.' It has been structured cohesively across the force ever since."

According to McDaniel, those who wish to be part of Key Spouses go through the training prior to assuming their position. The men and women need to be prepared to handle the many different situations they will face as Key Spouses, and the training provides the means to do so.

"The training is exclusive to newly appointed Key Spouses and mentors of Key Spouses only," McDaniel said.

For more information about Key Spouses, visit the A&FRC or call 509-247-2246.