Key Spouses program helps knit fabric of the Air Force family Published Dec. 15, 2009 By Terry Walker 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- The Key Spouse Program began with a Quality of Life initiative about taking care of Air Force families. It was tested at five bases and was encouraged Air Force-wide as part of the Air Force family support outreach program in 1999. The Air Force started with this program and in March 2009 started a standardized Key Spouse Program. One of Kirtland AFB's key spouses, Farrah Barclay-Brown, whose husband Staff Sgt. Ronald Brown works in the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said that part of her responsibilities "are to make sure spouses have someone to go to when their Airman is deployed. It's so they know they are not alone and someone is here to help. It's also good for the deployed Airmen. They know their spouse has someone here to help. They can concentrate on their mission and not worry about home." Master Sgt. Kent Delano, 58th AMXS first sergeant, said, "Farrah Brown is a great example of a Key Spouse. She has initiated an e-mail contact list with squadron member spouses to keep them abreast of all current events affecting the welfare of family members, and has started a Facebook® group for spouses and unit leadership to join. "This is vital to keeping the members of our squadron family informed and informally aware of the goings-on within the unit and around the Kirtland community," he said. Mrs. Barclay-Brown said, "I became a Key Spouse because my husband works so hard and often forgets to tell me about what's happening at the squadron. Now, I make sure that everyone knows what's happening. I make sure the spouses get all of the information." The Key Spouse Program is important to the Air Force and Kirtland AFB because it: · Promotes individual, family and unit readiness · Establishes continuous contact with spouses and families · Encourages peer-to-peer Wingman support · Links to leadership · Provides an informal sounding board · Strengthens leadership's support team · Vital to building strong Air Force communities "The Key Spouse Program is a force multiplier," wrote Gen. Donald Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command commander in a Nov. 1 message to all commanders and directors. "Key Spouses are volunteers ... trained by the installation's Airman and Family Readiness Center to support our Airmen and their families during deployments, separations, transitions and emergencies. "Training has been expanded for both new and current Key Spouses," the general wrote, "to help ensure spouses and families receive necessary support with managing the difficulties incident to military life." Some of the outcomes the Air Force expects from the Key Spouse program are: · Increased awareness of installation/community resources · Identified and resolved issues at lowest levels · Enhanced up and down information flow · Prepared and supported families during separations · Increased sense of unit support · Improved quality of life among unit families · Increased readiness and retention · Enhanced family resiliency "We must ensure that all spouses and families receive the necessary support that sustains them through the challenges that they may encounter as they make sacrifices alongside our service men and women. "We must also recognize our Key Spouse volunteers for their assistance in getting this mission accomplished. Taking care of our families is an ongoing commitment," wrote Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy in a letter supporting the Key Spouse Program.