The meaning of being a Key Spouse

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Briana Jones
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
5/30/2012 --  The Aviano Key Spouses recently surprised shoppers at the Exchange with a "flash mob" dance performance geared toward raising awareness about Key Spouse programs.

"While military members have numerous methods of staying informed, spouses only have the military member," said Toni Zimmerman, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron Aviano Key Spouse. "This gap can make spouses feel isolated and uninformed. We help to bridge that gap. As a Key Spouse, we aim to make spouses feel more connected to life here at Aviano, whether their active duty spouse is here or deployed."

The Key Spouse program was developed as a quality of life initiative for Air Force families and was first implemented in March 2009. Key Spouses act as liaisons between families and unit leadership, providing peer-to-peer support and information to family members. They connect and encourage families to reach out, organize events for families with deployed loved ones and distribute information.

"Aviano is a high tempo base," Zimmerman said. "There are many different missions that the base supports and, being a husband or wife, you aren't always informed of how Aviano is supporting missions around the world. [We] support other spouses and family members while our loved ones are away, whether it be a short tour of duty or a 365-day deployment. We help get the message out about all the available programs and benefits there are for military families and we help facilitate employment opportunities around the base."

First sergeants are very involved with the Key Spouse program, informing commanders about concerns program members have.

"Key Spouses play a key role in our sponsorship program [particularly at Aviano]" Senior Master Sgt. Emilio Avila, 31st Maintenance Squadron first sergeant said. "They communicate with incoming spouses through Facebook and provide the do's and don'ts of Aviano. They also help squadron leadership stay ahead of family issues, which prevents bigger problems later."

Key Spouses also help active duty members manage deployment and reintegration stress, military separations and more.

"As a first sergeant, it is crucial to create a family environment," Avila said. "Key Spouses provide me the spouse perspective and help me tailor my approach to our families. We've partnered to create family oriented events such as family physical training, squadron picnics and spouse luncheons. All were great successes in expanding the spouse support network."

The Key Spouses are trying to make more people on base aware of their presence and what they offer.

"We try to get the word out to military families at all levels" said Zimmerman. "Every squadron has a Key Spouse group and, with more participation, the more beneficial it can be, not only for family members within the squadron but to the wing as a whole. As a wife, I have learned that the more you get involved on base the more you feel a part of the community." 




 To contact your Key Spouse please click on the following link: www.aviano.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp