AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --
Team Aviano spouses attended the first wing-led Spouse Appreciation Day tour of the 31st Fighter Wing, May 10, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
The day’s events were designed to recognize all military and civilian employee spouses and included a tour of several locations on base, allowing participants to see first-hand how the 31 FW Deters aggression, Defends U.S. and NATO interests, and Develops Aviano.
“The event planning started as the key spouses group’s brainchild and grew into several organizations who created something more,” said Mechille Braden, 31st Mission Support Group deputy director. “Since this was the first wing event for Spouse Appreciation Day, we hope we helped the spouses understand the Aviano mission and what part they have in its success.”
The day began at the La Bella Vista Club with opening remarks by Maj. Gen. Barre R. Seguin, 31st FW commander, and then spouses split into three separate groups. The groups visited multiple areas of the base, providing spouses with a hands-on look at how every unit comes together to complete the mission.
The tour aimed to paint a better picture of the base’s day-to-day operations for the spouses. Tour planners not only wanted spouses to better understand the overall mission, but to also understand their Airman’s job.
“Over the last several months, I’ve been told in various ways, ‘I don’t know what my spouse does on base,’” said Braden. “As a former spouse, I never really understood why my husband had to deploy or why he had to work late. Knowing is key to understanding and being committed to the military lifestyle.”
Military life stressors can add to an already full plate when faced with long work days, deployments and unaccompanied assignments. Those hard decisions are faced not only by the Airmen, but their families as well.
“Every Airman is critical to achieving the mission, but an Airman is only as strong as their family,” said Col. Donnette Boyd, 31st FW chaplain. “If the family falls apart, the Airman often falls apart and that can jeopardize the mission.”
After the spouses finished their tour of mission-essential locations, they met at the LBV Club for lunch. Maj. Gen. Seguin and his wife recognized the spouses for the important role they play and showed appreciation for all the support spouses give.
“Spouse Appreciation Day was made official by Congress because of the support spouses provide service members,” said Braden. “We hope the day helped recognize them because they are the glue and the energizers of Aviano.”