Key spouses: our force multipliers

Published July 7, 2015
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Key spouses form an integral part of each unit's leadership team and provide Tyndall families with a valuable support resource.

"It's all about supporting the families in the unit," said Shannon Scott, Det. 1, 823rd Red Horse Squadron key spouse. "It's about making sure everybody feels welcome and a part of the unit, gets important information, knows what's going on and supports each other in all kinds of scenarios."

Appointed in writing by unit commanders and trained by the Airman and Family Readiness Center, key spouses fill a myriad of roles in support of Airmen's families. While an Airman in their unit is deployed, key spouses make sure their dependents are taken care of at home.

"When a military member deploys, the spouse is sometimes left out of the loop, especially if they live off base," said Angela Zamiska, 325th Training Support Squadron key spouse mentor. "Deployed Airmen have a job to do downrange. If they're worried about what's going on back home, they can't get the job done. The key spouse's role is to make sure the spouses are still being looked after when their husbands or wives are deployed. We take care of things here to ensure small problems don't escalate."

Another primary responsibility of key spouses is helping manage family crisis situations. They have the ability to engage the unit's first sergeant and commander directly during family emergencies and can assist with accessing installation and community resources.

"Within the military lifestyle, we're not always surrounded by close friends and family," said Katie Hagan, 337th Air Control Squadron key spouse mentor. "If a member of the family is sick and another deployed, they may need help with child care or pets and might not have family members close to home."

By welcoming new families to base, facilitating information sharing and assisting base agencies with organizing interactive events for Tyndall families, key spouses play a vital role in fostering resiliency, enhancing morale and quality of life.

"One of our biggest jobs at the moment has been to build up our communication network," said Julianne Saratsis, Continental U.S. NORAD Region - First Air Force key spouse. "It's important to get families together to help them build relationships and get connected through events on base. If they're isolated, then they don't know who to turn to in times of hardship. If they're connected then they know where to go to get help."

In addition to the support each key spouse provides within their respective units, they also form a cohesive network throughout the Tyndall community. Each member of the Key Spouse Program brings their own experience, knowledge and ideas to the group. In addition to initial and quarterly training provided by the A&FRC, the spouses have created a monthly ancillary training and unit orientation program that has helped improve upon the already robust support they provide to Tyndall Airmen and families.

Sara Lantagne, 325th Fighter Wing Command Chief's spouse summed it up with this, "Our Key Spouses are force multipliers. When a young family or unaccompanied Airmen arrives and feels that immediate family connection or when an active duty member deploys, knowing their spouse and children are being taken care of back home, the result is immeasurable. That's what our key spouses bring to Team Tyndall."

If you think you might be interested in becoming a key spouse, or would just like more information, please contact your squadron's first sergeant.