459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse Program with training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber Russell
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Support initiatives like the Yellow Ribbon program provide Air Force Reserve Airmen and their families with information on benefits and referrals programs before, during and after deployments. Along with Yellow Ribbon, servicemembers and their families can also turn to unit-level programs like Key Spouse for support during challenging circumstances.

The 459th Air Refueling Wing launched its first Key Spouse training here May 14. The training for the wing's new program was provided by Master Sgt. Charlene Lowe, 459th Force Support Squadron chief of Airmen and Family Readiness and Mrs. Erin Van Yahres, wife of 459 ARW command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Clifford Van Yahres.

The Key Spouse program is a unit-based family readiness and assistance program designed to support Airmen and their families during deployment separations and emergencies. It was first implemented in 1997 at five high-deployment Air Force bases. These five bases served as a testing ground and modeled their Key Spouse program from the Navy's Ombudsman Program. In 2009, Air Force officials launched a revised and standardized Key Spouse program as part of the 2009-2010 Year of the Family initiative.

The goals of the program are to increase awareness of installation community resources; identify and resolve issues at the lowest levels; to prepare and support families during separations and reintegration; increase sense of unit support; and improve quality of life among unit families. According to Sergeant Lowe, completing these goals will result in increased readiness and retention as well as enhanced family resiliency.

Sergeant Lowe said she worked hard trying to ensure these goals were met independently. But she added that maintaining consistent contact and providing family support is a tremendous task that requires many helping hands.

"The ultimate goal for the Key Spouse program here is to guarantee 100% contact with servicemembers and their families during deployment," Sergeant Lowe said.

A Key Spouse is a trained volunteer chosen by unit commanders. The spouses hold their positions for a minimum one-year appointment as an official unit representative and provide support, information and a genuine concern for any personal or professional issues that may arise for servicemembers and their families between Unit Training Assemblies. Other tasks may include keeping a rosters of unit family members, establishing and maintain contact with unit family members or tracking and reporting on trends that affect family readiness and sharing that information with unit leadership.

Melissa Sharman is one of the appointed Key Spouse volunteers for the 459th Logistics Readiness Flight. While her husband, Master Sgt. Eric Sharman, 459th LRF first sergeant, was deployed, Mrs. Sharman said she experienced the frustration and loneliness that can accompany these circumstances. Seeking out new connections and a passion to help others in her situation was her motivation, she said .

"I am preparing myself as best as I can to give everyone all the support they need," Mrs. Sharman said.

Helping to prepare spouses like Mrs. Sharman with these types of unforeseen circumstances is 459 ARW Key Spouse program mentor, Mrs. Van Yahres. She has been a Key Spouse mentor of the 459 ARW for the past nine months. Mrs. Van Yahres said she volunteered for the program as a result of her husband's deployment five years ago.

"During that time I experienced a lost feeling as a family member of a servicemember. Now that I have the time, I want to give something back to help others," Mrs. Van Yahres said.

One of her primary roles is to work with Sergeant Lowe and Airman and Family Readiness to coordinate monthly education meetings called "brown-bag meetings," as well as conduct mandatory yearly meetings to implement training. One of the many challenges faced by Mrs. Van Yahres and Sergeant Lowe will be to continually engage the Key Spouse volunteers with the activities and training provided by the wing's new program.

"I am really pleased with the level of volunteerism from spouses. This is a signature program that will benefit all members of our organization from Reservists to their spouses and families," Col. Russell A. Muncy, 459th ARW commander said.

The initial training provided on the 14th was the first of many different phases in the Key Spouse training, according to Sergeant Lowe. She said the next phases of the training will focus on suicide awareness, sexual assault, domestic violence and to familiarize appointees with issues that may arise.

Mrs. Van Yahres said that although the program is titled Key Spouse, anyone with experience in military life, who is a non-current military member with passion, time, and energy to do the job are encouraged to volunteer for the program.

Individuals interested in volunteering should contact a 459 ARW first sergeant. He or She will review the roles and responsibilities of being a Key Spouse volunteer. Those individuals will then be interviewed by a unit commander and will be ultimately appointed.