459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – The 459th Air Refueling Wing held its first-ever training for their new Key Spouse Program here May 14. The Key Spouse Program at the 459 ARW supports Airmen and their families during deployments, separations and emergencies, as well as enhancing and encouraging regular communication between units and families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch)

459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS - (Left to right) Rochelle Brown, Megan Schuliger, Heather Umstattd and Katie Berhiet, spouses of 459th Air Refueling Airmen, participate in a self-discovery exercise called Four Lenses to improve their interpersonal skills to assist others. The exercise is part of the Key Spouse Program initial training that was held here May 14. The Key Spouse Program at the 459 ARW supports Airmen and their families during deployments, separations and emergencies, as well as enhancing and encouraging regular communication between units and families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch)

459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Master Sgt. Charlene Lowe, 459th Force Support Squadron chief of Airmen and Family Readiness assistsJackie Edleman during an interactive exercise at the Key Spouse initial training here May 14. The Key Spouse Program at the 459th Air Refueling Wing supports Airmen and their families during deployments, separations and emergencies, as well as enhancing and encouraging regular communication between units and families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch)

459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Victoria Carper (left) shares her personal experiences with Karen Schulmonetti during the Key Spouse initial training here May 14. The Key Spouse Program at the 459th Air Refueling Wing supports Airmen and their families during deployments, separations and emergencies, as well as enhancing and encouraging regular communication between units and families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch)

459 ARW kicks off Key Spouse program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Master Sgt. Susan Bruechert, 459th Air Refueling Wing first sergeant, introduces herself during the Key Spouse initial training here May 14. The Key Spouse Program at the 459th ARW supports Airmen and their families during deployments, separations and emergencies, as well as enhancing and encouraging regular communication between units and families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch)

Andrews Reserve wing kicks off key spouse training program

Published May 18, 2011
By Senior Airman Amber Russell
459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The 459th Air Refueling Wing here launched its first Key Spouse training May 14. 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.

Training was provided by Master Sgt. Charlene Lowe, 459th Force Support Squadron chief of Airmen and Family Readiness and Mrs. Erin Van Yahres, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Clifford Van Yahres, 459th ARW command chief. 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.

"The ultimate goal for the Key Spouse program here is to guarantee 100 percent 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, a key spouse volunteer for the 459th Logistics Readiness Flight, experienced the frustration and loneliness while her husband, Master Sgt. Eric Sharman, 459th LRF first sergeant, was deployed, and decided to use that as motivation to seek out new connections and help others facing the same situation.

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

Helping prepare key spouses for their future roles is Mrs. Van Yahres, 459th ARW key spouse program mentor. Like most, Mrs. Van Yahres 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.

Key spouse volunteers 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," said Col. Russell A. Muncy, 459th ARW commander .

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.