Hickam recognizes Key Spouses

by Rebecca Whitecotton

5/1/2013 - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HAWAII  -- A group of unsung heroes were serenaded with appreciation on April 25 at the Key Spouse Appreciation Dinner held at the Tradewinds Enlisted Club. More than 120 Key Spouses and Key Spouse Mentors were recognized and praised for their support of military families and the Air Force squadrons their spouses serve.

"The unsung heroes of our military and our Air Force are our families and our spouses," said Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at the appreciation dinner. He praised Key Spouses for their role in acting as a liaison between commanders and spouses as families face the many challenges of military life, including deployments, frequent moving, and emergencies.

The Key Spouse program, which is similar to the Navy's Ombudsman program, enhances mission readiness by facilitating the flow of communication between spouses, leadership and base agencies. The Key Spouses are volunteers who are appointed by the squadron commander to provide a framework for stability and family support by maintaining regular contact with family members, especially during times of deployment.

"In the two years I have been here I have seen a huge commitment on the part of the Key Spouses," said Col. Dann Carlson, deputy commander, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) and host of the event. He called attention to the importance of the program and how it has helped Air Force families through rigorous training, deployed spouse events, supporting family members in emergencies, and even supporting other Air Force families who have been medically evacuated to Hawaii.

For more information on the Key Spouse program, or to find out who the Key Spouse for your squadron is, contact the Military Family Support Center or the squadron's First Sergeant.