Ellsworth shows appreciation for all spouses

Photo By Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert | Ellsworth held a Discover the Hills exhibit and a B-1 bomber static display for Military Spouse Appreciation Day April 29, 2016. The holiday is held the Friday before Mother’s Day each year, and many U.S. citizens use the day to acknowledge the contributions, support and sacrifices of spouses of armed forces service members. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert/Released)  

SD, UNITED STATES

05.19.2016

Story by Airman Sadie Colbert 

28th Bomb Wing

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. – Ellsworth’s spouses were honored with a Discover the Hills exhibit and a B-1 bomber display for committing their time and support to their families as their significant other serves their country, April 29, 2016.

“We have to be the ones that are on-call on the home-front,” said Stephanie Sullivan, wife of Maj. Jacob Sullivan, 28th Maintenance Squadron commander, and Key Spouses Club president. “Our military family member is on-call on the work-front.”

Sullivan added it is not just the military member who makes their oath to the armed forces, it is their wife or husband too.

“I think it’s important that spouses are recognized,” Sullivan said. “It’s kind of like Mother’s Day, everybody wants to get that kind of appreciation and love which bolsters and boosts you up by saying, ‘thank you for doing a good job and we appreciate you.’”

The Key Spouses Club is a network of military spouses who step up to a mentoring position within their spouses’ squadron. The program is directed and driven by the current 28th Bomb Wing commander who then picks key spouses from a group of volunteers.

Previously, military spouses would only receive one phone call during deployment periods from their squadron’s key spouse asking if they were doing okay. A 2008 revision now requires the calls to be continuous and yearlong.

Sullivan explained the reason for the change in the number of phone calls is so that key spouses are taking that initiative to reach out and make the military member’s spouse feel comfortable enough to come to a key spouse for assistance or guidance.

“You don’t want to have a spouse that feels alone and lost,” Sullivan said. “Although we can’t make people put themselves out there, we’re at least offering help to them. It’s a huge resource for our spouses to have.”

Chasity Mitchell, wife of Tech. Sgt. Ryan Mitchell, 28th MXS B-1 production supervisor, and Joan Orr Spouse of the Year award winner, said it takes a physical, mental and emotional toll on all family members when their Airmen is deployed.

“It is great to know there are people to turn to in time of need,” Mitchell said. “It’s a true blessing.”

For more information on Military Spouse Appreciation Day or to become a part of the Key Spouses Club, call [phone].

• Date Taken: 05.19.2016
• Date Posted: 05.19.2016 17:57
• Story ID: 198583
• Location: SD, US