When Air Force families need someone for guidance as they journey through military life, communication is key — And that’s where the key spouse comes in.
The key spouse is a volunteer in a command who connects the command with family members.
The Key Spouse Program was first tested in the ’90s, and each installation and command held their own standards. By 2009, the KSP was standardized across the Air Force.
Sara Pruitt has been the key spouse for 692nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group Staff for more than two years.
The command was looking for a spouse who wanted to “interact with the families.”
“It was nice knowing that there was someone in a position that if I needed anything or I needed support or assistance on any issues that would arise or things about the base that I had to learn, I could call,” Pruitt said. “I thought it would be nice to be able to be that person for someone else.”
When she applied to be a key spouse, Pruitt needed to meet with the command, with an endorsement letter in hand, to explain her desire to become a key spouse.
According to Pruitt, a key spouse is the “point of contact for base information and the liaison between family and command.”
The key spouse does various tasks, most involving communication of information. They serve as contacts between service members and their families during deployments or temporary duty assignments. They also offer information on parenting or infant classes for families with babies.
Though her responsibilities could take as little as an hour, she could be needed for much larger issues, such as families expecting newborns or losing a loved one. With help from the unit booster club, she has helped provide “meal trains” for families with newborns, meaning dinner is provided for the first few weeks to help them spend more quality time together.
Pruitt said she also helps make welcome gift baskets for those who are new to the command, and baby gift baskets for families who’ve just welcomed a newborn.
The welcome gift baskets, of which at least 10 are prepared in advance to be ready for incoming families and single service members, include contact information for the key spouse and other important personnel, a map of the base and other treats. The baby gift baskets include a onesie bearing the unit’s logo, baby wipes, lotion and more.
The key spouse, which is a volunteer position, is officially appointed by the commander. Each key spouse undergoes training for their position. They learn about various topics such as suicide awareness and sexual assault prevention and response.
Pruitt said her training consisted of a full day, and some additional hours. For those thinking about becoming a key spouse, she recommends finding a key spouse to chat with about the position.
Additionally, she said it was helpful to have an experienced key spouse mentor her.
Pruitt said it was rewarding to see how key spouses can affect families. She remembered the first family she provided with a meal train. The family in turn signed up to help prepare meals for other families.
For more information, visit https://www.afpc.af.mil/Benefits-and-Entitlements/Key-Spouse-Program/.
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2018 15:20 |
| Story ID: | 295092 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Key spouses provide communication, support to Air Force families, by Kristen Wong, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
