ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. –
The Airman and Family Readiness Center recently hosted the Air Mobility Command's Phoenix Spouse readiness program.
The meeting highlighted an overview of the program, its development, becoming a Phoenix Spouse, the spouses' requirements and responsibilities, and available tools and resources.
The AMC Phoenix Spouse program evolved from an idea to develop an organized program where military spouses help other spouses. The Air Force realized as the number of spouses and family members neared the number of Airmen, a more organized way to disseminate information and assistance to their families was needed.
"The main reason why this program works is it helps build the military community and the military family," said Master Sgt. Glynis Fresia, Airman and Family Readiness Center family readiness coordinator. "When your family feels supported, then your family is supportive of you being in the military and its lifestyle. That leads to our Airmen and their families staying in the military."
In 1997 the Air Force implemented the Key Spouse program, modeled after the Navy's Ombudsman program, at five high-deployment bases. The Key Spouse program was a voluntary Air Force-wide project implemented at the discretion of the wing, group, and/or squadron. Through this program, many lessons were learned in the area of assisting family members as it related to deployments and family separations. In 2006, an AMC assessment of the program revealed a need to change, restructure and re-implement the program for AMC bases and tenant units across the command, including Andrews' 89th Airlift Wing.
"This program is important to today's Air Force families because when you go down range, you know your family is taken care of and when that happens, the mission doesn't break down," said Sergeant Fresia.
The AMC adopted the name Phoenix for the project, which connotes and identifies the program as a special interest item and command unique activity. As a trained volunteer with a minimum one-year commitment, the Phoenix spouse would be interviewed and selected by the squadron's commander, receive required initial training and have an annual training requirement. The volunteers are trained to be active, visible conduits of information, and be a team player. Further, the Phoenix spouse's role would encompass a variety of support duties including offering assistance to families during difficulties or crises, welcoming incoming members and their families, provide family readiness information.
"The reason many of our Key and Phoenix spouses are volunteers is because something was lacking when they got to this base" said Sergeant Fresia. "The Key and Phoenix spouses are supporting the commander's mission by taking care of squadron personnel - they are someone who is accessible, someone who provides assistance like when your spouse is deployed."
The Key and Phoenix Spouse will work closely with the commander, commander's spouse, First Sergeant, and the Airman and Family Readiness Center. Spouses interested in the Key and Phoenix Spouse programs should contact their squadron's first shirt. Or for more information regarding the Phoenix Spouse or Key Spouse programs, contact Sergeant Fresia at 301-981-7087.