Key Spouses provide support to commanders Published May 18, 2016 By Airman 1st Class Gwendalyn Smith 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Unit commanders recognized their Key Spouses during an annual luncheon this week as a way to say thanks for all that they do to enable mission success. Key Spouses work with unit commanders to enhance readiness and to help the unit establish a sense of Air Force community. Spouses can also reach out to Key Spouses to resolve issues at the lowest level. The program also helps keep spouses up-to-date with military information, especially during times of deployment. Deb Teague, 375th Force Support Squadron community readiness specialist and Key Spouse program manager, said Key Spouses usually work to welcome newcomers, provide information and resources to families, and stay in touch with deployed families. Not every unit deploys or has a high deployment rate, so some units may not think they need a Key Spouse, but it's much more than that. "It's about getting information and proper resources to the family, regardless of the situation," Teague said. "We want spouses to feel like a part of the military member's career." Appointed by commanders, they serve as liaisons between military personnel and their family members. In addition, they also provide personal and peer-to-peer support for their squadron's families. The Key Spouse team consists of commanders, first sergeants, mentors, Key Spouses, and the Airman and Family Readiness Center, which creates a seamless channel for communication. "Our Key Spouses go through eight hours of training and are required to attend quarterly training," Teague said. "We want them to reach out to the family members and emphasize the importance that they have on the mission." The A&FRC trains all Key Spouses and mentors them on the Exceptional Family Member program, disaster preparedness, the Emergency Family Assistance Center, social media, and other generational considerations. Angela Carr, a 375th Wing Staff Agency Key Spouse, said the training helps a spouse become more confident when interacting with commanders. "They (A&FRC) teaches us how to handle (difficult) situations and who to get in contact with. Sometimes spouses can be intimidated by leadership, so this gives them a more confident level of communication." If a spouse is interested in becoming a Key Spouse, they should talk to their spouse's supervisor or first sergeant to get the process started.