Key Spouse/Supporter program kicks off

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Trevor Saylor
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  The 934th Airlift Wing Key Spouse/Supporter program held a kickoff event Dec. 6 at the 934th Airlift Wing to help new members get acquainted with the program and its members.

For a service member's spouse, navigating the complex system of military chains of command, jargon, and acronyms can be daunting. When the service member also happens to be deployed, those difficulties are magnified. One spouse, whose husband is currently deployed, said that the Key Spouse program has helped her "to understand the flow, and the chain of command, of the military". What is second nature to those serving in uniform is totally alien to many civilians.

The Key Spouse program's coordinator, Mrs. Tina Harstad, wife of Master Sgt. Jim Harstad, agrees. "It's important for families to have support," Harstad said. "Spouses are often intimidated by contacting a First Sergeant. They are more comfortable talking with other spouses, and we try to bridge the gap and be a connection between the families, and the chain of command, community support networks, and various resources available to them." Harstad became involved when she heard about the program and wanted to learn more about what her husband, Jim, did on the UTA weekends. For her, hearing information from a service member is never the same as experiencing the military first-hand on some level.

The Key Spouse program aims to be a support network for families. Not just wives, but also husbands, children, and parents--"anyone who is part of the airman's support network is welcome," Harstad says--can use the group to get information, or access services they need. The Key Spouse program does not currently have an operating budget, but is in the process of becoming designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in order to facilitate the collection of donations, and ongoing financial operations.

Michelle Will, wife of Master Sgt. Quentin Will, said that having the chance to meet Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and his wife, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Athena Cody, during their visit in November 2014 was incredibly rewarding. "It was great they came to a reserve base," Mrs. Will said. "That doesn't happen a lot, so it was neat to be a part of that, and it was good for them to get an idea of what the reservists deal with." Several of the attendees to the meeting felt the Key Spouse program has a special place in the Reserve. Contrary to active duty airmen, many of the 934 AW are drawn from far outside of the local area; those that are in the local area don't naturally have the same sense of community that an active duty base might engender. Having different civilian jobs, living in different neighborhoods, and only seeing each other once a month means reservists and their spouses often can feel isolated or detached from one another.

All the more reason for the Key Spouse program, argued Tina Harstad. She pointed out that there are a wealth of programs that are available to reservists and their spouses--particularly during times of separation for training or deployments--and that Airman and Family Readiness, which works closely with the Key Spouse program, offers help to airman and their families, in addition to others. More than one attendee said the point of getting together and doing this is to help families handle adjustment, and be part of pointing people in the right direction. "In the end," said one spouse, "we're all here for each other. It's important people know we exist, so we can help."

Airman and Family Readiness hosts a monthly meeting on the Saturday of the UTA at 3:00pm. For more information, contact Mike Sanford or Tina Harstad at 612-713-1516.