Travis welcomes largest class of key spouses

  • Published
  • By Autumn Lombardi
  • 60th Force Support Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Travis Air Force Base, California, recently welcomed 18 new key spouses into the base-wide Key Spouse Program – the largest number of new key spouses to date.

The program is designed to promote individual, family and unit readiness. It is a commander’s program and a team concept that includes the unit commander, first sergeant, key spouses, key spouse mentor and the Airmen and Family Readiness Center. 

Key spouses are the faces of unit leadership to families.  They operate in the chain of concern by providing support, information and referral services to military family members.

The purpose of the Key Spouse Program is to reach out to other spouses, to welcome spouses to the unit family and to connect them to the people and resources they might need. 

The Key Spouse Program is comprised of volunteer spouses from units across the installation.  Key spouse volunteers can be the spouse of a commissioned officer, enlisted Airman or a Department of Defense civilian, and must be appointed by the unit commander.

Once appointed as a key spouse, the individual must attend an initial key spouse training session.  In order to support their units, key spouses must complete a nine-module training course provided by the AFRC. Part of the initial training covers the many services and agencies on base that are used for referral and support.

Key spouses’ hard work and efforts do not go unnoticed.  Along with healthy Airmen, happy, healthy spouses and families are also an integral part of a successful squadron.  If the spouse is happy and supported, the Airmen can better focus their energy on the assigned mission.

The best part of the program is that it includes all spouses in a squadron.  Military rank has absolutely nothing to do with the Key Spouse Program. This is a trained, caring group of spouses connecting with other unit spouses and families to offer support and information.  No spouse at Travis should ever feel alone.  The Key Spouse Program ensures all Travis spouses and families know someone has their back and supports them at all times.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Key Spouse Program at Travis, let your unit leadership know or contact the program manager, Autumn Lombardi, at 707-424-2486.