Travis AFB
Military & Family
Readiness Center
The Key Spouse Program is an official Air Force Unit Family Readiness Program designed to enhance readiness, personal/family resiliency and establish a sense of Air Force community. Key Spouses are trained volunteers hand-selected by their unit leadership to provide personal, peer-to-peer support for their squadron's families. Their role is to care for families by providing them with information from their squadron's leadership about events, programs, and other available resources. As an official unit representative, they also serve as a point of contact when spouses need to communicate any difficulties they may be experiencing. As fellow military spouses who also live with and adapt to military lifestyle cycles and changes, they are passionate about what they do! Key Spouses are critical team members. They are informed, equipped, and empowered to make a difference on base and in the lives of their squadron's families.
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WHY IS THE KEY SPOUSE PROGRAM IMPORTANT?
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Promotes individual, family, and unit readiness and resiliency
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Establishes and maintains continuous contact with spouses and families
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Encourages peer-to-peer Wingman support among spouses and families
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Builds family links to leadership
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Provides an informal sounding board to leadership
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Strengthens leadership’s support team
WHAT ARE THE KEY SPOUSE PROGRAM OUTCOMES?
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Increased awareness of installation and community resources
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Identified/resolved issues at lowest levels
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Enhanced up and down information flow
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Prepared and supported families during separations/deployments
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Increased sense of unit support
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Improved quality of life among unit families
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Increased readiness and retention
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Enhanced individual and family resilience
The goal is to have a cadre of trained volunteers who can support your unit’s military families in an official capacity.
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If you are interested in having an active role in your squadron as a Key Spouse, please schedule a meeting with your squadron commander in order to obtain an official appointment. (Key Spouses are official commander appointed volunteers who represent the unit and MUST be appointed in writing prior to attending Key Spouse Initial Training.) Volunteers of any gender, age, or rank are encouraged to become Key Spouses.
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The Commander’s Desktop Guide provides commanders with information and resources to help units manage their official KSP. The guide is designed to provide a practical approach to develop an effective unit KSP, with tips and tools to assist commanders in recruiting, interviewing and selecting unit Key Spouse(s) and Key Spouse Mentor(s).
The KS and KSM Desktop Guides provide volunteers with guidance, information and resources on how to meet the expectations of their role and vision set forth by their unit commander.
Source: AFPC Key Spouse Program
Key Spouse Initial Training
Single day mandatory training held every other month from 9:00am-2:00pm at the Airman & Family Readiness Center. This class provides newly appointed Key Spouses and Key Spouse Mentors with a basic knowledge about available resources and helping agencies. Training topics include Suicide Prevention, Master Resiliency Training, Communication, and Identifying Helping Agencies. Before registering for Key Spouse Initial Training, please make sure you have met with your Unit leadership (Commander and First Sergeant).
Requirements for registration and certification of this program are:
1) Must have an official Appointment letter signed by Unit Commander
2) Must attend upcoming Initial Training course.
Additional training is provided on a bi-monthly basis and is optional, but highly encouraged. **Childcare is provided through FCC for any Key Spouse official activity. Bring Appointment Letter to A&FRC for a voucher.
Key Spouse Bi-Monthly Training
This is an additional training workshop held every other month for already trained and active Key Spouses. Workshops are held in the evening from 5:30 -7:30 pm with a potluck dinner.
Subject matter experts will be leading the conversation on topics such as: Communication, Program Management, Financial Matters, Resiliency, etc. Topics are developed based on the need at the time of the workshop.
Key Spouse Refresher Training
This is a one-on-one meeting with the Key Spouse program manager for those who have served as a key spouse at another installation. The refresher training is a one hour overview of the Key Spouse program and focuses on local and base resources. Verification of prior volunteer service as a key spouse must be provided.
Key Spouse Team Networking Event
One-hour networking agenda-free opportunity for all members of the squadron's Key Spouse Team to come together and meet with other unit Key Spouse Teams. Support each other - Support Team Travis! Time is 5:30pm to 6:30pm and light refreshments are provided.
Emergency
Preparedness
Key Spouse
Best Practices Guide
Roster
Guidance
Thrive
Spouse Guide