Airman and Family Readiness focuses on the "Heart" of the family

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Carrie Kessler
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Frequent moves and regular deployments are an inevitable part of military life.

To arm spouses with the tools they need after arriving to a new base and while their military spouse is deployed, the Airman and Family Readiness Center in conjunction with base leadership offers a program for both civilian and military spouses.

The new Heart Link Spouse Orientation Program, scheduled for Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, is a four-hour interactive program designed specifically for spouses to demystify the military and to supply them with information.

Recent changes in Heart Link leadership brought changes to the program.

"We tried to stay focused on spouses helping themselves," said Mark Kjellerson, 28th Mission Support Squadron community readiness consultant.

That is the intent of the program - to empower spouses.

Other changes made to the line-up shortened the program so specific areas could be enhanced.

"We added the key spouse program (to the agenda) and we added a big chunk of services (events)," said Mr. Kjellerson. "We tried to customize it to spouses like it should be."

The program manager stressed the basics of the program remain.

Valuable information that spouses need is still there, said Mr. Kjellerson.

"Once they complete the class and walk out of there, they will have a very good grasp on base services and programs."

A recent attendee to a previous session sees it as a valuable program.

"I thought it was great," said Rohini Hughes, a military spouse and Key Spouse Program manager. "It provided excellent, useful and resourceful information about different squadrons and all the base has to offer."

Ms. Hughes also believes that direct contact with organizations is important to spouses.
Base information doesn't always make it home with the active duty spouse so this is a good avenue for event dates of events, but it provides the resources to get that information.

For more information about Heart Link or to sign up, call the AFRC at 385-4663 by 4:30 p.m. Nov. 28.