Key Spouse Program

KEY SPOUSE PROGRAM
Program Coordinator
(719) 333-3444

The Key Spouse…A Vital Link

The Key Spouse Program enables open communication between unit leadership and families. You will be a trained volunteer who is chosen by the Commander for a minimum 1-year appointment, an official unit representative, and a point of support for unit families.

If you would like more information or desire to be a voice for your unit, please contact your unit's First Sergeant or the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 333-3444.

What will you do as a Key Spouse?

The Key Spouse will be an official unit representative and work directly with the First Sergeant.  They will keep a current roster/database of unit family members and establish/maintain contact with unit family members.  They will become a evident point of support for unit families by being visible at Unit and Airman and Family Readiness Center activities. They will track and report trends that affect family readiness and share them with unit leadership. 

Why is the Key Spouse Program Important?

Promotes individual, family, and unit readiness

Establishes continuous contact with spouses/families

Encourages peer-to-peer Wingman support

Links to leadership

Provides an informal sounding board

Strengthens leadership's support team

Vital to building strong Air Force communities

 

How did the Key Spouse Program come about?

The Key Spouse Program was implemented by the United States Air Force in 1997 at five high deployment bases. These five bases served as a test bed and modeled their program from the Navy's Ombudsman program. 

The Key Spouse Program was shown to have many positive outcomes, among them were increased communication between families and unit leadership and increased family resiliency in the face of military life challenges. 

 

What are some outcomes of the Key Spouse Program?

•  Increased Awareness of Installation/Community Resources
•  Identified/Resolved Issues at Lowest Levels
•  Enhanced Up/Down Information Flow
•  Prepared/Supported Families During Separations
•  Increased Sense of Unit Support
•  Improved Quality of Life Among Unit Families
•  Increased Readiness and Retention
• Enhanced Family Resiliency

 

Interested in becoming a Key Spouse?

The ideal candidate will have the following characteristics:

•  Experience in military life
•  Passion, time, and energy to do the job
•  Organizational and coordination skills
•  Ability to follow directions and understand the chain of command
•  Trustworthiness
•  Dependability
•  Maturity
•  Outgoing, friendly, self-confident personality
•  Ability to communicate and listen well
•  A positive attitude about the Air Force

How do I become a Key Spouse?

You will contact your unit's First Sergeant who will go over, in more detail, the roles and responsibilities of being a Key Spouse.  You will then be interviewed by the unit Commander and appointed. Following appointment, you will receive Key Spouse training at the Airman and Family Readiness Center.