Key Spouses essential to 452 AMW

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Kevin Mitterholzer
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs

The 452nd Air Mobility Wing conducted training for its Key Spouse squadron representatives at the 452nd Mission Support Group conference room on Saturday, May 5, 2018 here at March Air Reserve Base.

“The Key Spouses program is a commander-driven program,” said Karen Amos, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, Director, Airman and Family Readiness. “You must go through a six-hour training with me and then yearly you attend a two-hour training regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide awareness.”

Each squadron has a representative from their spouse’s squadron, and sometimes they may represent up to two or three squadrons, depending on the commander’s needs.

“I really enjoy helping out the other spouses when our service members and spouses deploy,” said Wendy Burolla, 452nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Key Spouse representative. “I hate to say it, but it’s true, because many families don’t understand what our military goes through on a day-to-day basis, especially when they deploy, so I just try to bridge the gap between the airmen and civilians.”

The Key Spouse program is represented by 3 male and 29 female spouses. The 32 March Key Spouses were briefed by sexual assault representatives, suicide awareness counselors, financial management liaisons, and a chaplain on programs that Team March has to offer its members.

“This is my first year as the primary squadron representative, after being an alternate for the last couple years,” Greg Grenier, 452nd Communications Squadron, Key Spouse representative. “I’m a 100 percent disabled retired veteran myself, so I think that I know a lot of the difficulties that they encounter, and I try to make sure that they get all of the benefits that they deserve.”

Many issues that you may encounter while serving in the military can be aided with the assistance of a key spouse representative from your squadron, so make sure your civilian family knows how to get in touch with them, especially before you leave on a deployment.