Offutt Key Spouses prepare for mobility

  • Published
  • By Josh Plueger
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  With deployment folders in hand, Offutt Key Spouses sat side-by-side at the Mobility Processing Center for their first ever deployment line exercise here Dec. 19.

This introductory meeting was the first of many for the key spouses as they hope to get better acquainted to the depth and scope of the process that sends hundreds of Airman around the globe in support of the uninterrupted deployment rhythm of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth.

"I didn't realize all the hoops they jump through before they deploy," said Jessica Babcock, 38th Reconnaissance Squadron key spouse. "We now have a better appreciation of what Airmen go through and how we can help them."

Key spouses are appointed by unit commanders and act as liaisons between the unit and its families. They offer valuable assistance through an assortment of areas that pertain to life in the military, while maintaining a direct line of communication to unit leadership.

The introduction of mobility line training coupled with base and community resources, provides the key spouses yet another tool to help support and aid family life here at Offutt.

"I absolutely think that the mobility training is important and should be a used to train new key spouses as they rotate in as well as serve as a refresher course for active key spouses," Babcock said.

The overall intent of the exercise was to have key spouses experience the deployment line and get them more involved in the process in the future.

"Our job is to prepare forces for combat and take care of their families while they're gone," said Col. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander. "I believe there's a real opportunity here to do an even better job if we involve our keys spouses."

Offutt has 98 key spouses that will be introduced to the deployment line exercise over the next several months.

"This first exercise was a huge success," said Billie Gaines, 55th Force Support Squadron's Airman & Family Readiness Center chief. "The key spouses were enthusiastic and appreciated seeing this step in the process first hand."

As early as February, key spouses will become an added stop for Airmen going through the deployment line at the Mobility Processing Center.

"The addition of the key spouses to the mobility line will hopefully bring some comfort to those Airmen heading into harm's way that their families will always be taken care of," Guillot said.