Supporting the military spouse

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  New Air Force spouses may feel lost in the world of military jargon and acronyms that seem to be part of everyday life. Even a seasoned military spouse may find him or herself searching for answers.

Thankfully, Offutt Air Force Base's Airman and Family Readiness Center offers Heart Link, an Air Force spouse orientation course designed to ease the transition to military life for those married for less than five years.

However, Heart Link is available to more than just new Air Force spouses. Any military spouse can attend a Heart Link orientation regardless of how long he or she has been married, including the spouses of National Guard and reserve personnel.

Heart Link is fun and educational at the same time, said Judy Davis, a team lead community readiness consultant for the 55th Force Support Squadron.

"We decorate a lot, we have balloons, centerpieces, little goodies to give away, free food, candy and squeeze toys to throw at speakers if they use an acronym," she said.

According to Mrs. Davis, those squeeze toys are hurled at briefers about four times at every Heart Link session because many military members can't resist using an acronym when they talk about their area of expertise.

The goal of the Heart Link program is a happy spouse, Mrs. Davis added, "We try to do everything we can to let them know that we care about them."

So what will spouses learn at Heart Link here when they're not throwing fastballs at military briefers?

In the agenda for the upcoming Feb. 16 session, attendees will be introduced to military acronyms and learn what they stand for, as well as military phrases, time, rank structure and even proper customs and courtesies.

They'll also learn about various helpful agencies when nearly a dozen speakers will be on hand from the 55th Comptroller Squadron, family advocacy, the military personnel section, force support services and much more.

Through these presentations, Mrs. Davis said, spouses will gain a deeper knowledge of the Air Force and Offutt.

"Spouses (will) learn which agency they should go to if they have a particular issue, and that they can always come to us to find out which agency to go too if they don't know," she said. "Basically they learn to not be afraid."

One military spouse said she really enjoyed the Heart Link orientation she attended in November 2010.

"I gained a great deal of knowledge about the mission of the base and of all the programs available to (help) military families," said Sara Huyser, a native of Orange City, Iowa, and the wife of Lt. Col. Kevin J. Huyser, 55th Wing Staff Judge Advocate.

While many things impressed her, Mrs. Huyser said she was thrilled that event organizers went to great lengths to make military spouses feel appreciated.

"The organizers went to great effort to make the day fun, informative and special," she said. "Immediately upon entering the room, a lovely buffet of breakfast food was available."

Additionally, she continued, at every seat was an array of goodies and toys to bring home to the kids. The care to detail set the mood for a day that was geared to make the spouses of military members feel special and important.

As an Air Force spouse for more than a decade and a mother of two, Mrs. Huyser said she wishes she attended a Heart Link orientation earlier in her husband's career.

"I think it would have really helped me (understand) military culture and life from the beginning," she said.

The presentations, Mrs. Huyser added, taught her things she never knew.

"We were provided with a plethora of information on nearly every aspect of military life," she said. "Even though the Air Force has been a part of my life now for more than 16 years, I really learned a lot from this (event)."

Along with presentations from multiple base agencies, Heart Link orientations also consist of free breakfast and lunch, door prizes and a base tour. Each attendee also receives a bag with several informational booklets including the "Offutt Air Force Base Spouse Handbook: Your Guide to Success."

The 39-page book covers many topics from legal support to counseling assistance available for military families. It also has phone numbers to many offices on base and answers several frequently asked questions spouses may have.

Child care is also provided through donations collected from the Offutt Officer's Spouses Club, as well as contributions from the Air Force Aid Society.

The Heart Link program started with Air Combat Command in 2001 and was first offered at Offutt in March of 2002. It quickly grew in popularity and later was extended to every Air Force base.

The support the program has experienced here, however, is second to none, Mrs. Davis said.

"One thing that has made Offutt unique is that we've had a series of commanders who have really believed in Heart Link," she said.

"General Shanahan and Mrs. Shanahan have been particularly supportive of this program and whenever possible General Shanahan has been here to open and close the program," she added. "He also gives a terrific 55th Wing mission brief where he tells (the spouses) everything he can about Offutt's mission."