Lajes to recognize spouses' efforts monthly

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  Some Team Lajes spouses were honored by the 65th Air Base Wing for the first time during the wing's quarterly awards ceremony Oct. 31, and will now continue to be recognized here on a monthly basis.

Tiffany Rice, a Lajes key spouse, and Deneka Strom, a Lajes spouse, were the first military spouses to receive awards for their volunteer efforts and contributions within the Lajes community during the wing's official event.

When Melinda Bargery, wife of 65th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Chris Bargery, proposed the idea of recognizing some of the community's major contributors, her husband, along with other commanders and focus group members, unanimously agreed this well-deserved recognition was long overdue.

"As the Chief of Staff of the Air Force has said many times, we recruit Airmen, but we retain families," said Bargery, who serves as Lajes' Key Spouse Program advisor. "Our spouses deserve recognition for the hard work they put in to make our base an outstanding place to live and work."

According to the Air Force's Key Spouse Reference Guide, everyone on a unit's team -- commander, key spouse mentor, first sergeant, key spouse and Airman and Family Readiness Center -- impacts the unit's culture and contributes to its ability to accomplish the mission at home and abroad.

The Key Spouse Program promotes individual, family and unit readiness; establishes continuous contact with spouses and families; strengthens the leadership's support team; and builds strong Air Force communities.

"Key spouses are important at every duty station," said Bargery. "While we have a wonderful relationship with our Portuguese hosts, an assignment on a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean presents its own challenges."

At Lajes, key spouses are considered the first sergeants for spouses who would not otherwise have access to a well-trained individual with the ability to act as a conduit for problem-solving.

"Our key spouses are not trained counselors, however, they are trained to know the latest professional resources available and can certainly act as an informal sounding board while steering a spouse to someone who might help them work through a challenging situation," said Bargery.

Rice, the 729th Air Mobility Squadron key spouse, said she was shocked to have heard her name called for the Lajes Key Spouse award during the awards ceremony.

"I was there to support other spouses and represent the squadron," said the wife of Capt. Charles Rice, 729th AMS operations officer. "It's hard being far away from our families, country, McDonalds, and in the middle of a huge transition. I think all the spouses could use the morale boost of being awarded and recognized here."

Rice, who has been at Lajes for more than one year and a key spouse for 14 months, said she jumped at the opportunity when asked to be a key spouse because it brings her joy to help and be a voice for other spouses.

"My job is to foster a sense of community within our squadron, be aware and be present," she said. "Often times, it's the little things that add up and are important -- being aware of important events, such as birthdays, children's birthdays, pregnancy due dates, interests, etc. I don't want any spouse to feel like an island but know that we are all here together."

Rice has planned a number of outings for spouses that has allowed the opportunity to explore the island together and build relationships amongst one another. She also makes a conscious effort to always reach out to spouses of deployed service members within the unit.

Similar to the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," Rice said she believes it takes a village to function as happy, healthy adults.

"Years ago, before the Key Spouse Program was launched, I found myself in an uncomfortable conversation," she said. "My husband had been away for nine months out of the year during the time which I was pregnant. Then he was stationed overseas a whole year - three months after our daughter was born. Needless to say, I was very used to handling everything on my own.

"However, about two months into his overseas assignment, I received a phone call. The caller spoke very rapidly, and it was someone I did not know. They asked if I was keeping up with my yard work, and if I needed help while my husband was away. I was scared. Who was this person; how did they know my husband was away; and why was this stalker trying to sell me yard service?"

Rice hung up on the individual, feeling terrified until she was finally able to speak to her husband through Skype later that day. The squadron had already contacted him to let him know what had happened. He then explained to her that his squadron had called in efforts to share some kindness as a result of him being deployed.

"Even though they were trying to do a great service, I believe it was not well planned," she said. "I don't want any spouse to feel the way I did that day, and my role is to make sure that never happens. I want to build a village where we all know each other. Building a relationship before (a deployment) is key."

The core role of the key spouse is to promote unit readiness through a relationship with other unit spouses, and Lajes takes a very proactive approach by establishing relationships with unit spouses early.

"We have an excellent Key Spouse Program here at Lajes," said Bargery. "Our Airman and Family Readiness Center is top-notch and they do an amazing job in helping to coordinate the program and provide exceptional training to our new key spouses. We also do a great job of welcoming new spouses as they arrive. Squadron key spouses make contact right away and even provide a welcome packet to the new spouses, which includes the key spouse's contact information."

The key spouses also meet regularly with the unit commander and first sergeants in an effort to promote unit morale and ensure good communication.

"They provide a great resource to commanders by facilitating accurate communication and information flow, as well as rumor control and general support," said Bargery.

As the Key Spouse Program advisor, Bargery works with the A&FRC to ensure the program remains strong and relevant, and that squadron key spouses are networked all the way up to the wing commander. Bargery also ensures they network outside the 65th ABW by staying in contact with other key spouses throughout U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, such as Sharon Gorenc, wife of Gen. Frank Gorenc, USAFE/AFAFRICA commander.

The Lajes Key Spouse Program and the Lajes Spouses Club are two separate groups. Whereas the Key Spouse Program is an official Air Force commander's program, the Lajes Spouses Club is a private base organization. Its members are spouses who join for social and/or philanthropic opportunities.

"It is a great organization, and I highly recommend any spouse wanting to be involved in worthwhile charitable giving and fun social events to join, but it is a completely separate group from the Key Spouse Program," said Bargery.

Not all spouses are active members of the Lajes Spouses Club, however, spouses, such as Strom, are still recognized for their active roles within the Lajes community.

Strom, wife of Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Strom, 65th Medical Support Squadron Pharmacy Services NCOIC, expressed that receiving the Lajes Spouse award was like icing on the cake on top of everything she enjoyed volunteering for within the community.

"When my husband told me I was being put in for an award, I was incredibly honored," she said. "The fact is, I get much more than anyone else out of the things I am involved in. Receiving an award on top of all the fun I have is awesome.

"This new program that Mrs. Bargery has started is a wonderful way to recognize all of the people on this base who give of themselves in the service of others. I'm incredibly humbled to have won, and I'm excited to get to see all the other hardworking spouses who will be getting recognized as well."

Strom and her family have been stationed at Lajes for two years. She first began volunteering at her local church by directing the children and adult choirs, teaching Sunday School, leading weekly scripture studies, and collecting clothing and other items for local Portuguese families in need.

With a desire to widen her circle of friends, Strom sought out more volunteer opportunities. She joined the Parent Teacher Organization to help where her children attended school.

"I had a great time meeting all the teachers, faculty, and other parents who were involved with that organization," she said. "After a couple months, I was elected to be the president of the PTO for the 2012 to 2013 school year. Collaborating with other volunteers and helping to organize the events and programs that enrich the lives of the Lajes Elementary/High School children is an experience I will always treasure."

Now she currently volunteers to support the new PTO board as an active member. She also voluntarily directs the Lajes Middle/High School choir.

"My heart is with this community's wonderful children," she said.