'Heart Link' helps spouses understand Air Force life

29 Apr 2004 |

While Air Force enlisted members attend Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, to learn about Air Force history, customs and courtesies and many other aspects of Air Force life, many Air Force spouses get thrown into the mix completely unprepared.

To remedy this, the Air Force created 'Heart Link,' a free quarterly program to help military spouses overcome the initial shock of military life, as well as help strengthen military families and enhance mission readiness.

"The overall objective [of Heart Link] is to increase retention of members in the Air Force by increasing their spouses' awareness of the Air Force mission, customs, traditions, protocol and support services available to them," said Sue Holliday, 436th Mission Support Squadron community readiness consultant. "This will enable the spouses to make better use of the community resources supporting them and their families. This program also helps spouses feel like a part of the Air Force team. This makes their families physically, emotionally and spiritually healthier."

Like many other aspects of the Air Force, education is the key to success, and Heart Link provides that key to the spouses.

"We teach them basic Air Force 101 learning skills," said Mrs. Holliday. "The spouses walk away knowing what MyPay and a [leave and earning statement] look like, what a power of attorney does and what legal services are available for them." She said participants are also shown how their spouse fits into the base structure, and they learn about the Air Expeditionary Force system.

However, the class isn't completely focused on the military member; Heart Link offers information to help spouses get ahead in their life, as well.

An information fair is associated with each program. During the fair, spouses have an opportunity to talk to representatives from each base college, assorted home-based businesses are available to discuss employment opportunities, and the enlisted and officers spouses clubs are also available. The Base Exchange, Commissary and many Services Squadron agencies are also available at the fair.

While Heart Link is a fairly new Air Force program, the program at Dover has already helped more than 200 spouses get acclimated to Air Force life.

"This is a very good class," said Kay McClintock, the wife of Thomas McClintock, 436th Security Forces Squadron. "I got a lot of information about the base and found out about programs I didn't even know existed."

Heart Link not only can impact a spouse's life now, but can be a beneficial tool for future reference, as well.

"We highly encourage new spouses to attend and bring a friend with them if they don't feel comfortable coming by themselves," said Mrs. Holliday. "They will enjoy the program and go away feeling like they have something beneficial to themselves, their spouse and their families. Who knows, they could even make new friends just because they attended."

"Heart Link is one of the best places to go when you first get here," added Mrs. McClintock. "You can get a chance to talk to other spouses in your husband's squadron and you get to make a lot of friends. You never know what you'll learn or who you'll meet."

 
Marine Corps Recruiting Command