JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Airman and Family Readiness Center and base chapel teamed up to host Joint Base Charleston's first spouse appreciation dinner for spouses and children of deployed members Jan. 28, drawing in a crowd to fill the chapel annex for fun and festivities.
Based on the turnout and positive atmosphere, Ch. (Capt.) Frank Harris, 628th Air Base Wing chaplain, said he was pleased with the success of the first dinner.
"It's great to see families coming together in this way," Chaplain Harris said. Future dinners are planned to be held on a quarterly basis, but other options could be possible depending on contributing factors, he said.
Besides the family members, chapel staff and AAFRC workers in attendance at the event, top base leadership also showed their support, including Col. Martha Meeker, 628th Air Base Wing commander, Col. John Wood, 437th Airlift Wing commander, Chief Master Sgt. Mike Ivey, 628th Air Base Wing command chief, and Chief Master Sgt. Terrence Greene, 437th Airlift Wing command chief, along with several first sergeants from around the base.
"It's important that we're making sure we take care of the families, whether an individual is in-garrison or deployed," said Master Sgt. Harley Davis, 628th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. "As a first sergeant, I'll eventually be deployed, and I would want to be a part of a unit that took care of my family."
With so many family members from different squadrons from around the base, the AAFRC turned to volunteers in the Key Spouse program to help get the word out about the event. Key Spouses are specially trained volunteers who promote individual, family and unit readiness. They are a support system which encourages peer-to-peer support year-round to meet the vital needs of military spouses and provide an informal network.
Charleston currently has 71 active Key Spouses, and they routinely work closely with unit commanders, the commander's spouse, first sergeants and the AAFRC.
When it comes to deployments, it's not only military spouses who face challenges, their children do as well. To help support Joint Team Charleston's youngest members, the 628th Force Support Squadron highlighted a new program at the dinner that they currently promoting - the DePLAYment program.
Laura Abell, 628 FSS marketing director, used the event as an opportunity to introduce all in attendance to the wide array of benefits available to families of deployed members through the DePLAYment program. An individual may enroll in the program by simply bringing a copy of their deployed spouse's orders to the AAFRC to sign up. The process is quick and easy enough that those in attendance had the option to sign up after the dinner, which several spouses took advantage of.
After signing up, each member of the family becomes eligible for many free services around the installation, ranging from free sports team memberships, martial arts lessons, child care at the Child Development Center, Outdoor Recreation Center trips and scrapbooking classes.
Each family member receives a specially coded dog tag to carry with them, which is scanned at various agencies to redeem free services.
During the dinner, children enjoyed plenty of laughter and fun with the free gifts spread all around the tables, including water bottles, backpacks, buttons and crayons. There was also a play area set up with free child care and toys, helping both parents and children to have a fun-filled night with an emphasis on continued family support.