GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Event Center was the sight of the first Goodfellow’s Key Spouses Program All Call Feb. 8, which gave the Goodfellow spouses a chance to share concerns and questions with the commander and other leadership, and to meet other military spouses.
Col. Ricky Mills, 17th Training Wing commander, Col. Robert Ramirez, 17th TRW vice commander, Chief Master Sgt. Lavor Kirkpatrick, 17th TRW command chief, accompanied by their wives were in attendance, were available to answer questions and speak about resources available for Goodfellow spouses and the Key Spouse Program.
“One of the fundamental roles of the Key Spouses is to be an avenue to provide you with information, support and resources,” said Mills. “Use that network or use your spouse’s first sergeant or chain of command and ask those questions to get those answers. If you aren’t getting those answers keep asking those questions.”
Members with additional questions after the panel portion of the event were able to go around to the different organization’s booths that lined the walls. Some of the organizations in attendance were Airman Family Readiness Center, Equal Opportunity, along with members from 17th Medical Group and base commanders. Another source of information available was the combined knowledge of the military spouses. Key Spouse members in attendance provided a potential for networking with those who have experience in being in a military marriage.
“We value all that you do and all that you sacrifice,” said Mills. “We try to do all that we can to make your experience here as rewarding, fulfilling and enjoyable as it can possibly be. I highly encourage you not just wait for an event like this if you have a question. Either fill out a comment card at whatever facility you are at or use the Goodfellow app, we will figure out a way to get you an answer and I mean that sincerely.”
For these kind of events it takes more than just a flyer to bring people out. The passion to push this new opportunity was shared by several besides Ramirez.
“This was our first one and it was a great success,” said Ramirez. “2nd Lt. Candace Bevilacqua was awesome. She was the main person coordinating the event, we gave her an idea and she planned it for us. We wanted to make this as successful of an event as possible and she did a great job doing that.”
The following were some of the questions asked during the panel section of the event.
Q. Why can’t we sell Girl Scout cookies on base?
A. Personal commercial solicitation, e.g. Girl Scout Cookies, on-base must be coordinated through the Staff Judge Advocate’s office and will be approved on a case by case basis. Door-to-door sales/solicitations are not permitted in base housing.
Q. Is there anything that can be done about the quality of on base housing?
A. Hunt housing continues to look for ways to improve the quality of base housing for our service members. They understand that you may spend your Basic Allowance for Housing entitlement somewhere else, if quality homes and services are not provided. If you have specific issues with your privatized housing, recommend you contact the housing management office 325-654-4618 and/or the Hunt housing management office at 325-651-8369. Both our housing office and the Hunt housing rely on and appreciates your insight on their performance and welcome your feedback through maintenance surveys and the annual independent third party satisfaction survey by CEL and Associates. Additionally if there are issues with housing that are unable to be remedied through the housing management teams, please consult with your respective service member’s chain of command.
Q. Can TRICARE be linked on the Air Force Connect App?
A. The Goodfellow App has a link to TRICATE. There is also the 24/7 Tricare Line, which is 1-800-TRICARE (874-2279). The number can also be found in the Phone Numbers page on the Goodfellow home page. For more information about Tricare you can go to the 17th Medical Group page, under units on the Goodfellow home page, and read about Urgent Care/ER, Tricare benefits and Tricare & Medicare. We will continue to update and add to the app to support our customers.
Q. Can we add a Key Spouse button to the Air Force Connect App?
A. The Goodfellow App has information about the Key Spouse program and we will continue to use your feedback to add and improve the app. Information about the Key Spouses can also be found on our website for addition information and options.
Below is a list of the Key Spouses contacts for each unit.
17th Contracting Squadron: 17conskeyspouse@gmail.com
17th Force Support Squadron: 17fsskeyspouse@gmail.com
17th Training Group: 17trgkeyspouse@gmail.com
312th Training Squadron: 312trskeyspouse@gmail.com
315th Training Squadron: 315keyspouse1@gmail.com
316th Training Squadron: 316sharkspouses@gmail.com
17th Training Support Squadron: keyspouse17thtrss@yahoo.com
17th Medical Group: seventeenmdg@gmail.com
17th Medical Support Squadron: keyspouse17mdss@yahoo.com
Office of Special Investigations: OSI1408keyspouse@yahoom.com
344th Military Intelligence Battalion: 344thfamilyreadinessgroup@gmail.com