Heartlink offers spouses an inside look at the base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Edwards
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Ten military spouses completed the day-long Heartlink orientation at the Event Center, April 25.

Heartlink is offered quarterly, and provides tools and information to help military spouses adjust to the military way of life. They also learn about the base and get a chance to socialize with other spouses.

Col. Mark Damiano, 17th Training Wing Commander, began the orientation with a wing mission brief, then he and Ellery Damiano, 17th TRW key spouse, took questions about the military and the base.

"We want to reach as many spouses as possible," said Col. Damiano. "We want spouses to know about and utilize the facilities on base. The last thing we want is a brand new spouse who feels like they have to hide out in their apartment downtown while their husband is here in training."

Before Col. Damiano and Mrs. Damiano left, they added a puzzle piece to a Heartlink puzzle emblem.

This emblem was pieced together throughout the day by briefers from the Commissary, Health and Wellness Center, first sergeants and other agency briefers.

"Every puzzle piece we have represents a part of the base providing spouses a service," said Wendy Medina, Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant. "I think it's an important part of Heartlink. Everyone who puts a piece on the puzzle shows the spouses that they are a part of the picture."

The final piece of the puzzle was put into place by the last briefer of the day, Col. Thomas Schmidt, 17th TRW Vice Commander.

"Thank you for participating in Heartlink," said Col. Schmidt. "The reason I enjoy this brief is because it allows my wife and I to give back and share some of the things we've learned as a military couple."

When Col. Schmidt finished speaking, his wife Kim Schmidt, 17th TRW key spouse, shared her experiences as a military spouse.

"The one thing I truly pass on to other spouses that I come in contact with is you need to think internal," she said. "I can't put all my eggs into Thomas's basket; I have to fill my basket too. I have to have my own friends, my own hobbies and I have to be strong."

To finish up the orientation Col. Schmidt presented each of the spouses a Heartlink coin.