Heart Link: Connecting spouses to the military lifestyle

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Military spouses play a vital role when it comes to accomplishing the mission. That can be frightening for a new military spouse to hear. They weren't the ones who signed the dotted line, so how can their role be just as important?

The Airman and Family Readiness Center's Heart Link program is here to make their role easier and show them how Team Goodfellow can help.

"They are the heart of the team," said Joyce Hopper, Airman and Family Readiness Center chief. "If the spouse is unhappy, the military member will not be as productive. If the spouse is happy then the military is more likely to retain the active duty member."

Heart Link is a one-day program held every quarter and is designed to give spouses a better understanding of the military community. Speakers from around the base provide information on programs and services available to them and who to contact for help.

Although the target audience is spouses who are new to the military lifestyle and married for less than five years, all spouses are invited to attend. Past attendees said they came to the program to meet people because they felt isolated and didn't know how to fit into the military community.

"About 75 percent of attendees come to meet other people and the information we provide is an extra benefit," Ms. Hopper said. "They like having the opportunity to build relationships with other spouses who are in the same situation."

The crash course gives spouses an overview of military life and includes an introduction from the wing commander, briefings from agencies such as Protocol, finance, military personnel flight, TriCare and finance, as well as closing remarks from the Army's 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander. Some of the topics include military customs and courtesies, how to read a Leave and Earnings Statement, employment services, support available during a spouse's deployment, and TriCare and insurance benefits.

"We bring in every agency they would need for help," Ms. Hopper said. "We want to prepare them for the challenges of the military lifestyle."

In addition to providing new military spouses more information on military lifestyle, Heart Link can help them understand their military spouse. Learning military acronyms and its culture helps improve communication between the member and spouse.

"The communications skills we teach can be especially helpful for spouses of our Intelligence students who may think they can't tell their spouse anything," she said.

Unique to Goodfellow's Heart Link program is the Joint Service spin where packets and briefings are tailored to the branch of service each attendee's spouse is in.

"If we know an Army spouse is attending, we put together a packet that is Army-specific with Army emergency relief information and the Army song," Ms. Hopper said. "Additionally, when we talk about Protocol, we'll explain how things are different for each service. It's important because a lot of our members are going to be in a Joint Service environment most of their career."

Along with breakfast and lunch, free child care is available to those who register a week in advance. The next program is July 29 from 7:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. To register, go to www.FamilySupportGoodfellow.org, or call 325-654-3893.