Liberty Wing hosts a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England – Families of deployed servicemembers receive food during a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon Aug. 15, 2012. The luncheon featured a booth providing information about the F-15s stationed here, an area where children could try on chemical protective gear and the RAF also provided a rock climbing wall for children as well as a close combat virtual reality simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)

Liberty Wing hosts a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England – Children stand in line for an RAF close combat virtual reality simulator during a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon Aug. 15, 2012. The luncheon featured a booth providing information about the F-15s stationed here, an area where children could try on chemical protective gear, and the RAF also provided a rock climbing wall for children. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)

Liberty Wing hosts a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England – Molly Brown (from left) and Charlotte Clifford, daughters of deployed RAF servicemembers, receive free water bottles and backpacks from Vannessa Menefee, 48th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness work life specialist Aug. 15, 2012. The luncheon featured a booth providing information about the F-15s stationed here, an area where children could try on chemical protective gear, and the RAF provided a rock climbing wall for children as well as a close combat virtual reality simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)

Liberty Wing hosts a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England – Children climb a rock climbing wall provided by the RAF during a joint deployed spouses’ luncheon Aug. 15, 2012. The luncheon featured a booth providing information about the F-15s stationed here, an area where children could try on chemical protective gear and the RAF also provided a close combat virtual reality simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)

Liberty Wing hosts a joint deployed spouses' luncheon

Published Aug. 17, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The lives of families can be full of challenges when their spouses are deployed; Not only for the U.S. Air Force but also for our host country's Royal Air Force. The 48th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted a joint deployed spouses' luncheon at Hangar 7, Aug. 15, 2012.

The A&FRC regularly hosts deployed spouses' luncheons for 48th Fighter Wing personnel and this is the first time spouses from RAF Honington have been invited. The idea to make this luncheon a joint affair was conceived by a Ministry of Defence employee working at the 48th Fighter Wing legal office whose husband is a member of the British Army.

"I saw on TV where other bases had got together for barbeques and got together and mixed, and my husband who was deployed has told me that he mixes with the American troops in Afghanistan," said Karen Mackay, 48th FW legal office British liaison officer. "So I thought, 'okay we have British military and American military; they deploy together and they work together; their wives are on separate bases thirty minutes apart and they don't mix. So I thought let's have a barbeque and get them together"

Mackay brought this idea to the A&FRC and they ran with it, inviting not only RAF Honington but RAFs Mildenhall and Alconbury.

"It's a great big event with lots of activities for the kids and families," said Rick Rafael, 48th Force Support Squadron A&FRC community readiness consultant. "We just understand that we are all in this together and we wanted to come together and recognize this."

The luncheon featured information about the F-15s stationed here, an area where children could try on chemical protective gear and the RAF provided a rock climbing wall for children as well as a close combat virtual reality simulator.

The day was not all about fun, it was also about sharing the burdens that spouses face when separated from their families.

"It means [the luncheon] really that your families can exchange with our families and between them they can discuss problems they have with their husbands being away and compare notes," said RAF Warrant Officer Bob Hargreaves, RAF Honington service community support officer. "This event is brilliant."

Col. Kyle Robinson, 48th Fighter Wing commander echoed Hargreaves feelings on inviting the RAF to join the Liberty Wing.

"This is an extra special occasion to continue our special relationship between us and the British," said Robinson. "It's our way to give back to the community that supports us all the time."