The Bolar’s family in good hands

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Thousands of Airmen across the Air Force are deployed at any given time and must leave their families and friends behind, but Airmen from the 492nd Fighter Squadron can rest a little easier knowing that their families are in good hands.

The 492nd FS has a dedicated group of spouses who volunteer their time and effort to take care of each other at all times, especially during deployments.

These spouses look after one another's families and take care of the single Airmen as well. The 492nd FS's recent deployment was no exception, and its spouse's group worked diligently to care for the families of the deployed Airmen by providing a strong support structure. From gathering for dinners to monthly squadron-wide events, the spouses take care of each other during these times while families are separated.

"I feel like the family is the place to start," said Alexandra Orchard, wife of Lt. Col. John Orchard, 492nd FS commander. "If you create a happy family, you create happy military members, and then everything works better in the squadron."

For most spouses, being a part of the 492nd FS isn't just being part of an organization, it's being a part of a family.

"The squadron is an extended part of our family," said Karen Black, wife of Maj. Scott Black, 492nd FS weapons system officer. "Everyone is so supportive of you that you want to be supportive of them. It's like a big family."

The group created a 'wing women' system where each spouse of a deployed Airman had a few other spouses who would periodically check up on them.

"The Air Force is really good about being a wingman for active duty, but we have wing people for our families," said Katie Price, wife of Capt. Charlie Price, 492nd FS pilot. "I think it's all about supporting the mission. Having your family life intact and at 100 percent makes everyone more mission ready."

In addition to taking care of families at home, the spouse's group also made sure that some of the deployed single Airmen were taken care of by sending them care packages, including stockings full of cookies for Christmas and candy for Valentine's Day.

When asked why she wanted to take an active role in the squadron's spouse support program, Orchard shared a story from her experience during her husband's deployment while stationed in Alaska.

"We had a new commander, and his wife was at my very first coffee meeting, and from that time on she helped me know that I had a support system there. I had a family there."

While stationed in Alaska, she felt like she always had someone there to support her and she is glad to have found that feeling again here with the 492nd FS.

"We did so many things together and I felt so much a part of the squadron," said Orchard. "I looked forward to welcoming people home from deployment even if it wasn't my husband, because it was my family."