Heart Link educates military spouses

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stacy Sanchez
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted RAF Lakenheath's Heart Link orientation May 8, as part of the Air Force's effort to recognize our military spouses. 

The Heart Link program, which is held twice a year on base, is a military spouse orientation program for spouses who have been married five years or less, or are new to the military way of life. 

"The purpose of Heart Link is to strengthen and provide guidance to our new military spouses, who by far, play a vital role in our military," said Roslyn Battle, AFRC community readiness consultant. "We provide information, resources and referrals to places they can go to get information first hand." 

Friday's events included several briefings with protocol, finance, TRICARE, American Red Cross as well as casualty affairs. Lunch, snacks and prizes were also given throughout the day. And to help keep track of all the material handed out, new spouses were given gym bags, also known as the "New Spouse Tool Kit" to take home with them. 

"I was excited to hear that I was going to be given the opportunity to hear from groups such as finance and the Military Personnel Flight," said Misty Picou, a Lakenheath spouse since March. "I am not familiar with the military way of life, and with this being our first duty station, I am glad this orientation was provided to me." 

Although Mrs. Picou said she gained a wealth of knowledge during her initial Newcomers' in-processing brief to the base, she felt that Heart Link was geared towards the things she needs to know to prepare for deployments and reassignments. 

In addition to the organization briefings, the AFRC felt that hearing first-hand experiences from those who have dealt with deployments and assignments would help ease the new spouses transition into the military. Seasoned spouses in attendance were Lisa Reed, wife of Col. Lawrence Reed, 48th Fighter Wing vice-commander, as well as Dee Dee Clarke, wife of Col. John Clarke, 48th Mission Support Group commander. 

"Nobody knows it better than our seasoned spouses who have experienced everything when it comes to the military," Ms. Battle said. "Hopefully, hearing how these women have dealt with their loved ones' deployments and moving from place to place gave new spouses a sense of comfort knowing that there are so many other people who know exactly what they are going through." 

To end the orientation, Maj. Darrin Dronoff, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron commander, reiterated the importance of our military spouses by adding, "I know your spouses are the ones who signed on the dotted line and raised their right hand, but we know you too, made that commitment right alongside them. You make this mission possible." 

And as a token of appreciation from the AFRC, each spouse was presented with a USAFE Spouse Coin that read "Mission Readiness through Family Readiness", as part of their graduation ceremony. 

"Again, we hope these women take with them that they are the link that keeps our military members going," Ms. Battle said. "They are the heart of this team and they are linked to their husband, hence Heart Link." 

The next Heart Link is scheduled for November. For more information, call the AFRC at 226-3847.