HOMESETAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- The Key Spouse Program has arrived with the help of the 482nd Fighter Wing Key Spouse who was appointed July 8.
"The wing is fortunate to have Athena Avendano as the Key Spouse,” said Col. David P. Garfield, the 482nd FW commander. “I’m impressed with her energy and commitment to the program. She is going to do a great job."
The Key Spouse Program is a commander’s program where each volunteer is vetted and appointed by the commander. The program is designed to enhance mission readiness and establish a sense of unity within the base community, said Athena Avendano, the newly appointed 482nd FW Key Spouse.
Avendano has been a military spouse for over 10 years and has experienced two deployments in that time. She is the wife of 2nd Lt. Benito Avendano, the 482nd Force Support Squadron officer in charge of personnel support for contingency operations. They have two children, 4-year-old Emmalyn, 3-year-old Carleigh, and are expecting a third baby February 2017.
“I believe that being connected and involved with the Airmen and their families is very important,” said Avendano. “I am beyond honored to take on this role so I can be there for my military family.”
Key Spouse Program members are volunteers tasked with uniting Air Force families and military leadership.
“The Key Spouse Program has a few responsibilities, such as promoting family readiness and promoting the sense of unit caring,” said Avendano. “The goal is to inform, support, provide resources and guidance to the Airmen and their families.”
This is a new program for members of Team Homestead and it’s still growing.
“We need a volunteer for all the squadrons on base,” said Senior Master Sgt. Wanda Symons, the 482nd FSS Airman and Family Readiness director. “We are working to build this program, and with the upcoming deployment cycle, we are trying to fill the slots.”
The Key Spouse Program aids family members who may not know who to contact with questions or concerns while their loved one is deployed. Key spouse members can work as a point of contact to aid in these matters.
“Key spouses are the first emotional responders that connect spouses in need with available resources and any guidance necessary, especially at the times of deployment,” said Avendano. “When my husband was deployed there were some occasions when I wanted to speak to other spouses who were dealing with the deployment, but I didn’t know how to reach out. I have a goal of building this program, so our military families know there are many of us in the same situations, and we can be there for one another."