FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. –
During times of need, Key Spouses can provide support and guidance to Airmen and their families. Just recently, two service members from the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Detachment 5, Chantilly, Va., found out just how important Key Spouses can be.
The two youngest members of Detachment 5 recently suffered deaths in their families. During those families’ time of need, one of their unit’s Key Spouses, Maureen, provided them with communication support via phone, computer and text messaging. She also helped deliver food to the families and provided the spouses with transportation to hospital appointments.
Maureen, wife of Master Sgt. Jeffrey, 544th ISRG, Detachment 5, appreciates what military families do for each other and has been a Key Spouse since January 2017.
“I did what military spouses do for each other,” she said. “People outside the military don’t realize the number of hours that military families spend serving others selflessly, with little recognition.”
At the same time she was assisting these two families, she was also leading the development of a “welcome Package” for new arrivals to the detachment, which included solutions to the challenges families might face with new schools and establishing medical care for both the Airmen and their dependents.
In early March 2017, Maureen, New York-native, organized the efforts of detachment families, Airmen and colleagues to provide six weeks of a kind of ‘meals-on-wheels’ for the family of a detachment Airman who underwent a critical neuro-surgery, said Maj. Hallie Herrera, 544th ISRG, Det. 5 commander.
“It was kind of tough, when people live all over a large and heavily populated metro area, but we did it, and I was so proud of how everyone chipped in,” Maureen said.
As a military spouse who has been married for more than eight years, Maureen knows all too well the difficulties that comes with being the spouse of a service member.
“Being away from family, raising children without support of parents, siblings is always hard,” said Maureen. “Career transitions have been challenging as well, but I learned that if you find something you are passionate about, then there are opportunities to volunteer no matter where you are.”
Maureen’s contributions as a Key Spouse have allowed the 544th ISRG, Det. 5, commander to focus on command and mission needs.
“Maureen’s efforts have truly supported both the needs of the detachment, and me, as the commander,” said Herrera. “As far as making a difference for the Air Force, I see her contributions as critical for the resiliency of my Airmen’s families, so that they can focus on their own resilience and our missions.”
Maureen, who has only been a Key Spouse for a couple of months, has learned that assisting families at multiple locations can be difficult. The detachment her husband is assigned to is geographically-separated unit from the group, which is located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
“I realize the importance of connecting with other spouses,” Maureen said. “Our unit, our squadron, is unique in that we have people assigned to different locations, which presents challenges in being there for each other.”
Another effort Maureen is passionate about is "Heart on a Mission." Through that program, she has learned that families and spouses can serve together and support each other, while also maintaining their own individual identities.
“We are not just military spouses – we are teachers, nurses, mothers and executives,” Maureen said.
Maureen followed her own passion of teaching through the online world of work. She is currently an online instructor for TEACH-NOW, Inc., a teacher-preparation program, where she teaches education courses and supervises student teachers, virtually.
The plus side of working online, Maureen said, was being able to keep her job when her husband moved to a new assignment.
“When we moved from our last duty station in New York, I didn’t have to change jobs,” she said. “I was able to continue working for TEACH-NOW.”
Through the Key Spouses and Heart on a Mission, Maureen strives to help military spouses fulfill their essential “need to belong” so they can better support the readiness and resilience of their service member.
“I am continually in awe of the grit I see in military families,” Maureen said. “I really want to share my experiences with other spouses to help ease their transition. We (spouses) sometimes feel as though we are on an island, or we are hesitant to ask for help. I want us to feel connected.”
(Editor’s note: Last names were omitted for security reasons)