Key Spouses lifting spirits for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kyle Gese
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Young Airmen serve an important role in fulfilling the Air Force Mission.

Most Airmen - Airman Basic to Senior Airmen - with less than three years of service reside in base dormitories. Some come right out of high school while other may have completed a few years of college, but for many of these Airmen, it's the first time they are away from their families.

"There are times when leadership is needed, there's times when people just need someone to talk to, or a simple act of kindness," said Brooke DeWolf, Key Spouse and wife of Col. Gregory DeWolf, 82nd Medical Group commander. "For us it's really about being there when it matters."

DeWolf is a Key Spouse mentor for the 82nd MDG and along with their First Sergeant and 10 other Key Spouses, recently helped package and deliver Halloween themed gift bags to Airmen who live in the 82nd MDG dorms.

"For us, it's about morale and showing the Airmen that we care about them and that they are an important part of the mission," said Karen Wolf, when asked why she participated in making and delivering the bags. Wolf is another Key Spouse and wife of Col. Stephen Wolf, 82nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander.

"I want to take care of them," she said. "They are important to the U.S. Air Force, they are important to Sheppard Air Force Base and they are important to the mission. I want them to know that every one of them counts and they make a difference."

The 82nd MDG Key Spouses - or "The Pulse" - stayed until nearly 10 p.m. at the 82nd MDG clinic to put together the bags. When asking Wolf why it was so important, she replied saying, "It makes you feel great inside ... it's huge to get involved with the Key Spouses because you can't help but feel good when you're serving others and you're making a difference in their lives."

DeWolf continued saying, "these dorm Airmen don't expect for this to happen, they don't ask for it, but it's nice to see somebody's face when you realize you just did this little thing and it had the biggest impact ... it's shocking how that smile creeps up on their face and you can tell it just made their day."

The Key Spouse program isn't just a way to give back to Airmen, but is also an outlet for those who simply need help. The program is a formal commander driven unit and family program with the mission to enhance readiness and establish a sense of Air Force community.The next time you see a small bag of treats hanging from your door handle, remember the spouses that make it happen.