PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The challenges that face the average American vary from day to day. Add serving in the military, moving every couple years, uprooting children, interrupting education, and being away from family and the stress level increases. Not only is military life a challenge for the service member, but also spouses.
The 21st Space Wing hosted a Spouses Town Hall and information fair Aug. 9 at The Club here to provide resources and helping agencies to members of Team Pete.
“We realize that, as spouses, we don’t necessarily get information out to you and you may have questions,” said Col. Doug Schiess, 21st Space Wing commander. “That’s what this is about – today, this fair, and there’s a lot of people over here (to answer your questions.)”
Often people don’t know the options available to them and try to struggle through life’s many events on their own, said Sherri Kitchens, Airmen & Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant. The Spouses Town Hall gathered all the resources available in one location to best distribute information.
A panel of representatives from helping agencies across the wing introduced themselves and briefly explained their mission and services available to spouses and members of Team Pete. Representatives ranged from Airmen & Family Readiness and the base chapel to Tierra Vista Communities and various medical resources.
A question session followed to open the dialogue between spouses and subject matter experts in each field. Kitchens said the topics affected most of the attendees, including information for hail damage to vehicles, houses and insurance claims.
Another key topic was resources available to joint services. Team Pete has a variety of different missions and consists of 53 tenant units, said Schiess. It is important to ensure they feel welcome and know there are resources available to them.
“Even though we aren’t a joint base, we’re a joint base,” he said. “Even if there is something that is service specific, we have someone who can help.”
A future Spouses Town Hall is in the works, but Peterson Airmen can attend Right Start, a newcomer’s brief which provides information and resources available around base. Right Start is required for incoming Airmen, however spouses are encourages to attend.
For more information, contact the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 719-556-6141/