The next Hill Air Force Base Heart Link event is quickly approaching. On Dec. 4, the Airman & Family Readiness Center (Bldg. 150) will host an orientation for new spouses to the Air Force and Hill from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Quarterly, Hill hosts Heart Link events to support and inform spouses on base. “In March 2000, Air Combat Command (ACC) tasked HQ Integrated Delivery Service and ACC Family Programs Branch to develop a proposal for a Spouse Orientation Program,” said Tammy Custer, Exceptional Family Member Program and Family Services specialist at the A&FRC. “There had been an obvious need for a standardized spouse orientation program, especially for those spouses who have been with the Air Force five years or less. Once the program was built and tested it probably started here around 2002.”

Lunch, door prizes, and opportunities for new friendships will be available. “Base agencies will come and talk about what they offer, they will learn about rank structure, how to read a military pay statement, what all the Air Force acronyms mean and much more. We provide lunch and sometimes play games if time allows. A program highlight is a visit from the 75th and 388th Wing commanders, who will present a coin to each spouse for completing the program,” said Custer. 

“We hope that new spouses will be more comfortable in their new role as a military spouse and that Key Spouses will know more about why their job is so important. When our spouses get this information early in their life with the military, I think because they become more comfortable with this new lifestyle, they tend to get more involved and in turn teach other spouses the ropes. This makes for a more resilient spouse population.”

Register for this informational event by Dec. 1 by calling 801-777-4681.