HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Heart Link is a quarterly event offered by the Airman & Family Readiness Center here designed to strengthen military families and enhance mission readiness.

Heart Link’s goals are: 

• Increase spouse awareness of the AF mission, customs, traditions, protocols and available resources and services.

• Enable spouses to capitalize on the availability of on- and off-base community resources.

• Help spouses acclimate and feel they are an important part of the Air Force community.

• Help families be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthier.

Heart Link is focused on these specific outcomes:

• Increased awareness of AF mission and how one fits in.

• Awareness of customs, traditions, rank and protocol.

• Knowledge of entitlements and benefits. 

• Increased awareness of resources and services available.

• Improved communication between spouses, sponsors and families.

• More self-referrals to support services and programs.

• Increased ability to cope with change.

• Less separation anxiety (fewer early returns from deployments, TDY, or remotes).

• Increased healthy parenting and healthy lifestyles.

• Decreased self-defeating behavior. 

• Improved preparedness in the event of a casualty or fatality.

• Meet other spouses and develop friendships

The Audience

The content of the program is oriented to people who have been Air Force spouses for five years or less. For many spouses, this may be their first experience at learning the details of how the Air Force works. This program is also utilized as required training for Key Spouses to ensure a broad knowledge of resources.

Program format:

The program is 4 hours and consists of a mixture of presentations by the wing commander(s) and experts from many of the base agencies. There will be dinner, prizes and games.

For information about Heart Link or to RSVP for the next event on May 18 from 5-9 p.m., please call the A&FRC at 801-777-4681.