Key spouses support, care Published May 12, 2014 By Senior Airman Jesse Lopez 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - -- Service members and their families face various challenges brought forward by the military lifestyle that require a level of assistance, which the members of the Key Spouse program are trained to handle. The Key Spouse program is a group of military spouses that serve as representatives from each squadron to develop and implement ideas to benefit Altus AFB Airmen and their families. These individuals are hand-picked by squadron commanders to execute this mission. "The Key Spouse program is a commander's program," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rowena Ennis, Airmen and Family Readiness Center NCO in charge of readiness. "The spouses receive a five hour training class through the A&FRC that includes sexual assault and response training, resilience training, duties, and a detailed personality examination to hone in on traits that could tend to specific needs of an Airman or their family." Lisa Davis, Key Spouse representative for the 97th Air Mobility Wing Staff Agencies and the 97th Comptroller Squadron has been a Key Spouse for more than two years. "We as Key Spouses try to get to know spouses of service members and their loved ones in order to develop a symbiotic relationship of helping and caring for each other," said Davis. "This is especially important for families with deployed spouses." The 27-member program aims to assure members and families that they're always available at a moment's notice to support them as an Air Force family should. "We take every opportunity to be involved and help people feel welcomed at Altus to make it better a place," said Davis.