Balancing Reserve force discussed at Commander and Spouse Forum

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) --  Air Force Reserve wing commanders and their spouses attended the annual Air Force Reserve Commander and Spouse forum here July 6 to 8 to gain increased awareness of the needs of Citizen Airmen and their families.

Attendees engaged with Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., the chief of Air Force Reserve and the commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, and took part in discussions on topics including military benefits, military community and family policy.

Attendees also received a briefing from explosive ordinance disposal Airmen, who provided personal stories from the field.

"At each forum we try to develop relevant topics, through feedback, geared toward helping Air Force Reserve spouses," said Stenner's wife, Dee Stenner.

Dee Stenner said hearing things like the EOD briefing makes the jobs of Air Force spouses more important, especially with the love and support they give to service members.

"We have a great group of caring spouses here trying to make things better for those coming behind us," she said.

During the forum, spouses visited Capitol Hill and met with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is also married to a retired Navy commander.

Rodgers is also a co-chair of the Congressional Military Families Caucus.

"We recognize that when a service member joins the military, it's not just a job, but a family commitment to our country," she said. "The caucus also recognizes that the National Guard and Reserve (members) have more challenges, especially with reintegrating into civilian life after deployments. We're focused now on putting a microphone in front of families and connecting them with leaders at the highest levels. "

While the spouses met with the congresswoman and listened to military briefings, wing commanders were also engaged in separate discussions on issues facing their organizations and the Reserve.

"I thought the forum was an excellent opportunity to coordinate strategic-level policy with command leadership as well as my counterparts at other wings," said Col. Russell Muncy, the 459th Air Refueling Wing commander.

Muncy also recognized the importance of having spouses participate in the forum and said it was a great opportunity for them to hear more about military programs and to network.

In his closing remarks, Stenner summarized the topics covered over the three-day gathering. He stressed the importance of utilizing resources from the forum to help balance the Reserve's "three-legged stool" concept of family, the civilian employer and the unit.

He also said a status report will be provided to the commanders with an update on the issues brought up during the forum and at the senior leader conference held earlier this year.

"During the forum we heard about all the different ways to balance the Reserve component resource, which is a huge part of our national defense," Stenner said. "We can use this information to assist us, and while situations are different at every location, know that resources are available for any circumstance."