CMSAF's wife, first lady assess wounded warrior, family issues

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The spouses of each service's senior enlisted advisers met at the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama March 6 to discuss wounded warrior and family issues.

Paula McKinley, wife of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, joined Mrs. Obama in the East Wing to discuss the impact of deployments on families and explore resources for returning warriors and their spouses.

"We talked about the need for more mental health professionals and compensation for spousal and parental caregivers for their severely wounded family service members," Mrs. McKinley said.

Mrs. McKinley said resources such as Military One Source and Military Readiness Centers can help provide guidance to families impacted not only by deployments, but by the transient nature of military life.

Other topics of discussion during the visit included: 
-- Encouragement to military communities to hire, relicense and recertify military spouses from state to state. 
-- Housing and weight allowance issues during permanent-change-of-station moves. 
-- In-state college tuition for dependents even when the member is assigned to an installation in a different state. 
-- Programs to ease military children's transitions from school to school.

Mrs. McKinley added the first lady would like to see more young people visit the White House so they can witness firsthand the pride, dedication and appearance of all branches of military members who are employed there. Mrs. McKinley said the first lady holds spouses and families in the same esteem.

"I knew that Mrs. Obama would be knowledgeable of our military spouses and family issues, but I was so impressed by her concern and compassion for them," Mrs. McKinley said.

Mrs. McKinley said she seems confident Mrs. Obama can help amplify the voices of those behind and beside the uniform.

"Mrs. Obama believes the nation should hear the voices of our military spouses and realize the sacrifices spouses and families make -- they, too, serve our country," Mrs. McKinley said. 

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