SIDE BY SIDEBy Paula Roy

Transcription

1 Staff photo by Caitie Craumer Inset: Photo by Chester Simpson SIDE BY SIDEBy Paula Roy By Paula Roy Above: Betty Welsh (center) and husband Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh pose with Kyle Burnett, an Air Force wounded warrior, and her guide dog, Moe, at the Air Force Academy tailgate party celebrating the end of the 2014 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., in October. Inset: Welsh speaks at AFA s 2014 Spouse and Family Forum in National Harbor, Md., on Sept. 15. Passionate. This is a word I would use to describe our Air Force senior leader spouses: Frank J. Beatty, husband of Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James; Betty L. Welsh, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III; and Athena J. Cody, wife of CMSAF James A. Cody. They are motivated by their deep desire to serve and build resiliency within our Air Force family. Like you, they work hard at balancing the responsibilities and demands of family life with the challenges that arise when devoting themselves to a life of service. When I presented the idea of featuring them in Wingman Magazine and having them answer your questions, they eagerly accepted. Their willingness to participate did not surprise me, as many of us heard them share their hearts at our hugely successful 2014 Spouse and Family Forum at the Air Force Association s Air & Space Conference at National Harbor, Md., in September. Below are answers to questions you, our Air Force family members, asked them. Thank you to those who took the time to submit such meaningful questions. Thank you, too, to our senior leader spouses for their insightful answers. Their responses encourage me, and I remain dedicated to the mission and proud to be a member of our Air Force family. Blessings. You are now the spouse of the highest ranking civilian, officer, and enlisted member in the Air Force, respectively. What opportunities or challenges has that presented? How do you stay grounded? Frank Beatty: Debbie has been serving as the Secretary of the Air Force TAKING CARE OF AIRMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IS A FAMILY BUSINESS. JUST ASK THE AIR FORCE S SENIOR LEADER SPOUSES. since late December At the time of her nomination, we discussed what the effects of her new role would be on our lives, marriage, and our relationships to our grown children. We agreed that her new role was a great opportunity for her and that I would support her new role completely. My challenge is continuing to work at my regular job while participating as much as possible in as many Air Force functions and events as time allows. We are working together to maintain a work-life balance; however, it is sometimes difficult to leave our work at the office. But we are both supportive of our separate careers and are making it work. Betty Welsh: I m truly humbled by the opportunity to support our airmen and their families. The chance to do this has been tremendous! As a part of our 10

2 command team, I am able to travel with my spouse and meet with so many great partners: airmen, spouses, families, civic leaders, and our foreign counterparts. Each of them wants to find new ways to support our Air Force. As for the challenges, I ve always been good at wrapping my arms around our busy lives. It s all about staying organized and prioritizing. Sometimes Mark and I are so busy and move at such a fast pace that this simply isn t possible. But on those days, we take a deep breath, rely on our awesome support network, and pull through, even on what may seem to be a rough day! Personally, I stay grounded by starting each day with counting my blessings because even on what may seem to be a difficult day, after counting my blessings, life is good! Athena Cody: This is an incredible honor to serve our Air Force families as the senior enlisted spouse. I am humbled every time I get to travel around our Air Force and hear our families stories. Having served as a military member for nearly 27 years, it has been an eyeopening experience to hear and see the challenges from the family members perspective. I stay grounded through the support from my own family and the airmen we call family. This is family business, and it takes all of us taking care of each other all the time. What are your key focus areas? How do they complement the work of your military spouse? Beatty: I am predominately in a supportive spouse role. As one of the senior spouses of the Air Force, I have embraced that new role. My career requires a great deal of my time and I am trying my best to support our Air Force, its airmen, and their families. As I have never served in the military, I am taking every opportunity to learn all about life in the service of our country, especially the challenges our airmen and their families face on a daily basis. Welsh: My focus is on telling the amazing story of our Air Force and ensuring we re doing all we can to support our airmen and their families. I am the eyes and ears for Mark in connecting our family programs as we travel and visit bases. I think it s an important part of my job to connect with our military support network to find out how we can help. This complements the work of my Staff photo by Caitie Craumer Inset: Photo by Chester Simpson military spouse, because we know, like all families, that when the families are well taken care of, the military spouse can concentrate on the mission. If I only accomplish one thing as the CSAF s spouse, I hope to have contributed in some meaningful way to our airmen and their families in making them feel like the Air Force is their home. If I ve done that, then I consider my job well done. When your spouse was selected for his or her current job, what went through your mind? Beatty: Both Debbie and I were honored and excited about the challenges that lay ahead for both of us. Her nomination and confirmation process took five or six months, which certainly added to the day-to-day stress in our lives. Now that the ordeal is over, Above: Athena Cody (right) shakes hands with TSgt. Kathryn Tichawa, as TSgt. Timothy Tichawa and CMSAF James Cody converse behind them, in Colorado Springs in October. Inset: Cody listens to the audience at AFA s 2014 Spouse and Family Forum. I am honored to be one of the newest airmen in our Air Force, as well as a senior leader spouse. Welsh: I thought, Wow, Mark s going to be great at this! But I m not sure how I ll do. It was very intimidating, overwhelming, and humbling at first. But I was so proud and excited for Mark, so I decided we were going to make this a great adventure. 11

3 Left: Despite his busy professional schedule, Frank Beatty participates in Air Force events with his wife, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. Here, James and Beatty enter the child development center at JB Charleston, S.C., last May. Inset: Beatty addressing AFA s 2014 Spouse and Family Forum. USAF photo by A1C Clayton Cupit Inset: Photo by Chester Simpson A friend shared a quote with me that really hit home and helped: It s not what you ARE that holds you back. It s what you think you ARE NOT. I thought about this and decided I CAN do this, because as a team, Mark and I are stronger and more effective, and this is absolutely a team sport! What words of encouragement would you like to convey to our Air Force family? Beatty: You work in the best Air Force in the world. It is a challenging and rewarding place to work. But as the world and its problems change, so must the Air Force. Your career is up to you: There are no jobs that are for life anymore. Take control of your career and if changes need to be made, embrace them as a path of something new and just as rewarding. Welsh: I would tell our families that despite all of the challenges with budgets that they read about, we still remain the greatest Air Force in the world! Our families are courageous, caring, and compassionate. And we will 12 continue to take care of each other and get our strength from each other. You are the best! Cody: First I d say, Thank you for your service. You have a lot to be proud of. Our families are so important to what we do in the Air Force. They are the backbone. Take out the support of our family members and we may fall apart as airmen and as an Air Force. I d encourage you to stay connected to each other. What we do today, and what we ve always done, together and for each other, is our legacy. We have to keep that going. We have to continue to encourage our families to look out for each other, and we have to get younger spouses and family members involved. We have a tradition of taking care of each other, and we should pay it forward by passing it on. Those of us involved with AFA s Airmen and Family Programs consider it our mission to help our Air Force support our Air Force family. What are ways we can continue to do this? Beatty: Supporting all airmen is one of the prime duties of being a part of the Air Force family. Supporting each other in times of need, illness, or injury is part of our core values. This is easier said than done, as we are all busy. Try to keep in mind how you would like your friends, coworkers, or other families to act if you were in a time of need. Giving back to others, or paying it forward, feels great. Welsh: We re grateful for all that the AFA Airmen and Family Programs team does for our airmen. In addition to the many support programs, such as the AFA Wounded Airman Program, and helping with the Air Force adaptive sports camps, AFA can continue to support the spouses and families at the individual bases through the Key Spouse Program and Airman and Family Readiness Centers. AFA can also sponsor support functions, conferences, and training that can help families stay connected and feel supported by their Air Force. AFA Airmen and Family Programs help make our Air Force families stronger!

4 USAF photo by SrA. Desiree Economides Adrienne Clark at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, asked: What support is available for the caregivers of our wounded, ill, and injured? Beatty: Great question, Adrienne. The Secretary and I recently attended a number of events at the 2014 Warrior Games held in Colorado Springs. It was very inspiring to watch all of the challenged service members compete in a wide range of sporting events. There are numerous in-person and online services available for caregivers of our wounded, ill, and injured. The in-person resources include Caregiver Personalized Experiences, Engagement, and Resources (PEER) forums/ Child care is provided so the caregivers can attend in person. Airman and Family Readiness Centers offer MFLC counseling services for the individual and family. Community readiness counselors provide information and referral services that include, but are not limited to, personal finance readiness and counseling services. Also, Military OneSource offers caregiver support through referral information at (800) There are also many online resources that offer assistance, such as: 1. The Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) website ( offers information on a variety of support TSgt. Jonathan Cooley speaks with Betty Welsh (second from right) and Athena Cody (right) during a tour of Yokota AB, Japan, with airmen s spouses from the base s 374th Airlift Wing, Aug. 27, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) support groups located at eight Air Force locations. For details, see: 2-peer-forums. These meetings are face-to-face and facilitated by military family life counselors (MFLCs) and are designed for caregivers to support each other through discussions. This program is being expanded to an additional 35 locations over the next year. venues, including the Virtual Caregiver Forum, Warrior Care Blog, Outreach Center for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, and Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL). Established in the Fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, SCAADL is a special monthly compensation for service members who incur a permanent catastrophic injury or illness. It is designed to help offset the loss of income by a primary caregiver who provides nonmedical care, support, and assistance for the service member. 2. The Defense Department s Warrior Care website ( dodlive.mil/caregiver-resources) provides resources, including the Caregiver Resource Directory, which includes the most commonly referenced resources for caregivers and recovering service members, as well as caregiver forum information, events and webinars, and call centers and hotlines. 3. Military OneSource website ( wounded-warrior?content_id=276858) offers information and links to caregiver programs and websites, including caregiver forums, financial webinars, and often-requested wounded warrior information. For online caregiver forums, DOD Warrior Care hosts its Virtual Caregiver Forum every fourth Thursday of the month. Military OneSource offers its Virtual Caregiver Forum every third Wednesday of the month. Welsh: In 2014, there were several initiatives launched to bring support and recognition to our caregivers. Thanks to many private studies, including one released by the RAND Corp. the first comprehensive, nationwide evidence-based needs assessment we now have better detail about the numbers of individuals serving as caregivers for military and veteran personnel, along with their needs, the resources available to them, and what we can do better as a leadership team and as a nation to support them. It s online, and I hope you ll look it up. To download the report, see: reports/rr499z1.html. Our caregivers are also benefiting from so many private organizations pitching in. For instance, in April 2014, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation ( 13e

5 USAF photo by Scott M. Ash Frank Beatty shares a laugh during a discussion at the Air Force s 2014 Corona Fall Spouse Conference at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Sept. 30, launched a national coalition spanning the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to support caregivers as part of a month to honor caregivers of military members. The White House is also on board, with First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joseph Biden, focusing the Joining Forces team on the PEER forums, launched in June Thanks to PEER forums, military family life counselors and recovery care coordinators at bases from all services are conducting programs and providing nonmedical counseling for our caregivers. (And they re also offering them online.) Adrienne, I hope you ll help us get the word out on these great programs, including pilot PEER forums that may be taking place in your area. Your Airman and Family Readiness Center has all of the information. Cody: Our caregivers for our wounded, ill, and injured airmen are an incredible source of strength. We count on them to provide critical support, and they must count on our Air Force to provide them the support they need to provide that care. We stood up a support program for our caregivers to meet that need. The program offers personalized 14e support and services to a variety of caregivers, including nonmedical care managers, recovery care coordinators, Airmen and Family Readiness Center staff, and more. You can find out more about the program at: families&caregivers. You can also send an to wounded.warrior@us.af.mil. Our caregivers are our unsung heroes whose compassion, sacrifice, and perseverance can sustain a warrior s heart. We will always make our support for them a priority. Becky Harris asked: Is there an online resiliency curriculum for spouses, families, and kids? Beatty: Becky, unfortunately at this time, there are no online courses related to resiliency tailored for spouses, families, and kids, or for the service members. This status is by design, as Air Force resilience skills are taught in live, face-to-face settings in small groups. Resilience skills are basic cognitive skills universally applicable to all ages and audiences; however, scenarios can be customized to enhance comprehension. Master resilience trainers and resilience training assistants are taught cognitive skills and are encouraged to utilize their own personal experiences and stories, as well as encourage participants to share their stories. Spouses, through the Air Force Key Spouse Program, are encouraged to train as resilience training assistants, which will help bridge the gap between the Comprehensive Airman Fitness culture in the work environment and our homes. However, in our ever-changing environment, perhaps we could revisit the ways in which resiliency is discussed. Cody: There are a number of resources available through Military OneSource. Although not a specific curriculum, there are many articles and videos that touch on resilience topics, including communication, stress reduction, and connecting during a deployment. The Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) project offers FOCUS World, a great resilience program that is available at select Air Force bases. Recently, much of the FOCUS World curriculum became available online at offering a variety of educational activities that families can do together,in addition to a private place for parents and kids to chat online. Becky Harris asked: What is the best way to get information on programs from military members home to spouses and families?

6 Cody: One of the challenges I often hear about from our family members is that our airmen do not bring the information home. It s true, but I know it s not because our airmen do not care. I believe it s simply because they often do not understand how important that information is for the family member. I d encourage you to take an active role: Schedule time into an evening a month to go over family concerns and challenges, and discuss the available programs; and go to the Airman and Family Readiness Center together. This really is a team adventure and the more you come together to discuss challenges and look at available programs, the stronger your team will be. I also encourage our public affairs and marketing teams to keep our families in mind when they develop communication plans. The more we put in the effort to reach our families, the more connected our families will feel to the mission and each other. Rohini W. of Falls Church, Va., asked: Why do we say Military OneSource, but when you call, you get roadblocks? Cody: Military OneSource has grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple years. Its service is expanding and more and more family members are reaching out to them for support, which is a good thing. Of course, every organization has its growing pains. I ve met with the leadership at Military OneSource numerous times and they understand the challenges and are working to make it easier for the family member to connect to their services. They recently established new contracts and built more teams to provide better service. I can tell you, they are absolutely committed to supporting our service members and their families. I ve seen the success of their programs, both firsthand and through the families we have met throughout our career. I have absolute confidence they will continue to be an excellent source for our airmen and their families for years to come. Mary Eckberg asked: What more can be done for geographically separated units in our Active Duty Air Force? More support for spouses is needed. Beatty: Thanks for the question, Mary. In a recent senior leader spouse meeting, we talked about our geographically separated units. The host or supporting installation s Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) can provide program information supporting spouses in a variety of mediums. The vast majority of Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Cody listens in during a meeting with members of the Key Spouse and enlisted spouses groups at Minot AFB, N.D., July 12, She spoke to them on issues like increasing their membership and providing assistance to military families new to the base. component spouse support programs are available electronically through websites or social media sites. Specialized spouse support programs, such as the Military Spouse Employment Partnership and Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, are available through Military OneSource. Also available in Military OneSource is My Career Advancement Account, or MyCAA, commonly referred to as Spouse Tuition Assistance, Key Spouse initial education, and periodic training updates. Delivery of A&FRC core functions, such as Air Force Aid Society support, personal financial readiness education, relocation assistance, military child education, the Transition Assistance Program, Exceptional Family Member Program-Family Support, and other information and referrals can be obtained through the supporting A&FRC. Susan G. of Fort Meade, Md., asked: Why is mandatory retirement at age 62 and not age 65? I know not many reach that age while on Active Duty, but it doesn t seem to mesh with the retirement age for the rest of society. Beatty: Susan, the mandatory retirement age of 62 for our regular commissioned officers in the grades below general and flag officer grades was established by law a number of years ago in 10 USC However, there are circumstances where extensions to the mandatory retirement age may be granted by the Secretary 15e USAF photo by A1C Stephanie Ashley

7 USAF photo by Scott M. Ash Welsh and Beatty spent time at the Warrior Wellness Program that the Air Force Academy Equestrian Center runs, Oct. 3, They learned how the program helps wounded warriors and their families through equine-assisted therapeutic techniques. The visit took place during the Air Force s 2014 Corona Fall Spouse Conference. On the right is Tatiana Perkins, an Air Force wounded warrior featured in Wingman Magazine s May 2014 issue: See Wounded Airmen Recover On and Off the Field, p. 6. of the Air Force, based on the specific needs of the Air Force and any unique circumstances. General and flag officers may serve until age 64 according to the law, 10 USC 1253, and those serving in lieutenant general (O-9) and full general (O-10) positions may be deferred to age 66 by authority of the Secretary of Defense, or even deferred to age 68 by authority of the President. I am not aware of any movement underway to extend the mandatory retirement age to a higher number of years. The Air Force Association s 2014 National Aerospace Teacher of the Year, Kaci Heins, asked: What types of careers do most airmen pursue when they leave the Air Force? At the AFA national conference in September 2014, a large majority of the ones I met seemed to be engineers, but I didn t know if that was the norm. Beatty: Good question, Kaci. After some checking, I learned that, unfortunately, we do not have a mechanism that tracks the careers of airmen after they leave the Air Force. 16e Rohini W. asked: Can you give us an update on Post 9/11 GI Bill in-state tuition for military dependents, and will it apply to dependents for as long as they are in school? Beatty: Rohini, the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill are regulated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA has not yet published guidance on the newly enacted law covering instate provisions. There are several differing interpretations of the law, which is why guidance from the VA has not yet been issued. The new law does not require schools to offer in-state rates to veterans and dependents. Rather, it requires the VA to disapprove programs under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill offered by schools that do not provide in-state rates to veterans and dependents for receipt of GI Bill funding. Upon receipt of any guidance from the VA, DOD and the services will pass along that information to their members and families. Rohini W. also asked: What message are you and your military spouses sending/conveying regarding the leave of absence pilot program? Does top leadership embrace it as a tool for exceptional performers? Beatty: Rohini, the Air Force leadership fully supports the Career Intermission Pilot Program to allow top performing individuals the flexibility to manage short-term conflicts between their service responsibilities and life/ family priorities. The strength of our Air Force is rooted in our airmen and their families. CIPP is one way the Air Force can do just that. Often an airman makes a permanent decision to separate from the Air Force in order to manage short-term life or family obligations or a crisis. The CIPP program, for top performing airmen, offers the flexibility to attend to personal and professional needs without having to sacrifice their family or personal well-being for career progression. J Paula Roy is AFA s director of Airmen and Family Programs.

8 They are motivated by their deep desire to serve and build resiliency within our Air Force family. Like you, they work hard at balancing the responsibilities and demands of family life with the challenges that arise when devoting themselves to a life of service. FRANK J. BEATTY Frank J. Beatty has been married since April 2013 to Deborah Lee James, 23rd Air Force Secretary. He was born in Scranton, Pa., and raised in northern Virginia. He is an accountant and auditor by trade and is currently director for regulatory compliance for Engility Corp. of Chantilly, Va. Beatty can proudly proclaim he s been in the Air Force family since Dec. 20, 2013, the day of James swearing-in. Paula Roy on the Air Force leadership spouses Photo by Michelle Padgett Athena Cody, Frank Beatty, Betty Welsh, and Paula Roy together at AFA s 2014 Spouse and Family Forum. BETTY L. WELSH Betty L. Welsh is married to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, 20th Air Force Chief of Staff. Born in Natick, Mass., she was raised in Oyster Bay on Long Island, N.Y. She has lived with her husband and children all over the world and within the continental United States during her husband s 22 assignments, including the Welshes latest adventure in Washington, D.C. Inspired by a call to serve, she s dedicated her life to supporting her family and the Air Force. ATHENA J. CODY Athena J. Cody is married to CMSAF James A. Cody, 17th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. She grew up in Auburn, Wash., and entered the Air Force in October 1984 as an air traffic controller. In 2006, she earned a promotion into the top one percent of the enlisted force, becoming a chief master sergeant. She retired from Active Duty in 2011, but continues to serve the Air Force by dedicating her efforts to caring for airmen and their families. 17