ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The spouses of base leaders toured multiple facilities across the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma as part of an annual leadership spouse tour, November 19, 2020.
The tour provided an opportunity for the spouses to learn about wing resources available to Airmen and their families, as well as share their own stories and experiences.
“The tour is a wing commander initiative to further involve leadership spouses to be familiar in base activities and to be able to pass information down to other spouses,” said Gail Hargis, 97th AMW chief of protocol. “This tour also allows an open exchange of information between leadership and spouses to trade input about matters that benefit Airmen of the installation.”
While on the tour, spouses visited the medical group, child development center, base exchange multi-purpose room, outdoor recreation facility, Freedom Community Center, and Airman & Family Readiness Center. These tour stops were selected because they primarily focus on morale and welfare services available on the installation.
“The locations we visited on the tour were very informative, and it was really cool to learn about all the opportunities which families can have by utilizing these facilities on base,” said Colleen Pavelschak, the spouse of Col. Jason Pavelschak, 97th AMW vice commander. “Having accurate information to pass along to other families is valuable. The base has a lot of great opportunities for members to get involved and to stay active in the community.”
Pavelschak said the event was useful in helping the 10 spouses who attended connect with one another.
“The tour was a great way for us to spend time going around the base and with other spouses of leadership from the base,” she said. “This tour was a great way to link up with some of the newer spouses, since current circumstances have allowed limited interactions. Overall, I felt like everyone was thankful for the opportunity the day brought and thankful to be a part of this base community.”