Deployed Spouses Program assists those who serve

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  For more than five years, Aurora Military Housing staff at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson have supported the spouses of deployed service members with the Deployed Spouses Program.

The program, designed for spouses of active duty service members who are deployed or on a temporary duty assignment for more than 90 days, will have AMH staff removing snow of two inches or more from resident’s driveways and sidewalks during the snow season, and mowing and trimming yards in greener months.

In addition to the lawn care and snow removal service, AMH staff offer one non-traditional work order per month.

“We’ve had people ask us to help them put furniture together, hang up shelving, install a new shower head – things we would normally not do for them,” said Christy Anderson, Aurora Military Housing tenant manager.

The once-monthly service is marketed as “one hour’s worth of work,” however, AMH staff stress they see projects to the end.

“There was one resident who called and asked for assistance in putting a bed together,” Christy Anderson said. “The gentleman who went to complete the task couldn’t figure it out by himself, so he called for backup. Both employees were on site for several hours – [and were] able to complete the task.”

As soon as residents fill out a short enrollment form, either in person or online, and provide a copy of deployment orders to determine a start and end date of the service, they can take advantage of the Deployed Spouses Program.

Nicole Anderson, AMH tenant clerk, anticipates using the service should her spouse deploy.

“I think it’s a great service,” Anderson said. “Especially during the winter months. Not having to worry about taking care of your driveway – for me, not being used to that, it helps a lot.”

In 2012, when the Army deployed en masse AMH had more than 300 residents who signed up for the service, Christy Anderson said. In 2016, as many as 135 residents were enrolled at a given time.

“When service members deploy, they [sometimes] leave their families to tend [to] things they normally wouldn’t have to,” Christy Anderson said. “Families here might not know how to start a lawnmower or use a snow blower, which leaves them at a disadvantage, especially if they have kids or work.”

While AMH staff can’t make distress from a deployment disappear, they do their best to alleviate the burden and make life easier for military families at home.