Travis Reservists pivot weekend duties to 'Focus on the Family'

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Stephen J. Collier
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  To get a better understanding of something, sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective. Even if that perspective comes at 10,000 feet.

That's the altitude more than 65 spouses of the 349th Air Mobility Wing flew out at while experiencing the unit's first Focus on the Family event Oct. 25, 2014. Aimed at exposing families to the many facets of the Air Force Reserve program, Focus on the Family allowed many spouses to take part in orientation flights aboard Travis's KC-10, C-5 and C-17 aircraft fleet. Later, each got a first-hand briefing on the benefits and entitlements available to them as spouses of Air Force Reserve members, as well as a barbecue luncheon, sharing the fellowship of being part of the 349th AMW family.

"Focus on the Family is all about showing the spouses that we care," said Brittney Cippola, Director of the 349th AMW's Airman and Family Readiness office. "They are part of the Reserve military family we have here at Travis, and even if they live outside of the local area, it's important for them to feel that connection."

The event, in the making for several months, came about from outreach conducted to the spouses of those Reserve members either deployed, or preparing to deploy. By shifting the outreach to both deployed and non-deployed spouses, senior 349th AMW leaders aimed to inform as many spouses as possible, on the benefits and entitlements available to Reserve spouses.

After seeing up close and personal what her husband does while on duty at Travis, Maya Montojo, whose husband Staff Sgt. Vince Montojo is a boom operator with the 79th Air Refueling Squadron, said his job was "cool".

"It was pretty awesome to know exactly what he does," she said laughing. "The part where I got to see the other plane refueling us was neat. I didn't realize how close they get until I got to see it for myself. I can definitely see (his job) is a little more dangerous than I thought."

The wing is scheduled to host the next Focus on the Family event Nov. 8, during the November A-Flight Unit Training Assembly. Already, Cippola said organizers are working to make the event even better.

"Events like Focus on the Family allow us to show our spouses they aren't alone, they see what one another is going through," she said. "By experiencing this event, we felt our spouses could also feel the camaraderie their service members feel when they come out here, but they could have that relationship amongst other spouses."

For more information on spouses connecting with the 349th AMW's Airman and Family Readiness office, call (707) 424-7600. 
(For more photos from this event visit the 349th AMW Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/349AMW)