347th OG, MXG coordinate day to show thanks to military spouses

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman S.I. Fielder
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Endless deployments and 12-hour work days leave many military spouses alone at home to deal with the day-to-day hassles. 

The 347th Operations and Maintenance Groups held the first joint Spouses Appreciation Day Saturday at Moody’s flight line to show their thanks for that kind of support. 

“The real reason we wanted to do this was to show our appreciation to the spouses for all the support they have given to their military counterparts,” said Maj. Don Thomas, 347th Operation Support Squadron and project coordinator. 

The day began at 8 a.m. with a mandatory medical clearance briefing by the 347th Medical Group flight medicine doctors for the more than 100 spouses. The briefings allowed the spouses to safely participate in the day’s activities. 

“In the meantime, the (H)C-130s took off with the (pararescuemen) on board ready to begin their part of the day,” said Major Thomas. 

The PJs part was an EZ-DZ, an easy jump to a specific drop zone located in between the two runways. 

“It was neat,” said Cindy MacKenzie, wife of Lt. Col. David MacKenzie, 71st Rescue Squadron. “It looked like they had fun because they all landed standing up.” 

After watching the PJ demonstration, the spouses broke into smaller groups. While one group toured the 347th Operation Support Squadron’s Air Traffic Control tower and Radar Approach Control facility, another group received a briefing from the 347th OSS aircrew life support members before taking off on either a HC-130P/N or HH-60G Pave Hawk. 

“My husband worked on the (HH)-60 most of his career, and he retires next year,” said Melanie North, wife of Master Sgt. Timothy North, 347th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “So, this is my last chance to learn what he does because I don’t get to do that the rest of the year.” 

If the spouses weren’t on a tour or flying, they enjoyed a PJ display in the 347th AMXS / 41st Helicopter Maintenance Unit hangar. In the background was a slide show of what the Airmen accomplished during the year. 

“My husband has been away for parts of the year when our children were babies,” said Mrs. North. “That’s when I have to take care of things by myself. A lot of people don’t understand when they’re told to go, they have to go. 

“I know that time is precious, especially on the weekends,” she said. “It’s great they sacrificed a Saturday for us.” 

The day wrapped up with the families gathering for a luncheon that also served as Col. Eugene Haase’s, 347th OG commander, farewell. During the casual day, many of the military spouses stayed home with the children while their spouses were on the flight line. Maj. Don Russell, 347th AMXS commander, and his wife Carolyn, also set up child care for those who had no other option. 

“Some of the spouses who have flown before also offered their time to watch the children,” said Major Thomas. “It’s a joint effort. We wanted to do it all for the spouses, but they also wanted to help out.” 

The planning for this day began on a much smaller scale in January. Originally, the 71st Rescue Squadron planned to have spouse day. However, when Colonel Haase learned of their plans, he expanded it to include all spouses of the 347th OG and MXG, said Major Thomas. 

“By the middle of February, we had a better picture of what we wanted to do,” he said. “So, we began to put the word out to all the spouses. Originally, we planned three (air) lifts, but we added another to include everybody. So, it ended up being a little longer fly day for the aircrew.” 

Overall, the event provided the spouses an opportunity to understand what their counterparts’ jobs entail and everything it takes for the Air Force to work as a team and complete the mission. 

“They had the opportunity to see what their spouse’s do, so they can relate and make life better,” said Col. Bryan Glynn, 347th MXG commander. “My focus is to make my people happy. When they can come to work happy because their spouse understands what they have to do for their country, it’s great. 

“I tell my maintainers their best friends are the spouses of any crewmember because the spouses have to trust they’re providing an aircraft that is safe to fly on,” he said. “We continue to do anything we can to provide a safe and serviceable aircraft so the spouses can sleep at night.”