Heartlink welcomes new spouses into AF family Published Oct. 6, 2015 By Arlo Taylor 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- There is a saying that when you marry someone, you marry the family, too. The same holds true for the Air Force family. To welcome new spouses into the family, the Airman & Family Readiness Center offers their Heartlink class - aka Military Spouses 101. The class is designed to welcome new family members and share with the Air Force's unique language, culture and traditions. It's open to those new to the military and Little Rock Air Force Base, as well as those who want to learn more about the military and network with other spouses. The course covers the basics of the day-to-day life in the service. It shares the basics like the Air Force mission, military ranks, military time, decoding acronyms and even how to read a leave and earning statement. "The best part about this class is it helps military spouses feel as though they are not alone or left out in the dark when it comes to the military," said Kori Ramirez, A&FRC counselor. "They learn a lot of useful information and resources that can improve their lives and assist them throughout their family's military career." The class is designed as a relaxed forum where new spouses can ask the questions that they may be too shy to ask their spouses, as well as learn what new activities and opportunities are open to them. "While there is tons of great information, my deepest hope is that spouses leave with a sense of hope and knowledge of where to go to obtain all of the benefits and services that can make their lives easier," Ramirez said. One of the biggest benefits the class offers is learning to speak the language of the Air Force, said Charlotte Brown, spouse of Col. Charles Brown Jr., 19th Airlift Wing commander. "I'm relatively new Air Force Spouse. We have been married for three years and I had never been around the Air Force until we married and moved to Japan," Brown said. "I attended the Heartlink Class there and found it very useful. The Airman and Family Readiness Center staff were able to answer the basic questions I had for my husband like acronyms, how to read an LES and the jargon of military life - it was an eye-opening experience. "Learning the acronyms was very important. Knowing what they meant, I was better able to understand his job," she said. Even for those who have attended the class at another base, attending the class here to learn more about the local community and to get plugged in with other spouses at the base is recommended. "I was surprised by the services [the A&FRC] provide that aren't offered to families outside the military. The breadth of services and classes they offer like resume writing, financial management, Pregnancy 101 and job fairs," Brown said. "There is something for everyone, no matter what stage of life you are at --young Airmen, new parents and retiring members. Heartlink opens the door to everything offered through the A&FRC." Making connections is another of the class' lasting effects. It offers newbies with opportunity to meet other seasoned spouses who have experienced the challenges and changes that come with the Air Force lifestyle. "The biggest challenge for many of us spouses is embracing that change is the new constant in our life. Whether it's learning our way around a new duty station, which light switch controls which light in our new house, what our spouse's new schedule is going to be or how the new commander is going to handle the leave policy ... change is the only constant we can count on," said Molly Bennett, spouse of Col. Christopher Bennett, 19th AW vice commander. Heartlink serves a gateway program that prepares spouses for "what's next" - no matter what time in their careers. The key is making the most of the opportunities available. "The most important thing to remember is that each assignment is a new season and while some may last long than others, make the most out of each one. No matter how many places you've lived, how many times your neighbors changed or how much you 'loved the last' place, the new place is what you make of it," Bennett said. "And after 20-plus years of living this life, I can honestly say I look back at each base, each assignment and each house and find things that I love and are still a part of my daily life. Whether it's a friend I still stay in touch with, a habit I formed (like the winter survival kit in the car) or a favorite dish I learned to cook because of the culture we were living in, all of the places we have lived formed who I am today. Don't be afraid to embrace it for that season!" Heartlink classes are held quarterly and classes are already scheduled for the next year. The next session is held 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, in in the Walters Community Support Center. The introductory class barely scratches the surface of what the A&FRC offers Team Little Rock members and their families. For more information on the center's services and activities, visit www.littlerock.af.mil/units/airman&familyreadiness or call 501-987-2667.