Spouses program helps those back home

With the impending deployment of 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Aurora Military Housing officials are working to remind family members of the benefits of their Deployed Spouse Program.

Available to all families of active duty service members living in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson housing, the program lends a hand during longer military deployments, temporary-duty assignments and many hardship situations.

“The Deployed Spouse Program is a service we offer for any active duty service member who is deployed or TDY for longer than 90 days,” said Chris Anderson, AMH tenant manager. “We provide lawn service outside of the fenced yard, snow removal from all of the areas of the tenant’s responsibility after accumulation has reached two inches or more, and one non-traditional work order a month that we wouldn’t normally do.”

Rachel Hodgson, AMH general manager, said non-traditional work orders may include jobs like installing a new television, moving in a piano, moving large items, hanging holiday lights, or assembling new furniture. On one occasion, Hodgson said, an AMH crew moved a block of ice to the residence of an ice sculpture artist looking to practice her craft.

Service members and family can sign up by visiting the AMH office at JBER or by logging in at http://auroramilitaryhousing.com/residents/dsp.

Hodgson said the service is available for shorter deployments if units submit a request. She said the latest example of supporting such a request was during 4/25th IBCT’s recent month-long deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

“As long as we know who those folks are, we want to step in and help – even if it’s for a shorter duration of time,” she said.

Anderson said the program is also available to wounded warriors while they are recovering.

Daniel Gregoire, AMH logistics manager, said residents should apply when they are under a hardship not specified in the program outline.

“Even if your situation doesn’t exactly align with the fine print, we do encourage people to apply for the program,” Gregoire said. “We consider every request and we evaluate each on a case-by-case basis. We want this service to benefit as many service members as possible.”

Hodgson said the intent of the program is to help residents through a separation when all of the household burdens fall on one spouse. She said she recalls when her husband deployed, and she relied heavily on his unit for help around the house.

“We hope to take the burden off our residents who choose to live here at JBER as well as the burden to those units who are understaffed when they have folks deployed,” Hodgson said. “We’ll take care of those things … so the military unit doesn’t have to.”

Hodgson said the program has been available since AMH took over base housing, and family members have expressed their appreciation for the available help.

“Residents are appreciative when they know they don’t have to be up in the wee hours of the morning shoveling snow or up at night when they’re putting kids to bed,” she said. “We understand military members and their families contend with a lot of challenges day to day –

some planned, some unplanned. We’re here to help, and we’ll do whatever it takes.”

For information, visit the AMH website or call the office at 753-1023.