Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Destry Ditto and his wife, Captain Sarah Ditto, Chaplain with the 179th Airlift Wing,...... read more read more
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As Michael J. Fox said, “Family is not an important thing, it’s everything”, and at the 179th Airlift Wing, that saying is taken to heart. knowing that when Wing member’s families are taken care of, the members are able to perform at their maximum potential to get the job done, wherever their military duties may send them.
For Destry Ditto, Key Spouse for the 179th Airlift Wing, taking care of families is the number one priority in his role as a Key Spouse.
The Key Spouse Program offers not just one specific service, but a multitude of services to families of 179th members, said Ditto.
“We can react and respond to any need there may be,” said Ditto. “We are not locked down to one specific program to offer, if there’s a need can respond and help out. That is the main focus, to respond to whatever need cannot be filled through the regular military channels.”
Ditto became a Key Spouse after seeing the impact the Key Spouse Program had when his wife, Captain Sarah Ditto, Chaplain with the 179th Airlift Wing Chaplain Corps, was deployed.
“My family had been helped quite a bit by Family Readiness and the Key Spouse Program,” said Ditto. “When my wife was deployed we ran into childcare issues and they helped us out, so I wanted to return the favor.”
Key Spouses like Ditto are a vital part of the Ohio Air National Guard, assisting families when their family member may not be accessible.
“We help by letting the Airmen know their families are being taken care of,” said Ditto. “We provide the peace of mind knowing there is someone there to help with anything your family may need when you can’t be there for them. That peace of mind goes a long way in making the deployment less traumatic for the member and the whole family.”
In speaking of the success of the program, Ditto credits it to the volunteers, and encourages anyone interested in volunteering to reach out to Emily Bachman with Airman and Family Readiness.
“The people are the most important resource,” said Ditto, “There’s always someone willing to help in any way we can.”
Ditto encourages the members of the 179th and their families to not keep their needs to themselves, as there are people who want to help. The Chaplain Corps, Air Force Connect App, and leadership across the base are some of the avenues that can help direct you to the Key Spouse program.
“If you have a need, don’t be afraid to ask,” said Ditto. “there are a lot of resources out there, they are not always easy to find but if you have a problem or need someone to talk to, there is someone out there for you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2019 13:25 |
| Story ID: | 319498 |
| Location: | MANSFIELD, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Key Spouse Program Provides Support to Families, by TSgt Alexis Wade, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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