Grissom to host family meet, greet events

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen
  • 434th Air Refueling Public Affairs
“What does my husband do in the Air Force?”


“How can I meet other family members?”
Every month, more than 1,500 Air Force Reservists from more than 20 states make their way to Grissom Air Reserve Base. Many family members who stay behind feel they are left in the dark.

In an effort to improve morale and welfare of Team Grissom, Senior Master Sgt. Eric Vance, 434th Air Refueling Wing Yellow Ribbon representative, is working to integrate family members at Grissom through a series of family meet and greet events to serve as a reminder that the Air Force family extends beyond those who wear the uniform.

“We’re trying to get more family involvement to get the families of our military members more comfortable with Grissom,” Vance said.

Vance said that while the first meet and greet event concluded in September, the second meet and greet event is scheduled for 10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in room 116 of Bldg. 596, in conjunction with the 434th ARW holiday party.

“Three key things that attendees will get out of this meet and greet event is interaction, friendship and familiarization,” Vance said.

Vance said anyone who assists with military members are encouraged to come, to include spouses, partners, uncles, grandparents – anyone who would benefit from learning about Air Force lifestyle.

“Since we’re not an active-duty base, the resources are a little hard to find sometimes,” he added. “We don’t have that structure that active duty has where you can go talk to your neighbor about what’s going on. We’re hoping these events will give family members information so that they know the benefits that are available to them, as well as become familiar with the base.”

The December meet and greet event will also provide activities for children,

Vance is working with the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Key Spouses to host more meet and greet events in the future.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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