Team D-M helps military families COPE with deployments

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 32 families from the D-M community, Oct. 21, took part in Operation COPE, a weekend retreat designed for deploying Airmen and their families to strengthen relational ties and create opportunities for shared memories. 

The two-day retreat, which took place at a local Tucson hotel, offered a number of recreational activities, including horseback riding, bowling, and hiking among others. In addition, a number of educational activities focused on family readiness and on what families could possibly experience when an important member of the family structure is away for an extended period of time. 

"Strong family ties are crucial for our sustained readiness as Airmen and our ability to remain focused on and effectively execute the mission," said Captain (chaplain) Kim Bowen, the 355th Fighter Wing Chaplain. "It is our belief that programs like Operation COPE will allow us to reach out to deploying Airmen, their spouses and children and help them manage the unique demands that are placed upon them during times of separation and deployment." 

Operation COPE, which was planned, organized, and conducted by  the Integrated Delivery System (IDS), a collaboration of helping agencies on base, connects spouses of deploying Airmen with each other and to unit support systems. It also organizes support agencies to comprehensively meet the need of deploying Airmen along with educating Airmen and their spouses on how to cope with all phases of the deployment process including pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment. 

"Programs like Operation COPE allow me to meet other people experiencing the challenge of being separated from a spouse during a long deployment," said Jill Ward, whose husband is a Fuels Specialist who has been on four deployments during his 23-year career. "I learned a great deal from other spouses and I'm also happy to share my experience with spouses who have never been separated during deployments." 

The two-day retreat ended with an Island style buffet where families spent time meeting and socializing with other families. Staff Sgt Anthony Bennett, assigned to the 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said he believes Operation COPE is a great program and is happy to know his family will be taken care of and that they will be a part of the D-M community while he's away. 

Funding for Operation COPE was provided by the Air Combat Command Chaplains Office, the 355th Fighter Wing, and the Davis-Monthan AFB Chapel. Also, key to the retreats sucess was local community support coordinated through Tucson Community Cares, a local nonprofit organization committed to the well being of Airmen and their families at Davis-Monthan AFB along with support from the Airmen and Family Readiness Center. 

The 355th Fighter Wing IDS is planning more Operation COPE retreats in the future around upcoming Davis-Monthan deployments. Other programs for spouses include the Key Spouse program and Hearts Apart, both Airman and Family Readiness programs, and Waiting Warriors, a chapel-sponsored community outreach-- all of which offer valuable support to spouses during military deployments. For more information contact the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at 228-5690 or the D-M Chapel at 228-5411.