Features

Planning for the worst: Surviving spouse workshop

July 20, 2018
Story and photos by Airman 1st Class D. Blake Browning
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs,
Denise Schleyer, 86th Airlift Wing Retiree Activities Office consultant, speaks with retirees during a one-on-one counseling at the ‘What A Surviving Spouse Needs To Know’ workshop on Ramstein Air Base, July 14. Following the workshop, counselors encouraged attendees to compile a folder of important documents and return to the Retiree Activities Office for review to ensure they are best prepared in the event of a death.

Training, exercises, and plans are known to occur throughout a service member’s career over time; these readiness tools prepare service members with the knowledge and equipment to carry out the mission day to day.

The 86th Airlift Wing Retiree Activities Office continues this precedent with the ‘What A Surviving Spouse Needs To Know’ workshop on Ramstein Air Base.

“The surviving spouse workshop came about as an idea during a meeting at the retiree activities office,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. Jim Barrante, 86th Airlift Wing Retiree Activities Office senior consultant. “We noticed a lot of people don’t know what to do in the event their spouse dies.”

The workshop, held once per quarter, educates retirees, their spouses, next of kin, or agent of power of attorney about what to expect following the loss of life while overseas.
During the workshop, representatives from casualty assistance, mortuary affairs, the base legal office, and Department of Veteran Affairs among other organizations brief attendees on a variety of different topics aimed at preparing for the passing of a spouse.

“In my opinion, it’s more difficult on the spouse rather than the retiree especially over here in Europe,” said Barrante. “Majority of spouses don’t know what a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or what an honorable discharge is.”

Barrante continued saying, after presentations by the different organization representatives, counselors perform one-on-one counseling. During the counseling session attendees go through a casualty assistance checklist, which is a ‘show and tell’ of important documents one would need in the event a spouse passes away.

Retirees speak with representatives from the base legal office, and Department of Veteran Affairs among other organizations at the ‘What A Surviving Spouse Needs To Know’ workshop on Ramstein Air Base, July 14. The workshop, held once per quarter, educates retirees, their spouses, next of kin, or agent of power of attorney about what to expect following the loss of life while overseas.

Following the event, attendees are encouraged to complete the dossier and return to the retiree activities office for review to ensure they are best prepared in the event of a death.
The quarterly workshop is slated to be held again Nov. 17. For additional information the 86th Airlift Wing Retiree Activities Office can be reached in building 2120 also at 06374-47-5486.

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