A/TQ covers - Airlift/Tanker Association

The primary purpose of the AMC Key Spouse of the Year Award is to recognize an AMC Key Spouse who has
diligently worked with unit leadership to plan, coordinate, and execute the unit’s Key Spouse Program.
The program impacts mission readiness and retention by ensuring families have
appropriate information and resources to meet their needs.
The AMC Key Spouse of the Year is
selected by AMC leadership.
Laura F. Holliday
It’s easy to become fixated on images of maintainers and aircrews
when talk turns to deployments, but the truth is mission success
requires an entire team. Mobility Airmen never
know when the next call will come and they will
be asked to leave their families to help others in
need…when they’ll have to say goodbye instead
of goodnight. Air Force families are the foundation
that supports Airmen. They depend on a robust
network to support them, to wrap their arms
around them when they face unforeseen challenges.
This year’s Key Spouse Award winner, Mrs.
Laura Holliday, is a poignant reminder that every
Airman, no matter their role, is critical to accomplishing
the mission. Laura exemplifies what it
means to be an Airman.
Laura was hand‐picked as a key spouse for the 423
Airmen of the 6th Security Forces Squadron, Mac-
Dill AFB, Florida. She is part of the Air Force story,
part of the family history as an “Air Force Brat.”
She’s the daughter of retired Chief Master Sergeant
Stanley Cheek and now an Air Force Spouse, married for ten years to
Technical Sergeant Wayne Holiday, Jr. Even with a full time job and
raising a nephew, Bryan, she charged into her role as a key spouse with
unparalleled dedication and vigor. She was the key point of communication
between hundreds of dependents and 6th SFS leadership.
Laura rejuvenated the key spouse program by starting with the
basics, ensuring new Squadron families were welcomed and their
questions and concerns were answered from day
1. She was there every time the Squadron’s Airmen
headed out, making sure the family they left
behind knew their phone calls would always be
answered…making sure they knew they were not
“on their own.” She followed up on her words with
actions, providing child care on short notice for
a spouse with a medical emergency, and making
sure Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were
large family affairs.
Laura leveraged her full‐time position as a customer
service manager with a major banking institution
to open up financial stewardship classes
for everyone in the Squadron and reached beyond
MacDill to the greater Tampa community with
food drives and financial education for middle
school students. Like all key spouses, Laura will
tell you it’s not about big projects, or big numbers;
sometimes it’s about the ability to touch just one life, on one day
for the better. In her role as a key spouse, she has certainly touched
lives that will be bettered for years to come. The Airlift/Tanker Association
congratulates Laura, and all key spouses for the impact
they make every day.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of others.”
–Mahatma Gandhi
Key spouses are specially trained volunteers that promote individual, family and unit readiness. They are a support system that encourages peer-to-peer support
year-round. They meet the vital needs of spouses and provide an informal sounding board through an informal network. They are a part of the leadership team
in each unit. The AMC Key Spouse program evolved from an idea to develop an organized program where military spouses help other spouses. Key Spouses work
closely with the commander, commander’s spouse, First Sergeant, and the Airman and Family Readiness Center.
A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2012
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