Spouse appreciation

Members of the 71st Security Forces Squadron demonstrate a method they use to engage an opposing force called "shoot, move and communicate" during Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9 at the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance building at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. Shoot, move and communicate is a combat technique that emphasizes teamwork by having team members alternate the use of suppressing fire and moving forward. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Frank Casciotta)

Spouse appreciation

Security forces spouses listen to a briefing about the weapons and techniques members of the 71st Security Forces Squadron employ while performing their duties during Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9 at the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance building at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Frank Casciotta)

SFS show appreciation to their spouses

Published May 14, 2014
By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- Spouses of Airmen in the 71st Security Forces Squadron toured the squadron May 9 for Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

The five spouses were escorted around base to see the different parts of the 71st SFS mission.

"We wanted to give them an understanding of what we do on a day-to-day basis and see how what we do really matters and how their support is crucial for us to complete our mission," said Tech. Sgt. Bradley Hancock, a 71st SFS combat arms training and maintenance instructor.

The tour made nine stops around the base to receive mission briefs and demonstrations. One stop was the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance building.

The spouses got to observe how Security Forces engage an opposing force using a method called "shoot, move and communicate." Shoot, move and communicate puts emphasis teamwork using suppressing fire to keep adversaries pinned down while teams advance, alternating between shooting and moving forward.

"I really liked the tour. It was really fun and done very well," said Muriel Weathers, spouse of Tech. Sgt. Christopher Weathers. "I got a new appreciation for what my husband does every day."

Observing Military Spouse Appreciation Day began when President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5184 in 1984 recognizing the importance of spousal support.