Key Volunteer Coordinator (808) 477-0172  Contact
Family Readiness Officer  (808) 477-8366  Contact

Headquarters and Service Battalion's Key Volunteers

The Key Volunteer Network is a command-sponsored group of spouses that assists the commander with a variety of family readiness objectives. Most commonly, Key Volunteers provide three distinct but closely related services.

• Key Volunteers provide a communications link between the commander and the families of the Marines and Sailors in the unit. Should the commander need to pass information to the families, the commander will call upon the Key Volunteer Network to help get the word out. While they’re best known for passing command information over a telephone tree, Key Volunteers may also update web-sites, send e-mail notes, write newsletters, and mail out fliers.

• In a reverse communications flow, Key Volunteers teach the families how to take their concerns back to the command. For instance, should a family be having difficulty getting appropriate service through the housing office, the commissary or any other official Marine Corps agency, the Key Volunteer can guide the family to the appropriate contact within the command to help resolve the issue. Command support is a powerful tool for the families in getting the service they deserve!

• Information and referral is what they do most. This begins with helping the families prepare for unexpected emergencies. Then, when a crisis does arise, the families turn to the Key Volunteers first for information and referral services. By helping Marine and Navy families learn about the support available, Key Volunteers help the families become more self-sufficient and self-confident.

Key Volunteers are leaders in building a community atmosphere within the unit. They do this by being a friendly voice on the phone, by helping families get in touch with one another, by providing support for command-sponsored "meet and mingle" events, by giving emotional and moral support when needed and by providing a positive role model for others.

History

The MARFORPAC Key Volunteer Network, which started in 1994, was founded by Mrs. Zandy Krulak, Janel Howell and Steff Mederow. It's purpose was to serve all Marines and families on the Leeward (Camp Smith) side of Oahu.  By examining the unique needs of the families of MARFORPAC, they began to find avenues of support all the while recruiting new volunteers to expand that support. 

Miscellaneous Information

Though a part of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Camp Smith sits approximately 18 miles from the major Marine Base at Kaneohe.  Some MARFORPAC families reside on Kaneohe Bay while most military families reside in Pearl City, Aiea, or Honolulu. MARFORPAC is located above Pearl Harbor on Halawa Heights Road. 

Because of Camp Smith's unique location we have unique needs.  The Marines and their families living here on the Leeward side have the advantage of utilizing four different military base facilities to offset the few services available on Camp Smith.   In addition to utilizing the services and facilities at Marine Corps Base Hawaii - Kaneohe Bay, the following bases are accessible to the MARFORPAC families:

• Hickam Air Force Base
• Pearl Harbor
• Schofield Barracks
• Ft. Shafter