Couple spends time, law degrees giving to Maxwell community Published July 9, 2010 By Kimberly L. Wright Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell is the first base where Gretchen Elameto immersed herself in volunteering, and she's found a new way to enjoy being a military spouse. "I loved it," she said. "It's actually been really, really rewarding. I've made so many friends. This is the first time that I haven't worked, and just doing volunteering, it kept me pretty busy." She and her husband, Maj. Sean Elameto, the executive officer to the commandant of The Judge Advocate General's School, have contributed mightily to the community in the two years they've been stationed at Maxwell. Mrs. Elameto served as Key Spouse for the Judge Advocate General Corps on base and also served as officers spouses college co-chair of programs. Major Elameto has volunteered in a variety of capacities. "The Elameto family is well-deserving of recognition for their selfless and lasting contributions to our community," said Lt. Col. Peter W. Teller, deputy commandant of The Air Force Judge Advocate General's School. In addition to his JAG School duties, Major Elameto volunteered in March of Dimes, Relay for Life and as a mock trial judge for junior and high schools. He also organized a Law Day mock trial play for elementary students, served as a mock trial coach for high school teams and as a community league basketball coach for boys and girls teams. He also volunteered to put together a ball for senior citizens at an assisted living home. His honors include multiple Company Grade Officer of the Quarter and Company Grade Officer of the Year awards. He plays classical guitar, and displays his musical talents at church, recruited by his wife to join the bell choir at the Wesleyan Church in Prattville. "I made very good friends at that church, friends for life," he said. Mrs. Elameto became involved with the Key Spouse Program months before it became a mandatory program, invited by Col. Tonya Hagmaier, commandant of the JAG School. She noted the need was great because of the number of JAG spouses on base. "There are a ton of them," she said. "There are a lot more JAGs on this base then there are on the typical base." Leadership lauded Mrs. Elameto's achievements as a Key Spouse. "As one of the first Key Spouses many of the students ever meet, she plays an essential role in the success of the Key Spouse Program throughout the JAG Corps," said Colonel Teller. Mrs. Elameto promoted the program to hundreds of JAG students, outlining the importance and benefits of it at their bases and within their offices, and welcomed new spouses into the Air Force family. "For our faculty, Gretchen maintains constant contact with spouses of deployed members, marshalling resources and providing warm, friendly and heartfelt moral support," Colonel Teller noted. "She led the way for monthly coffees and girls' night out events for unit spouses. She ensures that no family member's needs go unattended as she organizes meals for new moms, families coping with illnesses and, of course, families of deployed faculty members. She is a vital link with all of our family members, passing on information regarding base activities, military specials, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. In short, she is the perfect key spouse." The Key Spouse Program also helped Mrs. Elameto meet people on base. Before her involvement, "I really hadn't met anybody" at Maxwell, she admitted, because she was commuting back and forth from her previous job out-of-state. "I have met friends that will be lifetime friends, and I encouraged other people to do it and become more involved," she said. She is also an active board member of the Officer Spouse's Club, co-chair for the social committee and a member of the charitable committee. She collects and delivers donations from OSC members to the local women's shelter, base food pantry, Montgomery Humane Society and veteran's hospital. The Elametos have a dog named Justice, who joined their family after they graduated law school in Hawaii. "Both Sean and I are attorneys, so it is an appropriate name," she said. They both hail from Saipan, an island in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Major Elameto has served in the Air Force for 7 years. "I joined because I've always dreamed of serving in the military," he said. "The JAG Corps provided me the perfect opportunity to serve my country while maintaining a career in law." Their experience at Maxwell has been memorable. "It's been an awesome experience being an instructor at the JAG School and I would do it again in a heartbeat," said Major Elameto. Mrs. Elameto said living here gave her a first taste of living on base, which she loved, though the family had to leave their base home earlier than scheduled when it was demolished as part of the housing downsizing. "I loved the sense of community and military lifestyle," she said. "It was a great experience. It was really rewarding." Maxwell was their third assignment "and we've loved every single one," she said. "There's no such thing as a bad assignment." The near future holds for them another move, as they are set to relocate in August to Washington, D.C., for a 10-month assignment. As part of the Year of the Air Force Family, Maxwell's Airman and Family Readiness Center is putting families in the spotlight based on their accomplishments, sacrifices and volunteer efforts.