The final voting has began for the Military Spouse of the Year. The overall 2011 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year (MSOY) will be announced and honored nationally in the June issue of Military Spouse magazine and at the fourth annual MSOY Awards Ceremony to be held on May 5, 2011. Our Marine Corps Spouse representative tells her story.
Our journey through the Marine Corps started when my then boyfriend stood on the yellow footprints in 1998. I was new to anything military, and we practiced learning the General Orders and rank structure together. Our first duty station was MCAS New River, and the air wing became our family. My husband is a CH-53E crew chief; I love the smell of helicopter fuel on a flight suit.
Jacksonville, N.C., taught me what the support of a military community feels like. We have since been to MCAS Yuma, Ariz., and will have orders from recruiting back to the fleet later this year.
When we received orders to recruiting duty, I heard all of the horror stories — the long hours, no holidays off, marital issues, etc. We arrived at Recruiting Station Raleigh in November 2008, with a teenager, a toddler, and a colicky 4-month-old baby in tow.
During my husband’s first days at work, he left before I woke up and came home after we were sleeping. I needed to get involved and do something productive with our 36-month tour. I contacted the unit sergeant major and said “put me in coach.” Together with command support, we revamped what family readiness looks like on independent duty.
As the Family Readiness Advisor, I implemented a meal delivery program that spanned the entire state of North Carolina, a unit newsletter that connected everyone to the vast resources available, and organized educational workshops. I am a mentor for the Marine Corps LINKS program, which has taken me up and down the east coast and allowed me to forge friendships I wouldn’t have otherwise had.
I currently attend Meredith College to pursue a degree in Business Administration, and I have utilized my MyCAA benefit to help fund education.
Earlier this month, Military Spouse Magazine honored me with the 2011 Marine Corps Spouse of the Year award. The award was based on volunteer work, education, personal sacrifice, and impact on the community.
The most rewarding part of this experience is that I get to represent the spouses from the strongest branch of the military! No stronger breed of people exists in this world then those who support our service members in their honorable service.
I am now competing against one winner from each of the other services for a National title that will allow me to represent all branches. I hope to make changes to educational opportunities and career advancement for my fellow spouses, while teaching spouses how to make the most out of their service member’s military career. Being a military wife isn’t about your husband’s job, it is about your lifestyle.
Anyone can vote from now until March 2nd at www.msoy.milspouse.com.