As we just celebrated the mother of all American holidays, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in being a military spouse, especially an Army one! My pride in this fact does not always manifest itself in an over-the-top “We can do it- HOOAH” mantra (but in all honesty, I have flexed my bicep during a few solo PCS moves and deployments).
Lately, that pride I feel comes from getting to know my fellow spouses and their unassuming strength and courage. It comes from seeing their sacrifice and service, and the way they handle things with grace and with grit.
Whether you have 3 or 30 years under your belt as a military spouse, I hope that you have found the following two things to be true in your own personal experience:
This life we live comes with unique challenges and rewards.
The people on the journey with us are inspiring.
If you find yourself agreeing with these truths, then please read on… for you are among the Cadre of Mighty Military Spouses!
Who Exactly is a Mighty Military Spouse?
All of us! We come from all walks of life but we share one important thing: we love and are committed to a member of the U.S. military. You could run a small country with the underused talent of military spouses. We are doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, health and fitness professionals, writers, journalists, business consultants, counselors, small business owners, stay-at-home moms, social workers, as well as former soldiers and leaders.
I had an incredible opportunity this past year to work on a project that celebrates the unique role of the military spouse. Each year, a group of volunteer U.S. Army War College student spouses creates a useful reference promoting self-reliance as well as enhancing individual and family well-being.
This year’s project, titled “The Mighty Military Spouse,” draws on personal experience and countless hours of detailed research. We developed a series of videos and a complimentary Resource Guide that military spouses can use to educate themselves and others as well as mentor, coach, and advise military spouses and families in their communities.
Topics covered include self-care strategies, dealing with PCS moves and crises, guiding teenagers through multiple moves while applying for college, developing and maintaining friendships, and leaving a lasting legacy.
The materials listed below have come a long way from our initial brainstorming meeting back in August 2017. Putting 40 Mighty Military Spouses in one room created enough energy to warrant a hurricane naming from the National Weather Service!
With so many resources available to our modern military community, we wanted to create something personal, accessible, and applicable to a wide range of Mighty Military Spouses. Simply put, we wanted to give our community a starting point for discussing ideas and finding ways to support each other.
Because we are all mighty in our own way and our lifestyle is not for the faint of heart.
**The videos and an electronic version of the Resource Guide are available on the US Army War College Military Family Programs site.
**Each topic is a stand-alone opportunity to gain knowledge and insight from some seasoned spouses and what they have experienced.
***This article was originally punblished on July 8, 2018
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