Spouse of Ross Stowers, E7, U.S. Navy
Base/installation where spouse is stationed: Naval Station Norfolk
Duty station unit: VAW-123
Years as a military spouse: 19
Number of PCS moves: 3
Number of deployments: 6
How do you balance family/work/military life?
Balance, for me, isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about knowing what matters most in each moment and giving myself permission to shift focus as needed. As a military spouse, a mom, a volunteer, and someone who supports both my family and our larger community, I’ve learned that balance comes from setting boundaries, building support systems, and letting go of the idea that I have to do it all alone.
I lean into time management and planning, but I also leave room for grace—because the mission changes, kids need more one day and less the next, and sometimes I need to pause and recharge too. I balance by being present where my feet are, and by surrounding myself with a community that reminds me I don’t have to carry every burden alone. That’s how I stay grounded—and that’s how I thrive.
…And planners - I have to write everything down - and have it organized or I skip it entirely!
Tell us briefly about your military spouse background.
I married the love of my life, Ross, at just 19 years old—right after Navy boot camp in Chicago, Illinois. From that moment on, I embraced the military life head-on. Our first stop was Norfolk, Virginia for Ross’s A-school, but soon after, we began our adventure across the country in Ventura County, California with VAW-116.
It was during our time there that I met Ombudsman Tami Sequeira, whose compassion and strength deeply inspired me. Tami didn’t just model what it meant to serve families— she lit the spark that would fuel my own journey of service. Because of her, I committed myself fully to the ombudsman program and all it stands for: strength, connection, and unwavering support for military families.
Our military journey hasn’t been without heartache—I experienced miscarriage before the births of both of our children. But in the midst of it all, joy came too. Our daughter Zoey was born in Oxnard, California on Christmas Eve 2009, and after one final PCS back to Hampton Roads, Virginia, our son Mason arrived on January 12, 2012.
Now, nearly 19 years married (and counting!), Ross and I are beginning to look toward retirement. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been full of love, growth, and purpose—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
What is the best part of being a military spouse?
The best part about being a military spouse has been the incredible friendships I’ve formed all over the world. While our biological families are often far away, I’ve learned that military life allows you to choose your family—those who truly get you, who support you through the ups and downs, and who become your rock no matter where you’re stationed.
Living this life has taught me so much about independence. You have to be self-reliant when you’re far from home, but in doing so, you also discover just how strong you are.
It’s those friendships—the ones you build with fellow military spouses—that make this life feel like home, no matter where you are. Even though we might not have our families nearby, we create our own tribe, and that bond is something truly special.
Volunteer Service Highlights:
Most of these roles exceed 5 years but I have held the following all at least between 2020 and 2025.
Navy Ombudsman (15 years): Supporting military families through deployments, emergencies, and everyday challenges with compassion and consistency.
PTA President & Advocate (8 years): Representing and uplifting students and families at both the state and local levels, working to improve education and school support.
Turn to Dawna Stowers, Page 7
Active duty spouse: Brandon Fountaine, ETN2, U.S. Navy
Base/installation where spouse is stationed: Naval Station Norfolk
Duty station unit: USS Stennis
Number of years as a military spouse: 7
Number of PCS moves: 2
Number of deployments: 0
How do you balance family/work/military life?
Reading, gardening, volunteering, training animals. But mostly lots of reading!
Tell us briefly about your military spouse background.
I’ve been a Navy spouse for 7 years now, and have spent most of the time with my husband in schooling for his job in Charleston SC and now here in RCOH. I’ve spent these years homeschooling our children, helping out in the schools, as well as getting our family involved where ever we feel called to help!
What is the best part of being a military spouse?
The community for sure, our children have learned some great social skills and their ability to make friends and face obstacles is strong. The opportunities to prove to myself
I can do hard things has always been rewarding as well.
Volunteer service highlights:
Girl Scouts Leader since 2020
Norfolk Animal Shelter - 2021
ASYMCA - 2022 - 2023 (now I work here)
Foodbank of Southeastern VA - off and on since 2022
Hosting Easter and PCS events/giveaway with my daughter in our military housing - since 2021
COMPASS - 2025
Operation Homefront since 2020
School PTA Board - 2025
Bluestar Families - 2020
What have you learned from being a military spouse/ words of wisdom/ advice for other military spouses?
That’s it’s OK to have hard days and it’s OK to not love this life all the time, because its HARD. The best thing I’ve learned to get involved. Whether its in the military community or the local community, find something you can be part of. When you invest yourself and into your community, it helps give you a sense of belonging and helps you find friends and what I like to call “geographical family.”
Share some fun facts about yourself.
I have been told my hair is a beacon and its something my OLL students look forward too as I change the color frequently. I have an affinity for attracting and collecting interesting animals so I have a tarantula and a chinchilla along with my service dog and other animals. I also enjoy hiking, concerts, and going on adventures!
What is one thing military families are facing that you would like to see improved?
Lack of community and communication. When people PCS, especially to a place as large as HR, they are often left with questions about resources and unsure how to find answers. Its very easy to feel alone, which creates a further issue with creating community. Share one of your best experiences as a military spouse.
While teaching OLL one day, one of my mommas in class was breaking down because she was scared about complications she was having with her pregnancy. Her spouse was also being deployed last min and she was stressed. Immediately, other moms in the class
Active duty spouse: Austin Finney, E5, U.S. Navy
Base/installation where spouse is stationed: Naval Station Norfolk
Duty station unit: USS Nitze
Number of years as a military spouse: 7
Number of PCS moves: 4
Number of deployments: 1
How do you balance family/work/military life?
Balance? That word still makes me laugh.
Let’s be real, it’s not balance. It’s divinely guided chaos. I still run on massive amounts of coffee, an abundance of grace, and a whole lot of Jesus. From the outside, it might look like I’m juggling it all with ease, but those closest to me know it’s more like organized surrender.
I’m a mom of four, and every one of our children has special needs. I homeschool them while working full-time, running my own business, and pursuing my master’s in discipleship ministry. I’m a military spouse, which means my life is basically one big lesson in flexibility, and my husband, while active duty in the Navy, is also a full-time student working toward his master’s to become a chaplain. Yes, our house is powered by prayer and Google Calendar.
Over the last few years, my life has been marked by both miracles and heartbreak. I’ve survived multiple miscarriages, experienced a heart attack, endured a complicated pregnancy, and undergone multiple heart surgeries. I became pacemaker-dependent at just 32. I travel with a service dog and require accommodations wherever I go. In fact, I had my sixth heart surgery just yesterday, and I’m still going.
But in the middle of all that, I’ve said yes to God again and again. I completed my degree in Christian Counseling with an emphasis in Crisis Counseling and Military Resiliency from Liberty University, fulfilling a dream to offer free, faith-based mental health support to the community I love. I returned to full-time ministry and now lead Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry, where we offer lay counseling and mental health support to military families. In 2024, we also launched Operation Resilient, a digital mental health app created specifically for the military community.
I prioritize with clarity: God first, family second, mission third. And I’ve learned to laugh at the idea of “planning”,because military life guarantees that no plan stays untouched. So yes, I usually have a Plan A… and B… and sometimes all the way to Plan Z. The truth is, what keeps me grounded is staying connected to God, to community, and to my calling. I pray constantly. I seek God’s direction in every season. I show up for my local church, keep close ties with long-distance friends, and I ask for help when I need it, which is often. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.
Balance, for me, isn’t doing it all. It’s learning to say yes to what matters most, and trusting God with the rest.
Tell us briefly about your military spouse background.
Our military journey began long before the uniforms, through prayer and surrender. When Austin and I got married, he had a son from a previous relationship. Two years later, through a whirlwind of unexpected events and God’s timing, we were granted full custody. Almost overnight, we became a family of five with the addition of two more little boys. Just weeks later, after a great deal of prayer and consideration, Austin enlisted in the Navy, and we packed up and headed to Illinois following Bootcamp.
Our first duty station, Great Lakes, was a whirlwind. In just a few months, we faced a late Autism diagnosis for one of our sons, complications with adoption, and the heartbreak of an ectopic pregnancy. Then came a life-threatening illness that sent me into a downward spiral of depression. I looked for support among spouse groups but quickly realized they weren’t built for families like ours. Married sailors in training with multiple kids were an anomaly, and community felt painfully out of reach.
That was when everything shifted. I began connecting with the base and local organizations, creating the very first online spouse network for new sailors’ families, using digital tools to fill the gaps I saw everywhere around me. That effort planted the seed for something much larger.
Just five months later, our family was split again, Austin moved to Virginia for training, Turn to Eleanor Finney, Page 9
Active duty spouse: Anthony Jones, E9, U.S. Navy
Base/installation where spouse is stationed: Naval Station Norfolk
Duty station unit: USS George Bush CVN 77
Number of years as a military spouse: 28
Number of PCS moves: 3
Number of deployments: 12
How do you balance family/work/military life?
Balancing my roles as a Director of Nursing, full-time student, mother of two teenagers, and military spouse to a Navy Master Chief requires discipline, flexibility, and a strong support system. I rely heavily on time management and intentional planning from shared calendars to structured family routines to make sure I can meet the demands of my profession, education, and home life. I also set realistic goals and give myself grace when things don’t go exactly as planned. Open communication with my family helps keep us all connected and supported, especially during my spouse’s deployments or hightempo periods. I’ve learned to embrace the ebb and flow of military life and apply that same adaptability in my leadership role and academic work. Most importantly, I remind myself daily why I do it all to be a strong role model for my children, a dedicated servant leader in healthcare, and a resilient pillar in my military family.
Tell us briefly about your military spouse background.
My husband is a dedicated Navy Master Chief who has served with distinction for over two decades. As an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, he has completed 12 deployments, many of them aboard multiple aircraft carriers, where he was responsible for the safe launching and recovery of aircraft on the flight deck one of the most intense and highrisk environments in the Navy. His career has taken him through numerous shipyard tours, where he played a critical role in maintenance, training, and bringing ships back to operational readiness. His leadership and expertise have earned him deep respect in the fleet, and his commitment to service continues to be a source of strength and pride for our entire family.
What is the best part of being a military spouse?
The best part of being a military family is the resilience, unity, and sense of purpose that come from facing challenges together. Military life isn’t always easy, but it teaches you to adapt, lean on one another, and make the most of every moment. You build a deep appreciation for time spent together, form lifelong friendships with people from all over the world, and become part of a community that understands sacrifice and service. It’s a life filled with growth, pride, and meaningful connection, not just to your own family, but to a greater mission.
Volunteer service highlights:
I haven’t had much time for volunteer service. I just completed my undergrad in nursing, which required more than 200 clinical hours. I am currently working on my master’s in nursing, which will require another 800 hours. These hours are unpaid and done in multiple care settings.
What have you learned from being a military spouse/ words of wisdom/ advice for other military spouses?
I learned that I greatly misunderstood what being a military spouse meant. I am a veteran of twelve years, separating in Oct of 2020, beginning nursing school in the height of the pandemic. I had many assumptions about what I would be like as a military spouse, mostly enjoying the luxury of day shopping at the commissary and roaming the aisles of the NEX. Instead, I’ve spent my days calling a local handyman because my husband is out to sea and the HVAC is out in the middle of a July heatwave. Spending the night in the hospital with the kids because no one else is at home to watch them. Planning many date nights, but needing to be canceled because of the ship’s schedule change. Going to parent events alone and having to paint the picture of the kids Recorder concert. Explaining to the kids why Dad just can’t stay home to play a little longer, to show them their new Turn to Tiesha Jones, Page 7
Active duty spouse: Jason Knapp, CW04, U.S. Navy
Base/installation where spouse is stationed: Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
Duty station unit: Assault Craft Unit 4
Currently deployed? No
Number of years as a military spouse: 5
Number of PCS moves: 8
Number of deployments: 12
How do you balance family/work/military life?
As a military veteran (Army) myself, and now being a CEO of my own company, being a military spouse requires the prior usage of a shared and organized calendar in our household. We try to maintain balance by living a true work hard play hard philosophy. Tell us briefly about your military spouse background.
As a military spouse of a 28 year active duty Naval Warrant Officer, my husband was deployed for the majority of 2023, and 2024. I worked to build strong bonds with the other deployed spouses through the ship’s Family Readiness Group (FRG) and I focused on my work with growing my own business.
What is the best part of being a military spouse?
That is easy! 2 part answer - 1) I get to see my soulmate dressed up in uniform all handsome and walking in and out of the house and kiss me goodbye and hello every day as the proudest wife ever. 2) When deployed, I got to travel to each and every port to meet him at various countries and explore new places, foods, cultures and make the best out of each deployment together.
Volunteer service highlights:
I serve my local community serving on the Board of Directors for Women in Defense (WID) (last 4 years) and as the Small Business Chair for Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads chapter (last 10 years).
I also serve as a business coach for The Honor Foundation, a career transition program for U.S. Special Operations Forces that effectively translates their elite military service to the private sector and helps create the next generation of corporate and community leaders.
I also am a mentor and work with interns under the DoD military Skillbridge program and help prepare them for their next phase of civilian workforce.
Under Hope 4 Kenya, I went on a mission trip to Kenya, East Africa, in Oct 2024 and plan to go again in Oct 2025 to support the effort to improve the quality of life for the vulnerable in Kenya through increased access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for personal, family and community sustainability.
What have you learned from being a military spouse/ words of wisdom/ advice for other military spouses?
From what I have learned through my experience as a soldier and a Navy spouse, remember that military life is always challenging, but you’re not alone. Make friends and introduce yourself to strangers and others spouses in the same command/unit/ship. Prioritize keeping, growing and loving your support network, and always being a good resource for others too. Stay connected, engage in community and volunteer activities, and your own professional growth goals and never put that on hold as there will never be a “good” time.
Share some fun facts about yourself.
I love wine tasting, crafting, cruising (like Carnival, not Navy ships), playing the slots machines, riding around our neighborhood on our golf cart.
Dawna Stowers
President & Volunteer, Deep Creek Athletic Association (9 years and current): Leading programs, supporting youth athletics, and strengthening our local sports community.
Creator & Head Coach, Champions League at DCAA (2 years): Launching an inclusive sports league to ensure kids of all abilities have the opportunity to play and thrive. I also coach a boys PONY 14U rec team as well as a Sunday select team for the same age division. That’s right I coach 3 teams simultaneously.
Cheer Coach, City of Chesapeake Parks & Recreation: Encouraging confidence, teamwork, and fun for young athletes through recreational cheer programs.
Benefit Organizer for Deep Creek Families: Organizing community efforts to support families facing crisis—raising and providing over $60,000 in the last few years to assist fire victims and children who have lost a parent, helping to ease their burden in the face of unimaginable loss.
Over the years, I’ve dedicated myself to serving my community, both within the military and here at home. What started as a personal mission to be a dependable resource for others has grown into a lifelong passion for advocacy, leadership, and service. My volunteer journey has been incredibly fulfilling, and I’m proud of the roles I’ve taken on: Each role has shaped who I am and deepened my commitment to showing up for others. No matter where life takes us, I’m proud of the community I’ve helped build and the lives I’ve been able to impact.
What have you learned from being a military spouse/ words of wisdom/
Fountaine from Page 3
pulled her into their group chat, compared availabilities, arranged days where they could give her some down time and make her meals. It was so heart warming that I could witness these spouses supporting spouses.
What will you do after military life?
I’d like to continue my education while my husband is active duty because id like to finish my degree in ASL and become an interpreter.
Favorite (or most interesting) Duty Station: Norfolk! There is SO MUCH to do here, and if you look in the right places, many things are free or offer great discounts for military families.
advice for other military spouses?
After military life, our hearts are set on returning to our family property in West Virginia—a place that’s always felt like home, even from afar. It’s where the pace slows, the air feels a little lighter, and life becomes less about constant movement and more about meaningful moments. We’ve given so much of ourselves to service, and now, we look forward to a season of stillness and reconnection.
For me, that next chapter means finally pouring into my own dreams. I’ve always been the one behind the scenes—supporting missions, coaching teams, lifting up others. But now, I’m excited about the possibility of building a career of my own, possibly in real estate. I love the idea of helping others find their home, especially after years of living the nomadic military life. More than anything, I’m chasing calm. I’ve spent so long being everyone’s safe place—it’s time to create one for myself, too.
“You can’t change the wind but you can adjust your sails.”
Share some fun facts about yourself.
My husband proposed 3 times- just to be sure. I said yes every single time without hesitation.
We have three ducks who follow/chase us like guard dogs. We also have three cats and two dogs and a house full of every teen that lands here for a multitude of reasons. It’s a literal zoo around here.
In high school I was voted most gullible. Can you believe that was 20 years ago? As involved in the community as I am, I am actually a huge introvert.
I have recently added Home school mom to my list of do’s.
What is one thing military families
back flip trick. I recently said when he goes out to sea the plague rolls into town, a kid needs an emergency root canal or the dog needs an emergency vet visit over constipation. So my word of wisdom is this: those challenges come to build you more resilient, to make you stronger, to make you train like you fight. Us spouses are being trained in life’s mishaps and learning what to do next time it happens to make it less scary and build confidence in ourselves. While our spouses are out there fighting the good fight, we are holding down the home front. So don’t give up the good fight and know there is a team that been where you are at some point willing and ready to help, just check our local facebook moms page.
Share some fun facts about yourself.
I am a people person, I love helping others. I am not very good at using a cricket or gardening. I can make good cookout food and am known for a mean game night. Also, I’m not very good at talking about myself, but I will always try something once. I have a fear of heights unless it’s in roller coaster form.
are facing that you would like to see improved?
If there’s one thing I could change for military families, it would be the way we approach mental health—not just for the service member, but for the spouse holding everything together and the children quietly navigating the weight of it all.
I’ve fought my own battle with mental health for years—often behind the scenes, while showing up for commands, coaching teams, supporting spouses in crisis, and keeping my own family afloat. There were days I poured from an empty cup, nights I sat in silence because there wasn’t time or space for my own pain. And like so many others in support roles, I felt like I had to stay strong—because if I crumbled, who would hold everyone else together?
The truth is, we need to stop glorifying silent strength. We need real, consistent, and accessible mental health care for everyone in the military family. We need people who see the spouse who’s burning out, the child who’s struggling in silence, and the service member battling things no one can see. We deserve care that doesn’t make us jump through hoops or wait months for help.
Being strong shouldn’t mean suffering in silence. I speak up now because I didn’t always—and I don’t want anyone else to feel like they have to carry it all alone.
Share one of your best experiences as a military spouse.
One of my best experiences as a military spouse was finally getting to meet my husband Ross overseas, after seven long months without a single port. It was the first time in his entire career that I was able to travel abroad and meet him at a port—and I’ll never forget it. I flew to Crete, not just to explore a new culture, but to feel close to him again. I wandered the streets, soaked in
What is one thing military families are facing that you would like to see improved?
I would like to see better events for families, where families can build the same bond as our sailors do at their commands. I would like to see better access services members have to dealing with issues at home. Sometimes sailors just need to take care of business at home. I would like to see families have better education to the benefits they are privileged to and better communication for questions families have at home. In doing so this would be less stressful on the service member and families.
Share one of your best experiences as a military spouse.
One of my best experiences was attending my first Khaki Ball. If you aren’t a part of the chief’s mess, it can be very mysterious as to what exactly happened there. I felt like a part of the inner circle getting a backstage pass. But what I found was that these hardworking chiefs had a night to just be themselves. I saw mingling with other departments, taking pictures for memories, and showing off their hot date for the night. They gave thanks to one another for a year’s hard work. For a
the beauty of the island, and waited with so much anticipation. But the moment that’s etched into my heart forever is when I saw him and ran straight into his arms.
In that one instant, everything I had been carrying—the stress, the loneliness, the exhaustion of holding it all together during deployment—just melted away. He didn’t need to say a word. Being in his arms reminded me that no matter where the Navy takes us, he is my home. That reunion wasn’t just about Crete or the time apart—it was about rediscovering the calm in the chaos, and the love that keeps this life worth every sacrifice.
What will you do after military life?
After military life, our hearts are set on returning to our family property in West Virginia—a place that’s always felt like home, even from afar. It’s where the pace slows, the air feels a little lighter, and life becomes less about constant movement and more about meaningful moments. We’ve given so much of ourselves to service, and now, we look forward to a season of stillness and reconnection.
For me, that next chapter means finally pouring into my own dreams. I’ve always been the one behind the scenes—supporting missions, coaching teams, lifting up others. But now, I’m excited about the possibility of building a career of my own, possibly in real estate. I love the idea of helping others find their home, especially after years of living the nomadic military life. More than anything, I’m chasing calm. I’ve spent so long being everyone’s safe place—it’s time to create one for myself, too.
Favorite (or most interesting) Duty Station: NBVC Point Mugu ,CA VAW-116 SunKings
night, they weren’t on their phones problem solving, fixing all the young sailors’ problems or making any task list. It was great to see them having a great time enjoying each other’s company.
What will you do after military life?
The world will be our oyster, we have talked about going MIA to a small remote island. But Anthony has planned to use his master’s degree to do good in our community. Having that I work in health care, he would like to try his hand at being a healthcare administrator. Favorite (or most interesting) Duty Station:
Our most interesting duty station was aboard the USS George Washington. He did two tours aboard in the shipyard and a southern tour. We had many trials and tribulations aboard and many achievements. He made the rank of senior chief and master chief and worked as two department LCPO. I watched him overcome many challenges and gain the respect of his crew. That command made him work harder than he had ever before, almost sent him into retirement but he found the courage to give a little bit more. That command made him realize his true potential.
Eleanor Finney
and the kids and I relocated to Mayport, Florida, his official homeport. Barely a year into military life, I experienced another miscarriage. Grief built upon grief, and isolation deepened. When Austin deployed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was left with three small children and no support system. It was during that season that I realized how broken the mental health system was for military families, especially for spouses. That’s where my advocacy truly began.
Determined to make sure no one else felt as alone as I had, I began volunteering, building online communities, and opening my home to other military families. From hosting support calls and running Facebook groups to organizing meal trains and coffee meetups, I simply showed up. Over time, those small steps grew into a movement.
When we finally relocated to Virginia, and after 2.5 years apart, were stationed together again, it felt like a miracle. There, I helped launch a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and mental health intervention for military families, served in various roles with the Family Readiness Group, and continued mentoring spouses who were navigating the same storms I had.
The years that followed were marked by both heartbreak and healing. We endured multiple miscarriages, received Autism diagnoses for our youngest children, and weathered long seasons apart during Austin’s training and deployments. I faced heart failure, one heart attack, and underwent six heart surgeries, becoming pacemaker-dependent by age 32. In 2023, I was told I might lose the ability to walk. But I made a choice: if I can still move, I will still serve. God didn’t bring me through all of this just to survive, He brought me through to testify.
In the middle of that storm, I found my calling. I returned to school and earned a degree in Christian Counseling with an emphasis in Crisis Counseling and Military Resiliency from Liberty University, fulfilling a lifelong dream to provide free, faith-based support to the military community. I became an ordained pastoral counselor and founded Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry, a nonprofit offering lay counseling, trauma-informed care, and virtual support to military families worldwide.
In 2024, we launched Operation Resilient, a digital mental health app created specifically for the military community. From support groups and spouse networks to digital discipleship and resources, my mission has remained clear: no one should walk through military life alone.
In 2025, I was deeply honored to be named the Base Area Armed Forces Insurance Navy Spouse of the Year. That recognition opened doors I never imagined, inviting me to speak on Capitol Hill, at military commands, and across the nonprofit space about suicide prevention, mental health, and the power of spiritual resilience.
But truthfully, I’ve never done this for the awards or the platform. The point has always been the quiet yes. The 2 a.m. texts. The whispered prayers during deployment. The moments on porches, holding space for someone else’s pain. That’s the real ministry. And for as long as God gives me breath, I’ll keep saying yes.
What is the best part of being a military spouse?
Being part of a military family is unlike anything else.
We form bonds quickly, love fiercely, and show up for each other in the hardest seasons. There’s a resilience and grit in this community that’s hard to explain, until
Hillary Boyce from Page 6
What is one thing military families are facing that you would like to see improved?
you’ve lived it. Military families become each other’s lifelines. Whether it’s swapping childcare during duty days, delivering a meal during deployment, or offering a shoulder during a PCS meltdown, we just get it. Yes, there are unique advantages. We’ve had the opportunity to live in and explore different parts of the country, and the world, through frequent relocations. With every move comes a mix of challenge and adventure: new friends, new communities, and new chances to grow. My kids have learned adaptability, empathy, and courage in ways I never could’ve taught them in a classroom. They know how to make friends quickly, how to start over bravely, and how to pray hard when Dad’s away. They’ve learned to celebrate the small wins and find joy in the ordinary, even when everything around them is changing.
One of the unexpected blessings has been watching my children develop a deep sense of compassion and awareness. Because of military life, they understand service, sacrifice, and the value of showing up for others. Whether it’s helping pack care packages, praying for a friend whose parent is deployed, or welcoming a new neighbor, we’re raising kids who don’t just move around, but who carry kindness and strength with them wherever they go.
But for me, the greatest part of this life is the honor.
It’s not easy holding down the homefront, especially with special needs children and ongoing health battles. But it’s sacred work. It’s the kind of strength that doesn’t make headlines, but it holds everything together. There is a deep sense of pride that comes with standing in the gap, supporting our loved ones who serve, and serving the families around us in return.
This life has stretched me, refined me, and given me purpose. And I count it a privilege to be a part of it, not just for myself, but for the example it’s setting for the next generation growing up in our home.
Volunteer service highlights:
Over the past five years, I have actively served in various leadership and volunteer roles within the military community. In 2024, I became the host of Warriors Unmasked, a podcast dedicated to breaking the stigma around military mental health. Since founding Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry in 2023, I’ve led efforts to provide free, faith-based mental health support to military service members, spouses, and families. That same year, I served as CEO of the Ohana Homefront Foundation, having previously served as Executive Assistant and a member of the Board of Directors from 2021 to 2024. I began as Secretary of the USS Philippine Sea Family Readiness Group (2021—2022), rose into the role of Treasurer (2022—2023), and eventually stepped into leadership as President in 2023.
Earlier in this timeframe, I co-founded Club M.O.M Military a local and online space for military spouses with children, in Jacksonville and served as a volunteer for the Mayport Healthy Military Family Initiative, USO Mayport, and as Co-President of the NS Mayport USO Playgroup from 2020 to 2021. My long-standing commitment to supporting military service members, spouses, and families also continues through my role as Founder of Navy Spouses and Significant Others, a community I’ve led since 2018.
Alongside these in-person roles, I’ve remained a consistent and present force online, believing strongly that this next generation of military service members, spouses, and families is finding authentic connection in digital spaces first. I’ve seen firsthand how online friendships are becoming real-life community, and I believe this shift is the key to making a lasting difference.
We are not the same military community we were a decade ago,and that’s not a bad thing. By embracing new platforms, meeting families where they are, and closing the generational gap with understanding and innovation, I believe we can build a stronger, more united military support network for the future.
What have you learned from being a military spouse/ words of wisdom/ advice for other military spouses? While I’ve been a military spouse for just under a decade, I’ve learned quickly,and often the hard way. When I talk to new spouses, I always say this: God doesn’t wait for your confidence,He waits for your yes. If you’re called, He will equip. Military life can feel overwhelming, especially at first, but you don’t have to do it alone. Find your people,even if you have to be the one to create the space. Get involved in your community, join a group, attend events, or volunteer. It makes all the difference. Learn the culture,yes, the acronyms, ranks, and weird traditions,but more than that, learn the rhythm of this life and what it looks like to show up with grace. Stay flexible. Plan A will almost never happen, but that doesn’t mean you failed,it just means you’re military. Communicate openly, especially with your spouse. Be honest about your needs and expectations. And don’t forget to take care of yourself,because you can’t pour from an empty cup. Strength isn’t staying silent;it’s knowing when to ask for help. Get planted,in a church, in a community, in your purpose. That’s where the growth will come from. This life isn’t easy, but it is sacred. And it’s one we don’t have to walk through alone.
Share some fun facts about yourself.
Most people call me a “serial volunteer”, and they’re not wrong. Serving others is simply part of who I am. What started as a commitment to show up wherever I was needed quickly grew into something deeper. Three years ago, I took that passion to a new level by going back to school full-time to pursue a degree in biblical military counseling, with the goal of one day providing free services to this unique and deserving community. I’m happy to say I graduated this year, and I am now doing exactly that: offering free, faith-based counseling to military families. Unpaid, of course, because volunteering is kind of my jam. In the midst of it all, I’ve battled heart failure, vagus nerve failure, and endured multiple surgeries, yet I’ve continued to serve, because I believe miracles still happen. I’m living proof.
Being a “serial volunteer” doesn’t just mean I show up for scheduled events, it means I live with an open door and an open heart. I get tagged in Facebook posts when someone’s struggling, I get phone calls in the middle of the night, and my home has been a safe space for coffee, prayer, and processing more times than I can count. It’s not about recognition, it’s about making sure no one walks through this life alone.
What is one thing military families are facing that you would like to see improved?
Choosing just one issue is hard, because so many of the challenges military families face are deeply entwined. But if I had to name one, it would be this: genuinely accessible, quality mental health care and mental health education for the entire military family. The current system is often confusing, inconsistent, and overwhelmed. Military families deserve support that is fast, trauma-informed, and, when desired, faith-competent. It should never be dependent on location, duty station, or waitlists.
That’s exactly why I created Operation Resilient, a digital mental health app
designed to bring accessible care and community right into the hands of military members, spouses, and families. It bridges gaps with trusted resources, peer support, and educational tools that equip the whole household to understand and respond to mental health needs. In tandem, I founded Defenders of Resilience Military Ministry to provide free, faith-based lay counseling, support groups, and spiritual care to military families,offering a personal, accessible alternative to systems that are often stretched too thin.
But even more than that, I believe we’re in the middle of a cultural shift within the military community. We’re not the same spouse and family culture we were a decade ago, and the way we talk about and respond to mental health must evolve too. Closing the generational gap in understanding, access, and stigma is crucial if we’re going to effectively serve the next wave of military families. The future of care depends on how we show up now, with innovation, empathy, and the courage to do things differently.
Share one of your best experiences as a military spouse.
I honestly can’t pick just one moment. Being a military spouse has been a life-changing journey, one filled with challenges, growth, and deep connection. This community has given me a sense of belonging I didn’t know I needed, lifelong friendships, and opportunities to grow in ways I never expected.
Being named the 2025 Navy Base Spouse of the Year and having the chance to stand in rooms with policymakers to advocate for military families was incredibly humbling, something I never imagined for myself. But even more meaningful are the everyday moments: the late-night texts from someone barely holding on, the porch coffee chats with another spouse navigating deployment, the quiet messages that say, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
Those are the moments that remind me why I show up. It’s an honor to serve those who serve,and to walk alongside the families who carry so much behind the scenes. What will you do after military life?
Honestly… I don’t think there will ever be an “after” for us when it comes to military life. With my husband on the path to becoming a Navy Chaplain and me serving as a fulltime pastoral counselor to military families, this community isn’t just a season, it’s our life’s work. We joke that even when we’re old and gray, we’ll probably still be hanging around base events with coffee in one hand and prayer cards in the other. Whether in uniform or out, we’re here for the long haul. Military life may change, but our commitment to serving those who live it won’t.
Favorite (or most interesting) Duty Station:
Great Lakes still holds a special place in my heart, it’s where everything began. It was our first duty station, and while our time there was short, we soaked up every bit of it. The kids couldn’t get enough of the train rides, and we loved being so close to Chicago and all the city had to offer. (And thankfully, my southern Texas roots were spared from enduring a full-blown northern winter, otherwise Great Lakes might have dropped a few spots on my favorites list!) But it was Mayport that gave me my voice. It’s where I began to see the gaps in support for spouses and where my passion for advocacy and connection really took root. Then came Virginia, where, after nearly three years apart, our family was finally stationed together again. Each duty station has stretched us, shaped us, and left its mark. They’re not just places on a map, they’re pieces of our story.
Share one of your best experiences as a military spouse.
The best military spouse experience I had was being a part of the welcome home
Access to medical care. Access to medical services for active duty is awful. The families have much more access options compared to the service members. The process for the service members that they have to go through from their unit medical corp person to actual getting the needed referrals needs improvement and is totally unsatisfactory and takes months. There also needs to be anonymous urgent mental health resources for active duty, veteran and families available.
Photo credits from cover, page C1
Clockwise from top left:
NORFOLK, Va. (April 10, 2025) - Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Anataysha Leonortiz, assigned to the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), greets her partner following the ships return to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. Hershel “Woody” Williams was forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. 6th Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS DEREK COLE)
NORFOLK, Va. (Mar. 7, 2025) Naval Station Norfolk hosts its 4th Annual March Madness 5K run event at Vista Point, with over 200 participants. The event is organized by Norfolk Morale Welfare Recreational Fitness. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN 2ND CLASS AMAR HUSADZINOVIC)
ceremony for the USS Bataan in 2024 when my husband ran into my arms after his long deployment and being there pier side for those festivities. From seeing the children, grandparents, news channels, public affairs, friends, tears, excitement and sharing in that proud and exciting moment to welcome my Sailor home was a rewarding part of being a military spouse.
What will you do after military life?
I think we have a few years before this is at our feet but here goes.....continue to work in the government contracting space for myself, learn to like my husband’s facial hair sadly, and take advantage of no longer having to worry about my husband’s leave balance or leave chit paperwork approval for traveling much much more.
NORFOLK, Va. (September 1, 2024) Family and friends wait to reunite with Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58), as Laboon returns to homeport. Laboon, assigned to Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), returned to its homeport on Naval Station Norfolk on September 1 following a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST MATTHEW N. JACKSON)
NORFOLK, Va. (Feb. 3, 2025) United Service Organizations (USO) celebrates 84th birthday. The USO is a non-profit organization that provides support and connection to U.S. service members and their families. Sailors, Veterans, and DoD civilians gather in building J50 to celebrate the event. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY YEOMAN KYA E. ROBINSON)
NORFOLK, Va. (December 14, 2024) Last weekend Operation Homefront’s annual Holiday Meals for Military® program spread some cheer and distributed meal kits to 300 preregistered local military families in Norfolk on Saturday, December 14. (COURTESY PHOTO)
Favorite (or most interesting) Duty Station: Hanau Germany. This one was actually one of my assignments when I was on active duty, before I knew my husband.
NORFOLK, Va. (December 23, 2024) Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Garion Pequeno, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67), greets family on the pier after returning from deployment. Cole returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a deployment in support of maritime security and stability efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS NATHAN T. BEARD/ RELEASED)
NORFOLK, Va. (Sept. 8, 2022) Family and friends of Sailors aboard the USS San Jacinto (CG-56) support the Sailor’s homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk after a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operations, Sept. 8. San Jacinto was deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in support of theater security cooperation efforts and to defen U.S, allied and partner interests. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JULIA JOHNSON)
