2026 AFI Air Force Spouse of the Year
Lyndsey Akers https://youtu.be/siKbNCNKwOo?si=6fNuXnBZYCioCKvP Share your military spouse story: Since 2009, the fabric of military life has woven into every aspect...
2026 AFI Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
Najeeba Gassel https://youtu.be/-rQfSE1hgZ8?si=4mf6VQL6WLn1UAvC Share your military spouse story: My husband and I are college sweethearts, having met in the first...
2026 AFI National Guard Spouse of the Year
Nicole B Gebhardt https://youtu.be/CIk0VilUe9I?si=AdGBGOjbBrG4GjXZ Share your military spouse story: I am a military spouse whose world broke the day I...
2026 AFI Navy Spouse of the Year
Meg Graves https://youtu.be/GOpG_5du5E8?si=Snd8-CFojBhIRZLZ Share your military spouse story: My Navy journey began at 24 over a plate of hotwings. When...
2026 AFI Army Spouse of the Year
Isabel Schmitt https://youtu.be/WF5x7nA7K4Y?si=_bh94q6SQJR38_Qj Share your military spouse story: I met my husband, Peter, in Iraq in 2004, on a convoy,...
2026 AFI Marine Corps Spouse of the Year
Shelby Bateman https://youtu.be/Ri28C5o9-9A?si=YH-2VrM8146J1ld4 Share your military spouse story: I have been a cheerleader for the man I love since 2008,...
2026 AFI Space Force Spouse of the Year
Cassandra Kidd https://youtu.be/AfowIxkhyQ4?si=kp86aHoI3vaauiZ8 Share your military spouse story: My military spouse journey has been shaped by learning how to adapt,...
When “Strong” Starts to Feel Exhausting
There’s a certain pride in military life. We handle things. We adapt. We “make it work.” But sometimes you hit...
Raising Resilient Kids Without Raising Tiny Stress Balls
“Military kids are so resilient.” It’s one of the most repeated compliments in our community. And it’s true — military...
Spring Bucket List for Military Families (No Leave Required)
Spring in military life can feel like a waiting room. Waiting for PCS orders.Waiting for deployment dates.Waiting for summer plans....
What I Wish I Knew Before My First PCS (That No One Told Me)
Your first PCS feels official. Like you’ve unlocked the “real” version of military life. No one tells you that it’s...
The Unofficial Military Spouse Spring Reset Checklist
March is the in-between month. Not quite summer. Not quite settled. Which makes it the perfect time for a reset....
March Madness, But It’s Just Our Schedules
Welcome to March Madness: Military Family Edition. No basketball. Just chaos. Let’s break down the bracket. Round 1: Field Exercise...
Luck of the Military Spouse: 10 Things We Call “Lucky” (But Totally Aren’t)
Every March, someone says it. “You’re so lucky you got that duty station.”“You’re lucky childcare worked out.”“You’re lucky your spouse...
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions for Military Families (Even If They’re Deployed)
St. Patrick’s Day in military life can feel… complicated. You want to make it fun for the kids.You want to...
Making Friends on Base is Basically Speed Dating
If you’ve ever made a new parent friend at a duty station, you know the script. “Where are you from?”“How...
The Emotional Timeline of Deployment No One Talks About
Spring in military life doesn’t always mean flowers. Sometimes it means orders. If a deployment is coming, there’s an emotional...
The Smells of Military Life (That Somehow Feel Like Home)
If Military Life Had a Scent, It Would Be…from base housing air to coffee-fueled mornings, these are the scents that...
