News United States Air Force
 DAF celebrates Military Spouse Appreciation DayPublished May 4, 2022
                        
                        By 1st Lt. Amber R. Kelly-Herard
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
                **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**
                May is designated as Military Appreciation Month to honor those who serve. May 6, the Friday before Mother’s Day, is Military Spouse Appreciation Day, which recognizes those who also serve but may not wear a uniform.“Military spouses come from every walk of life; not unlike our civilian counterparts, they represent a number of groups,” said Sharene Brown, spouse of Air Force Chief of Staff **Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.** “They are veterans, military members, may have graduate or professional degrees, and may have technical or vocational skills. They may represent themselves as he, she or they; military spouses do not fall into any one particular category.”While there are a few standard ways to join the military, there’s no typical path to becoming a military spouse.Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond poses for a photo after administering the oath of office to Lt. Col. Justin Spring when he transferred to the U.S. Space Force in July 2021 in the presence of his family in the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. The Space Force supports the development of families by partnering with the Air Force to improve access to childcare, housing, employment opportunities and resources. (Courtesy photo)Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond poses for a photo after administering the oath of office to Lt. Col. Justin Spring when he transferred to the U.S. Space Force in July 2021 in the presence of his family in the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. The Space Force supports the development of families by partnering with the Air Force to improve access to childcare, housing, employment opportunities and resources. (Courtesy photo)
            
            
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“When we were first married, being a new military spouse was really different,” said Mollie Raymond, who met the now-Chief of Space Operations **Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond****,** during a coffee-and-donuts hour after church. “I didn’t grow up in a military family. I was not familiar with moves and transitions,” she said.“Embrace change. There’s always something to look forward to,” Raymond added, who celebrates 35 years of marriage this June.Brown had some advice for her fellow spouses.“When you first come into this life, it can be overwhelming because it’s a different lifestyle than what most people expect,” Brown said, who became a military spouse after returning from teaching English in Japan. “I would say, give yourself a bit of grace. It can be very frustrating at first learning acronyms, lingo, and a different culture, but you’ll be amazed by who you’ll become.”Team Andersen Spouses’ Club members pose for a photo at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 22, 2022. TASC is a nonprofit organization that coordinates scholarships, community outreach on and off base, as well as monthly socials and special-interest groups members can take part in. (Courtesy photo)Team Andersen Spouses’ Club members pose for a photo at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 22, 2022. TASC is a nonprofit organization that coordinates scholarships, community outreach on and off base, as well as monthly socials and special-interest groups members can take part in. (Courtesy photo)
            
            
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Each of the spouses mentioned military-spouse challenges, including homesickness, moving and making new connections with people, to name a few.“One of our first tours overseas was in Italy. I considered myself quite the adventurer, but for some reason, I didn’t feel very comfortable getting out,” Brown recalled, who will celebrate 33 years of marriage this summer. “There was a friend of mine I knew from another location who called me up to show me around, and it was the most fantastic day I ever had.”Paying it forward, Brown now advises other spouses to reach out to incoming families to show them the way, help locate the Airman and Family Readiness Center and assist in navigating the base. She also asks spouses to find out as much information as possible about the new place before they depart.Despite the challenges, being a military spouse can also be rewarding.“A rewarding moment is seeing a spouse, who felt they didn’t have much to offer, discover themselves and go forward to enlighten other people,” Brown said.Brown remembered meeting a military spouse recently who turned her love for finding old pieces of furniture and repurposing them into an opportunity to help spouses create “new” additions for their homes while also fostering fellowship.Military Spouse Appreciation MonthRachel Young teaches her 8-year-old daughter, Melody, math concepts at their home in Magnolia, Del., April 5, 2022. Young is a full-time stay-at-home mother and homeschools her children. Young has been a military spouse for 12 years and said her husband’s unit has been a great and supportive community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cydney Lee)
            
            
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    Master Sgt. Blakeley Murdock, 60th Air Mobility Wing Commander’s Action Group superintendent and 6th Aerial Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender flight engineer, and Master Sgt. Sarah Murdock, 60th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory quality manager, participate in Military Spouse Appreciation Day campaign at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., March 31, 2022. May 6th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Travis AFB is celebrating by highlighting the resiliency and commitment of spouses in the military community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chustine Minoda)Master Sgt. Blakeley Murdock, 60th Air Mobility Wing Commander’s Action Group superintendent and 6th Aerial Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender flight engineer, and Master Sgt. Sarah Murdock, 60th Maintenance Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory quality manager, participate in a Military Spouse Appreciation Day event at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., March 31, 2022. May 6th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Travis AFB is celebrating by highlighting the resiliency and commitment of spouses in the military community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chustine Minoda)
            
            
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    Cleveland Brown V watches his 4-year-old son, Cleveland Brown VI, swing at Silver Lake Park in Dover, Del., April 9, 2022. Brown served in the Air Force for six years and has been a military spouse for nine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)Cleveland Brown V watches his 4-year-old son, Cleveland Brown VI, swing at Silver Lake Park in Dover, Del., April 9, 2022. Brown served in the Air Force for six years and has been a military spouse for nine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)
            
            
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Oftentimes, spouses are concerned not only about their significant others but also for their children.“I transitioned our kids in and out of schools and made sure that they were adjusting through engaging them in conversation and constantly checking in on them,” Raymond said. “It wasn’t easy. We had some tough conversations over the years. And they’ve struggled, but they all have become very strong, resilient young adults.”Raymond advises all parents to “call the SLO (School Liaison Officer) before you go.” This way, parents can understand what educational options are available for a smoother transition.In addition to helping others, Raymond advocates for self-care.“We’re always taking care of others, but it’s OK to put yourself first, too,” she said. “Rest and enjoy doing something that gives you the battery recharge we all need to start a new day.”The Cates family and neighbors gather for a photo at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Jan. 29, 2022. The group posed for photos towards the end of a parade celebrating the Cates’ son, Grayson, coming home after seven months of treatment for brain cancer. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tiarra Sibley)The Cates family and neighbors gather for a photo at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Jan. 29, 2022. The group posed for photos towards the end of a parade celebrating the Cates’ son, Grayson, coming home after seven months of treatment for brain cancer. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tiarra Sibley)
            
            
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Rachel Rush, spouse of Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force **Roger A. Towberman**, advises spouses to keep open lines of communication with their partners.“You have to be able to talk with your spouse. Even when things are tough, you must talk about it. If there’s something you want in life, something you want to do, something you want to be, take those tasks on,” Rush said. “Talk to your person as early as possible about what you would like to do with your life. Even though you’re on a journey together, it’s still an individual life. You want to look back at the end of it and not feel like you’ve missed out on opportunities.”Rush uses her experience as a spouse and psychiatric nurse to help other spouses.“In my line of work, which has consisted primarily of in-patient settings, I have unfortunately seen quite a few young spouses. There are trends related to feelings of displacement. Displacement from family and friends, from everything they’ve known.”Rush advocates for service members to include their spouses in as many aspects of their lives as possible.“Do your best not to isolate your loved ones; help keep them connected in this beautiful new life they’ve chosen to share with you,” she said.Editor's note: The spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Sharene Brown, recently announced a Five & Thrive initiative, which increases focus and attention on the top five quality of life challenges military families face. The Thrive Guide was created “by spouses, for spouses” to help navigate the military spouse journey. For more information and resources, view the Thrive Guide **here**.LR 



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Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman 



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