|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a momentous occasion recognizing the vital role military spouses play in supporting their partners and contributing to the armed forces’ success. Celebrated the Friday before Mother’s Day in the United States, this special holiday recognizes and shows appreciation for military spouses’ sacrifices, dedication, and strength.
As a military spouse, I treasure the opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated, as I have cared for a healthy family while maintaining a work lifestyle that is compatible with my husband Roy’s career in the United States Air Force. During our twenty-five-year marriage, I have moved over nine times, survived four deployments while setting up new homes, enrolled three kids in school, and managed a business.
I know all too well that military spouses in our country face unique challenges, such as frequent relocations, long separations, and uncertainty about their partner’s safety during deployments. Despite these difficulties, we continue to provide unwavering support to our partners, families, and communities. We are often the backbone of military families, holding down the fort while our partners are away on duty and managing all the responsibilities of military life.
Chances are you have family, friends, and coworkers who have served in the military, so I invite you to learn more and participate in any opportunity to honor military spouses throughout the year.
- Express Gratitude
Simply saying thank you can go a long way in showing appreciation for the sacrifices that military spouses make. You can say this either in person or through a note or card.
- Support Military Spouses in Your Community
Military spouses often face isolation and loneliness due to frequent moves and deployments. Reach out to military spouses in your community and offer support, whether through a phone call, a visit, or an invitation to a gathering. If you don’t know any, the Military Spouse Advocacy Network and the National Military Family Association are two good places where you can begin.
- Donate to Military Spouse Organizations
Organizations like the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs and SpouseLink provide support and resources to military spouses. Consider donating to these organizations to help them continue their essential work.
- Offer Practical Assistance
Military spouses often must juggle multiple responsibilities, such as caring for children, managing a household, and dealing with the challenges of military life. Offer practical assistance, such as helping with childcare, cooking a meal, or running errands.
- Advocate for Policies that Support Military Families
Advocate for policies that support military families, such as increased funding for military spouse employment and education programs, better access to healthcare, and improved housing options such as the Enhancing Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Act.
- Recognize Military Spouses in the Workplace
Military spouses often face unique challenges in employment because of their frequent moves. Recognize the skills and experiences that military spouses bring to the workplace and provide them with professional development and advancement opportunities. Even a hiring initiative to ensure that military spouses are being considered for your company. Join organizations that make this a priority like Military Spouse Employment Partnership and Boldly.
- Celebrate Military Spouse Achievements
Military spouses are often unsung heroes, quietly going about their daily lives while supporting their partners and families. Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a significant opportunity to recognize the contributions of military spouses and show them the respect and appreciation they deserve, but it’s not the only occasion to do so. Take the time to celebrate military spouse achievements at their places of work and the community.
By taking these seven steps, we can honor and support military spouses on this special day and beyond.
Moni Jefferson is an innovator committed to social impact. An active-duty Air Force spouse and accomplished multiventure entrepreneur specializing in public relations, marketing strategy, business development, and community building, Moni is known for her role in advocating for military spouse entrepreneurs and international speakers across local and national venues. Since 2014, Moni has helped build and scale multiple military spouse programs. Moni has even been invited to the White House and featured in Military Spouse magazine on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square and Forbes Next 1000 entrepreneurs of 2021. Her most recent venture as the CEO and founder of The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs has helped over ten thousand military spouses all around the globe to start, scale, and sustain their businesses.
EMAIL: hello@amseagency.com
Website: monijeffersonpr.com / amseagency.com or amsemembers.com
IG: instagram.com/monijefferson / @amseagency
FB: facebook.com/monijefferson / @amseagency
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/moni-jefferson/ @amseagency
Twitter: @monijefferson / @theamseagency
