Published: August 4, 2021
Did you know that, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, one in three (34%) active-duty family respondents reported they know nobody in their local civilian community well enough to ask them for a favor? Most civilians don’t realize that military families move into their neighborhoods with zero support and scarce job prospects leaving them feeling isolated. That’s a major problem because when family members feel stressed at home, service members can’t focus on the mission.
Every day, Blue Star Families is working hard to change that by fostering collaborations, informing legislative change, and creating free events, programs, and resources to bridge the military-civilian divide. Not to mention, support military families as they work to build connections and thrive within their communities. It was with that goal in mind that Geri Maples, Chapter Director for Blue Star Families of Dayton, worked with partner and military advocate Jeremy Gray, Founder and Principal Consultant of Noble Consulting, to provide an exciting opportunity to select military spouses.
“Military spouses are so strong and resilient,” said Maples. “Not only are they navigating frequent moves and deployments, but most are also taking on leadership roles through the family readiness program or volunteering with military support organizations in an effort to help other families manage the challenges associated with military life. In their volunteer positions they too are trying to help military families build connections and find support to reduce isolation. To be handling so much in their own lives and still show up in support of others, says so much about the character of military spouses and their dedication to service. Mindy and Maria are Blue Star Families volunteers who are perfect examples of strong military spouses doing exactly that.”
Maples worked with Gray to enroll Mindy and Maria in his eight-week course, Becoming a Person of Influence. Mindy and Maria are both key spouses and knew participating in this course would give them valuable training they could apply to their duties while supporting the military community.
“Many have heard that two minds are better than one,” Gray shared. “In our eight-week training course, we bring together people who are wanting to grow and share their ideas with a group. Becoming a Person of Influence is a mastermind training focused on how we can influence those around us to increase trust, build a bridge in communication, and positively influence others. It was a pleasure having Mindy and Maria in this group. I look forward to hearing how they continue to positively influence lives.”
While Mindy and Maria were able to receive enriching training, they also connected with civilian members of the community and educated them about the sacrifices military families make every day. That’s so important because, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, just 13% of #BSFSurvey respondents feel the general public understands the sacrifices military families make. Gray shared the insights he learned from both Mindy and Maria are lessons he will use in future courses to demonstrate the experiences of military families, and the ways in which communities can provide needed and impactful support.
“I love when I can show military spouses that the community is behind them by providing amazing opportunities that will enrich their experience here in Dayton,” Maples said. “It’s even more amazing when these spouses use the opportunity to educate the community in order to create more effective support for families in our area.”
To learn more about how you, too, can support military families, visit our website at www.bluestarfam.org.
Posted In: