Blue Star Stories

Paying It Forward During Military Appreciation Month Three Ways to Give Back to Military Families   By Kathy Roth-Douquet and Kevin Schmiegel  We don’t have to tell you that 2020 was an unprecedented year. Between the ongoing pandemic and its physical, social, and economic toll, and the civil unrest that sparked deep and challenging conversations…

There are 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. today. These hidden heroes make incredible sacrifices in support of caring for a loved one—whether a parent, grandparent, child, or wounded warrior; they also face unique experiences and struggles based on their circumstances. Even those caring for a wounded warrior may be in very…

Meet Misty. She’s an Army veteran and mom of two. In 2001, Misty was living in New York, just an hour from New York City, waiting for her Officer Candidate School class assignment. The 9/11 terror attacks further fueled her desire to serve. “It [9/11] was the most surreal time, and everyone just came together,”…

One Choice MilFams Shouldn’t Have to Make Military life comes with a unique set of challenges for all families—from deployments to frequent moves, time away for training, and the general unpredictability of not knowing what lies ahead, just to name a few. But what happens when your family is thrown an extra curveball? For example,…

Did you know military families move three times more often than their civilian counterparts? Most move every two to three years. Restarting in new communities can often be extremely isolating, and many military families don’t feel heard or understood by their civilian neighbors. In fact, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, less than…

There are days when military life’s got you feeling like… via GIPHY … because, seriously, we deal with some stressful stuff, y’all! But even if you’re no longer active duty, you know what we’re talking about because you’ve been there, done that (hello, nine moves and six deployments!). Here at Blue Star Families we’re forever…

Meet Courtney: #BSFBeatCOVID19 Meet Courtney. She’s a proud Army Spouse, mom of two,  a DOD civilian registered dental hygienist, and a military child as well.  Courtney is no stranger to the unpredictability of military life and prides herself on being able to roll with the punches. But this past year has really tested her mental…