1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,920 - Being a military spouse is exciting 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,010 and frustrating (chuckles) 3 00:00:06,010 --> 00:00:11,010 and really challenging at times but it's really rewarding. 4 00:00:11,380 --> 00:00:13,060 - It is a huge privilege, 5 00:00:13,060 --> 00:00:15,210 to be able to travel around the world. 6 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:16,990 Be educated in many different ways. 7 00:00:16,990 --> 00:00:17,823 Meet so many people. 8 00:00:17,823 --> 00:00:19,570 Have my children grow up, 9 00:00:19,570 --> 00:00:21,430 in so many different diverse cultures 10 00:00:21,430 --> 00:00:22,800 where they're gonna be able to see, 11 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,950 really appreciate other people 12 00:00:24,950 --> 00:00:27,999 and have seen the world before they're even teenagers. 13 00:00:27,999 --> 00:00:29,281 - It's not for everybody. 14 00:00:29,281 --> 00:00:30,564 Gotta stay hungry. 15 00:00:30,564 --> 00:00:32,107 You gotta stay motivated. 16 00:00:32,107 --> 00:00:36,890 Making the most of your situation is key, 17 00:00:36,890 --> 00:00:37,723 very key. 18 00:00:37,723 --> 00:00:38,556 - Is it worth it? 19 00:00:38,556 --> 00:00:40,510 Mmh, that's all in your mind. 20 00:00:40,510 --> 00:00:41,343 It was worth it for me, 21 00:00:41,343 --> 00:00:42,850 'cause I got three degrees from it. 22 00:00:42,850 --> 00:00:45,133 You know. (laughs) 23 00:00:45,133 --> 00:00:47,990 - I definitely think there are stigmas that come, 24 00:00:47,990 --> 00:00:49,670 with being a military spouse. 25 00:00:49,670 --> 00:00:51,350 I had some of them myself 26 00:00:51,350 --> 00:00:53,520 when I was brand new into it. 27 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,760 I had my own ideas of what a military spouse was, 28 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,140 what they should be, 29 00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,810 how I did or did not fit into that. 30 00:00:59,810 --> 00:01:02,130 - Some of the stigmas come from our own community, 31 00:01:02,130 --> 00:01:04,520 because there could be a very one dimensional view 32 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:05,353 of who we are. 33 00:01:05,353 --> 00:01:06,340 - They just want their... 34 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:08,460 The try care. 35 00:01:08,460 --> 00:01:10,520 That's the only reason that they're there for it 36 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:15,520 and they don't wanna get a job or an education. 37 00:01:16,110 --> 00:01:17,251 - Now, according to Hire for... 38 00:01:17,251 --> 00:01:18,830 Hire of Heroes, 39 00:01:18,830 --> 00:01:22,610 over 50% of the military spouse 40 00:01:22,610 --> 00:01:25,140 would have some type of formal education. 41 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:26,790 - My education is in engineering, 42 00:01:26,790 --> 00:01:28,060 and I like things. 43 00:01:28,060 --> 00:01:29,500 I'm the bullet list maker (laughs) 44 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:31,390 and I like everything together with. 45 00:01:31,390 --> 00:01:33,540 Just take that and crumple it up, 46 00:01:33,540 --> 00:01:34,760 and throw it out the window (laughs) 47 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:35,830 and start another one 48 00:01:35,830 --> 00:01:40,120 because the military lifestyle never goes according to plan. 49 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,330 - One of the main obstacles is, of course, 50 00:01:42,330 --> 00:01:45,230 the long hours and the deployments that come along 51 00:01:45,230 --> 00:01:46,890 with being married to someone in the military 52 00:01:46,890 --> 00:01:49,860 and so that leaves a bit of loneliness, 53 00:01:49,860 --> 00:01:51,950 - You really have to be flexible, 54 00:01:51,950 --> 00:01:53,190 you really have to be strong, 55 00:01:53,190 --> 00:01:57,370 you have to understand just being mentally healthy. 56 00:01:57,370 --> 00:02:00,412 - Yeah, it's incredibly hard to succeed here. 57 00:02:00,412 --> 00:02:04,793 For the job market is not for every single spouse. 58 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,390 But, it's what you make of it 59 00:02:07,390 --> 00:02:09,850 and you try to take advantage of every opportunity 60 00:02:09,850 --> 00:02:12,000 that the military will give a spouse. 61 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,520 - A lot of people think that readiness 62 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,200 is just about putting the uniform on 63 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,560 and getting the training when you're active duty. 64 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,970 But military spouses support their service members at home, 65 00:02:21,970 --> 00:02:24,570 that's the ultimate wing person or wingman, 66 00:02:24,570 --> 00:02:27,350 and they also support the community as a whole. 67 00:02:27,350 --> 00:02:30,023 - I think it's important to say to them, 68 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,640 we see you and you're doing a great job. 69 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,410 And I understand, I've seen a couple times now like 70 00:02:37,410 --> 00:02:39,410 this is in kind of crisis mode. 71 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:41,720 And without the spouse community, 72 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:42,690 it would fall apart. 73 00:02:42,690 --> 00:02:47,160 This spouse community really helps keep things together. 74 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,370 - We don't get recognized. 75 00:02:49,370 --> 00:02:52,740 And it's nice to be recognized and feel appreciated 76 00:02:53,610 --> 00:02:56,100 from the armed forces and stuff like that. 77 00:02:56,100 --> 00:03:00,460 - I think you should just inherently do it every day. 78 00:03:00,460 --> 00:03:02,840 Just appreciate the people that support you. 79 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,530 - So we're able to lift each other up 80 00:03:04,530 --> 00:03:06,510 as spouses and then the military members 81 00:03:06,510 --> 00:03:08,500 are lifting the spouses up as well. 82 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:11,630 That's going to help us all feel supported and in turn, 83 00:03:11,630 --> 00:03:14,630 it just has a ripple effect to help everyone around. 84 00:03:14,630 --> 00:03:17,520 - I couldn't do this without my other military spouses. 85 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,090 I can't be a lone military spouse. 86 00:03:19,090 --> 00:03:20,320 I need everybody else 87 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,410 and it's a great, 88 00:03:23,410 --> 00:03:24,243 wonderful community 89 00:03:24,243 --> 00:03:25,520 that I'm honored and proud 90 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,222 to be considered a military spouse. 91 00:03:28,222 --> 00:03:30,805 (upbeat music) 92 00:03:34,792 --> 00:03:37,375 (gentle music)