WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.920 - Being a military spouse is exciting 00:03.920 --> 00:06.010 and frustrating (chuckles) 00:06.010 --> 00:11.010 and really challenging at times but it's really rewarding. 00:11.380 --> 00:13.060 - It is a huge privilege, 00:13.060 --> 00:15.210 to be able to travel around the world. 00:15.210 --> 00:16.990 Be educated in many different ways. 00:16.990 --> 00:17.823 Meet so many people. 00:17.823 --> 00:19.570 Have my children grow up, 00:19.570 --> 00:21.430 in so many different diverse cultures 00:21.430 --> 00:22.800 where they're gonna be able to see, 00:22.800 --> 00:24.950 really appreciate other people 00:24.950 --> 00:27.999 and have seen the world before they're even teenagers. 00:27.999 --> 00:29.281 - It's not for everybody. 00:29.281 --> 00:30.564 Gotta stay hungry. 00:30.564 --> 00:32.107 You gotta stay motivated. 00:32.107 --> 00:36.890 Making the most of your situation is key, 00:36.890 --> 00:37.723 very key. 00:37.723 --> 00:38.556 - Is it worth it? 00:38.556 --> 00:40.510 Mmh, that's all in your mind. 00:40.510 --> 00:41.343 It was worth it for me, 00:41.343 --> 00:42.850 'cause I got three degrees from it. 00:42.850 --> 00:45.133 You know. (laughs) 00:45.133 --> 00:47.990 - I definitely think there are stigmas that come, 00:47.990 --> 00:49.670 with being a military spouse. 00:49.670 --> 00:51.350 I had some of them myself 00:51.350 --> 00:53.520 when I was brand new into it. 00:53.520 --> 00:55.760 I had my own ideas of what a military spouse was, 00:55.760 --> 00:57.140 what they should be, 00:57.140 --> 00:59.810 how I did or did not fit into that. 00:59.810 --> 01:02.130 - Some of the stigmas come from our own community, 01:02.130 --> 01:04.520 because there could be a very one dimensional view 01:04.520 --> 01:05.353 of who we are. 01:05.353 --> 01:06.340 - They just want their... 01:06.340 --> 01:08.460 The try care. 01:08.460 --> 01:10.520 That's the only reason that they're there for it 01:10.520 --> 01:15.520 and they don't wanna get a job or an education. 01:16.110 --> 01:17.251 - Now, according to Hire for... 01:17.251 --> 01:18.830 Hire of Heroes, 01:18.830 --> 01:22.610 over 50% of the military spouse 01:22.610 --> 01:25.140 would have some type of formal education. 01:25.140 --> 01:26.790 - My education is in engineering, 01:26.790 --> 01:28.060 and I like things. 01:28.060 --> 01:29.500 I'm the bullet list maker (laughs) 01:29.500 --> 01:31.390 and I like everything together with. 01:31.390 --> 01:33.540 Just take that and crumple it up, 01:33.540 --> 01:34.760 and throw it out the window (laughs) 01:34.760 --> 01:35.830 and start another one 01:35.830 --> 01:40.120 because the military lifestyle never goes according to plan. 01:40.120 --> 01:42.330 - One of the main obstacles is, of course, 01:42.330 --> 01:45.230 the long hours and the deployments that come along 01:45.230 --> 01:46.890 with being married to someone in the military 01:46.890 --> 01:49.860 and so that leaves a bit of loneliness, 01:49.860 --> 01:51.950 - You really have to be flexible, 01:51.950 --> 01:53.190 you really have to be strong, 01:53.190 --> 01:57.370 you have to understand just being mentally healthy. 01:57.370 --> 02:00.412 - Yeah, it's incredibly hard to succeed here. 02:00.412 --> 02:04.793 For the job market is not for every single spouse. 02:05.680 --> 02:07.390 But, it's what you make of it 02:07.390 --> 02:09.850 and you try to take advantage of every opportunity 02:09.850 --> 02:12.000 that the military will give a spouse. 02:12.000 --> 02:14.520 - A lot of people think that readiness 02:14.520 --> 02:16.200 is just about putting the uniform on 02:16.200 --> 02:18.560 and getting the training when you're active duty. 02:18.560 --> 02:21.970 But military spouses support their service members at home, 02:21.970 --> 02:24.570 that's the ultimate wing person or wingman, 02:24.570 --> 02:27.350 and they also support the community as a whole. 02:27.350 --> 02:30.023 - I think it's important to say to them, 02:31.320 --> 02:33.640 we see you and you're doing a great job. 02:33.640 --> 02:37.410 And I understand, I've seen a couple times now like 02:37.410 --> 02:39.410 this is in kind of crisis mode. 02:39.410 --> 02:41.720 And without the spouse community, 02:41.720 --> 02:42.690 it would fall apart. 02:42.690 --> 02:47.160 This spouse community really helps keep things together. 02:47.160 --> 02:49.370 - We don't get recognized. 02:49.370 --> 02:52.740 And it's nice to be recognized and feel appreciated 02:53.610 --> 02:56.100 from the armed forces and stuff like that. 02:56.100 --> 03:00.460 - I think you should just inherently do it every day. 03:00.460 --> 03:02.840 Just appreciate the people that support you. 03:02.840 --> 03:04.530 - So we're able to lift each other up 03:04.530 --> 03:06.510 as spouses and then the military members 03:06.510 --> 03:08.500 are lifting the spouses up as well. 03:08.500 --> 03:11.630 That's going to help us all feel supported and in turn, 03:11.630 --> 03:14.630 it just has a ripple effect to help everyone around. 03:14.630 --> 03:17.520 - I couldn't do this without my other military spouses. 03:17.520 --> 03:19.090 I can't be a lone military spouse. 03:19.090 --> 03:20.320 I need everybody else 03:20.320 --> 03:23.410 and it's a great, 03:23.410 --> 03:24.243 wonderful community 03:24.243 --> 03:25.520 that I'm honored and proud 03:25.520 --> 03:28.222 to be considered a military spouse. 03:28.222 --> 03:30.805 (upbeat music) 03:34.792 --> 03:37.375 (gentle music)