Stephanie Timm

Share your military spouse story:
Over the years I have wanted to be many different things: a teacher, a forensic analyst, a mother, a police officer, and in kindergarten, a farmer’s wife. One thing I never imagined being was a military spouse. Upon graduation from Iowa State University, I became a full-time police officer for a small town in Iowa while my husband completed his senior year at ISU. We had plans to stay in the area, both be officers, attend Cyclone football games on the weekends, and enjoy a “normal” life. Those plans were turned upside down in the best way possible when my husband decided to walk into an USAF recruiter’s office one day just before graduation. Neither one of us knew what life would look like from that point forward, but we both knew we would embrace it in every way. The one similarity between all the things I had always wanted to be, well besides maybe the farmer’s wife, was I yearned to make a positive difference in the lives of others and community around me. Little did I know, the role of military spouse was the pinnacle of possibilities to make my dream a reality. Our military life began with a PCS to Ramstein AB, Germany. My husband's unit was unique and a revolving door for TDY's. I jumped right in and began serving as one of the Key Spouses. This granted me a deeper connection to other unit families, service members, and my husband. I also connected with more of the community by volunteering with the Girl Scouts and as the tech support for the praise team at the Ramstein Chapel. This was our first chance to experience military friends becoming family. While staying close to base was great, we also embraced overseas life by traveling! Our first son was born at LRMC 8 months before we PCS'd back to the United States. When our plane landed in MD, the USA was his 12th country and the start of another new journey! Over our next PCS’s, I continued to find my footing and serve the community around me. I have found my dream come true title: Military Spouse!

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
Thanks to the encouragement, support, and inspiration of my many mentors, I have been able to find my footing as a leader within the community. Leadership takes innovation, dedication, and perseverance. These skills were put to the test when I was elected and served as President of the Fort Meade Spouses’ Club during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the support of a dedicated board of volunteers, we maintained all operations virtually, with an occasional porch drop-off, including morale-boosting socials, business meetings, and committee meetings. Despite the challenges of only meeting online and hosting drive-and-go events, the creativity of the team I led allowed us to continue serving our community. Some of the programs included providing virtual learning tools to students, a drive-and-go Children’s Holiday Party, spouse appreciation events, and scholarships for both dependent spouses and children.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
Bungee jumping in New Zealand was incredible, but it doesn’t compare to the biggest jump of diving head first into life in our military community. Each new adventure has been exhilarating, terrifying, and worthwhile. I have had the honor of serving as Key Spouse for my husband’s units in Germany and Colorado and was recognized as Key Spouse of the Year at the Group level. I also have had the pleasure of being on the boards for Protestant Women of the Chapel, Thrift Shop, and multiple Spouses’ Clubs. I am currently serving on the Executive Board for the Fort Meade Spouses’ Club and the Post Thrift Shop Council. I believe the best way to enjoy our home is to be active from day one, including being connected with the local community. I am involved with rebuilding the PTA at my oldest son’s school to help provide the best opportunities for all students. At each new base, I strive to push myself to connect with others, encourage others to do the same, and serve those all around us.

Describe how you support your community:
Military spouse inclusion has changed a lot over the years and positive changes are continuing to take place. When I came to Fort Meade, MD, I joined the Enlisted Spouses’ Club (ESC). It was a group of individuals with a strong passion for service to their community and a strong family atmosphere. Discussion began about ways to grow the capabilities of the organization. As talks continued, a transition committee was formed under the guidance of the President of the ESC. I was asked to be part of this opportunity and promptly agreed. Through the works of this committee, I was able to be part of expanding the reach of the ESC to spouses of all ranks and spouses of civilian employees. Together, we grew from the Enlisted Spouses’ Club to the Fort Meade Spouses’ Club which continues to grow in numbers and service each year.

What do you advocate for? Why?
My passion is military scholarship programs! Providing opportunities to fellow military spouses and dependent children to continue their educations is why I fell in love with the missions of the spouses’ clubs at each base so quickly and felt pulled to serve as Scholarship Director where I was able to award $50,600 in scholarships to 14 military spouses and children. I was blessed by my parents to attend Iowa State University without having to worry about how the bills were being paid. I recognize this is not the case for everyone and love that we do our part to help ease a bit of that burden. My biggest passion is for scholarships awarded to those who are making positive influences within their local communities through volunteerism. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I truly believe that our scholarship awardees are helping to change our world for the better.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I love opportunities for in-person communication, especially when related to discussing military spouse and dependent children scholarships. I believe a personal touch can enhance community as much as it enhances communication. As Scholarship Director of the Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses’ Club, I networked with Garrison leadership and Exchange management to promote the scholarships we provide. I also met with PTA boards of high schools within the surrounding community so they had a chance to ask questions, receive flyers, and discuss the best ways to reach their students and encourage them to apply. To maintain attention to the scholarships available, consistent postings were made via social media and briefings were given during spouse gatherings. After awarding the scholarships at our public recognition ceremony, I was interviewed by the ESC newsletter director and The U.S. Army Fort Meade SoundOff newspaper.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
The future is created by and designed for those around us and the children within our communities. With the AFI Military Spouse of the Year title, I would love to continue spreading opportunities for those who will be our next doers, thinkers, and leaders. I believe I can always do more for others and be more for my community, and this title would be a valuable tool for that growth. The networking force of the AFI Military Spouse of the Year is invaluable and would provide a needed platform for expansion and connection of scholarship programs. I am inspired by each military spouse and each military child I meet and want to encourage them to continue their educations and experiences.