Angelica Diaz

Branch: Army

Duty Station: Fort Leavenworth

Number of Deployments: 1

Number of PCS's: 2

Share your military spouse story:
My story is a little different, I first met my husband when we were 14 years old. We are now 26 with and an amazing little boy. My husband enlisted in the Army his senior year and to say we weren’t prepared for what that meant is an understatement. Marriage itself throws some curves balls your way but then adding a military marriage and having a little one in his first year in was one of our favorites memories.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
For me I have never let being “just an enlisted spouse” stop me from trying to give back to my fellow military spouses or my community. As you can see from my nomination, I strive to make every spouse feel welcomed and try my best to provide any and all knowledge and resources I may have. At Fort Campbell, I saw an opportunity to help at the USO, as well as being a point of contact for my husband’s company at the time. It was the very first opportunity that I took as a military spouse and since that day, I haven’t looked back. Here at Fort Leavenworth, I joined the spouses club in June 2019. I first started as their webmaster, but definitely went above and beyond in that role and tried helping in any areas that may need. In 2021, I stepped up into the volunteer coordinator position, which has been such a great opportunity for me because of all of the events I got to coordinate and lead such as Camp Leavenworth, Super sign up, sub clubs, fundraisers, and more.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
This one is easy! Invest in those who invest in you! As mentioned, I have been a part of the spouses club for about four board years you could tend to meet all types of spouses, enlisted officer, retired international, and dual military.

Describe how you support your community:
I always try to shop local and always the first to lend a hand. I have been the Volunteer Coordinator; I organized and coordinated, Wreaths Across America, PX Christmas Gift Wrapping, Camp Leavenworth, Holiday Market and so much more in that position. I also have served as a P.O.C for SFRG making sure spouses and families were doing okay when their service member was on rotation.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Mental Health and Volunteerism

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Outreach! I love talking (maybe too much sometimes) but sharing my experience both good and bad always seem to be helpful to other. - I host Facebook Lives on Monday where we talk difficult topics on Mental Health. - I always try to reach out to new spouses to help organize meet ups or just grabbing coffee together to make them feel welcomed - I have worked with different on post organization to help out solider reach their volunteer hours. - I have worked with multiple non-profits that are mental health based.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
To bring more awareness to volunteer work and mental health. As well as make spouses more welcome and encourage to participate and get out there and try new things. I would have never accomplished as many things I have if I never put myself out there!

Nominations

I work with Angelica on the spouses club at Fort Leavenworth. Last year she was our volunteer of the year. It was a well-deserved honor. She is always involved in making our club a better place. She is our volunteer coordinator and works very hard. She also reaches out to others to provide support and mental health awareness.
- by Lisa Misenheimer

Angelica has been an amazing asset to the Fort Leavenworth community for several years. She is a selfless and caring individual. She has donated a majority of her free time to better spouses within our wide military community. She is also a successful entrepreneur and has built her tech service business through her unrelenting dedication. She has worked tirelessly with several nonprofits close to her heart in the mental health field. Recently, she has started a “Mental health Mondays” stream to address mental health struggles, provide coping skills and a safe place to talk about sensitive topics. Angelica accomplishes so much while being a present, adoring mother to her 5 year old son and a loving, ever-supportive spouse to her service member. She really embodies what it means to be a military spouse and I’m constantly in awe of everything she does.
- by Lee Dillenback

I am personally nominating my wife Angelica Diaz because I know first hand how special she is and what a big part she is of our military community here at Fort Leavenworth and back at Fort Campbell. Angelica will always go the extra mile to help anyone. She is always the first to message a new spouse to welcome them and help guide in any way possible. My wife is currently going on here 4th year on being on the Fort Leavenworth Spouses' Club, she actually was there FLSC Board Member of the Year. There is countless reason why Angelica should be nominated.
- by Joe Diaz

Angelica is an amazing woman and is very active in the military community. She helps all people in need, never hesitates to find a solution.
- by Evelyn Ryan

Angelica goes above and beyond to make sure everyone feels welcome and important. She works hard for every event and Fort Leavenworth is lucky to have her
- by Courtney ricard

My reasons for nominating Angelica would be so obvious to anyone who knows her. I’ve only been a military spouse for a year now, and when my family and I moved to Fort Leavenworth she was the first to show us around and provide us with any resource we needed. I’ve seen her put so much work into small and big things for the community, other spouses, and she participates for many incredible events involving the military. I definitely look up to her with how much she does being part of the FLSC, being a mental health advocate, and being a mother, it’s inspiring.
- by Raven Kimball

I met Angelica about 2 years ago at the Fort Leavenworth Spouses Club (FLSC)- I immediately noticed her hard work ethic and ability to get anything anybody asked from her completed. As a military spouse, and mother she never says no to anyone that needs her help. She inspires and invites all military spouses to join the FLSC so when they move to a new installation they can find/meet other spouses and make connections. One of the biggest challenges in being a mil Spouse is transition and loneliness. Angelica engages these spouses and makes them feel welcome and at home. She has tremendously helped me and on many occasions and has taken the time to hear me out. She has given me sound advice and always takes the time to help me. It truly saddens me as a retired spouse that Angelica at some point in time will PCS- and honestly its a true loss for the FLSC. There is no one better.
- by Connie papacek