Anna Clark

Share your military spouse story:
My husband and I are high school sweethearts. We met our senior year, he was the accompanist to our high school choir and I fell in love immediately. We both came from extreme poverty situations and literally got married so that we could apply and receive fafsa for college. He enlisted in the Navy after we were both working full time jobs while going to school full time and trying to make ends meet. We've now been on this journey for 17 years. We have a 16, 12, and a 6 year old. We've lived all over and are excited to finish this journey here in our great Nations Capitol. We came from a small one stop light town in Oklahoma, to say that my cultural experience was minute is an exaggeration. I am so thankful to the Navy for what it's given myself and our kiddos. They've been able to experience other cultures and see things that I could only dream of seeing when I was growing up. Just a few things that my family has personally walked in the past 17 years: My husband has lost 90% of his hearing in both ears from deployments. He has to wear hearing aids 24/7 and his hearing continues to degenerate as the years progress. I have 2 EFMP kiddos, both with pretty extensive diagnosis that have caused us to miss out on amazing orders at times. I myself am enrolled in EFMP and am a proud mental health advocate. I knew less than nothing about the military when my husband signed up for this. All I knew was that he was going to be able to go to school for free. We walked into it so blindly and had no one to guide us as we moved across the country. Coming from poverty it was the first time we had consistent income coming in. This life has given and enriched our family tremendously, but it's also taken along the way. I always tell my junior/less salty spouses to take back, take advantage of the programming available, ask questions, make noise, find your people. I'm so thankful to those who helped guide me along the way, and pray that I'm that person for others.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
*Ombudsman for NAS Corpus Christi *Family Readiness Assistant for 22nd MEU *Family Readiness Assistand for II MEF HQ *Ombudsman for OPNAV/SECNAV/JC *Family Readiness President for USS Gerald R Ford *Treasurer for Hampton Roads Chief Petty Officer Spouse Association *VP for Hampton Roads Chief Petty Officer Spouse Association *Treasurer for Belvoir Spouses Club *Social media/Webmaster for Belvoir Spouses Club *Team Captain with Operation homfront in Hampton Roads and National Capitol Region *Event Coordinator with Military Family Advisory Network *DC Programs Coordinator, Mobile Story Station East with United Through Reading

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I am heavily involved in my local community. We currently live on Fort Belvoir in Virginia. There is literally endless opportunities locally to play an active role in all areawide events and I take advantage of all of them. The beautiful thing about the National Capitol Region is how purple it is. I've been able to show up to any Army/AF/Navy/Marine/Coastie/Space Force event and feel welcomed and seen. I currently serve as a Team Captain for Operation Homefront where I lead and organize the various events that they hold in the National Capitol Region. I aslo have the opportunity to attend several local pre deployment and military community events due to my position with United Through Reading. I also have the opportunity to attend local events and Charity functions in the region due to my position with Military Family Advisory Network.

Describe how you support your community:
I am currently employed by three military non-profits. I am a full-time employee with United Through Reading. I am a 1099 contract employee with Military Family Advisory Network. I am a full-time volunteer with Operation Homefront. Between these three I literally work endlessly within our military community to amplify their missions. My work with UTR helps to bridge that gap between service members and their families back home so that they can stay connected no matter what the mission throws at them. My work with MFAN resonates deeply within me as someone who grew up and knows what it feels like to go to bed cold and hungry. My work with Operation Homefront is a beautiful blend of everything. We feed and house and bless with anything that's tangibly needed at any time.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I've been notoriously called The Connector. Being in for as long as we've been in for and barely actually being stationed within our Branch, my resources go far and beyond the normal. I've always been a "see a need; fill a need" person. It has been more about connect those who are in need to the programs already in place. My good friend Besa recently said at our MFAN Solutions Summit "We can lift each other up by amplifying the voices already in the space". I think at times it's overwhelming for military spouses when we go to research a resource. Even working in the VSO/MSO space I learn of new resources weekly. We are enlisted. There have been many a times in my husband’s early career where we needed a hand up and a hand out, be it food/housing/financial/pcs help/mental health crisis where I've called friends or past MSOY'S in tears and they answer, listen, and jump in to help. I'll never forget those who helped us. I pray that I can continue to be a connector for others in need.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I absolutely utilize social media platforms, and any opportunity I get behind a microphone. Give me 20 minutes and a crowd and I can smooze and woo with the best of them. I also am a talker, never met a stranger. I'm not sure if it's the small town in me, but no matter if it's the checkout lady at the commissary or the ladies at the bus stop, you are my new best friend, and I am here for you. My recent position with UTR has led me to do a few tv interviews and while I still struggle with where and what to do with my hands, it has gotten easier each and every time. While I may not be as polished as some, my passion absolutely shines through.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I've seen the reach y'all provide. It's honestly overwhelming. I've been around since 2015, and how the program has grown since then is astonishing. My hope is that I can spread the knowledge that I've gained the past 17 years so that others don’t have to struggle like my family did for so long. I would use the title to amplify all the amazing resources that are out there for families, so that they are not up all-night googling trying to navigate the ins and outs while in crisis mode. I want to be a beacon/light/rainbow what have you to those who are in the trenches like we have been. This life is hard, yes, but not impossible if you know what is available to you.