Alyson Phillips

Share your military spouse story:
I met my husband while stationed in Japan with my dad who was an Active Duty Marine at the time. Yes, I am a Marine Brat turned Spouse! Not loving that I was moved my Senior year of high school and to a different country, the last thing I was looking for was a Marine and to continue the craziness that is the military lifestyle. Though it wasn't love at first sight, more like annoyance, my husband charmed his way into my heart and I let my guard down. 14 years later we have been through some things to include deployments and the births of our 3 beautiful daughters. Since the beginning of Alex and I's relationship I have made it a mission to continue passing on the love and support that my military family showed me growing up to those that Alex and I have had the privilege of crossing paths with. I have been a part of Family Readiness at every unit even when I was just a girlfriend. Helping with volunteer opportunities, connecting families with resources and one another, as well as supporting single Marines and Sailors anyway possible. I always find a way to help others within our community and units. At every duty station I have made sure to reach out to incoming families as well as families gearing up for deployments in letting them know that "hey I am here and if I can help ease anything during this time just let me know". Sometimes this would look like me opening our home for weekly dinners, helping with babysitting/pet sitting, or just meeting for coffee. Sometimes it meant explaining the importance of a Power of Attorney and how to get one, or how to read an LES, even just being a listening ear during a rough moment. As a milspouse, I feel the importance of constantly building the military family connection is what helps get everyone by and not just within the Marine Corps but all branches. My door and my heart is always open and I love being able to build others up and help them find their military family/tribe.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
I served as a Family Readiness assistant & advisor for several commands & currently serving as appointed advisor at MWTC Bridgeport. I volunteered with Military Spouse Advocacy Network New Military Spouse Support Program with a promotion from Marine Corps Branch Mentor to NMSSP Coordinator. I have been a LINKS mentor since 2009. I was Budget for Baby instructor then Lead for Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, briefed weekly at Camp Pendleton SOI, & lead in bringing & teaching Budget for Baby to Bridgeport. I served as Vice President with the Leadership Education Seminar on Camp Pendleton. I created a leadership panel as well as redesigned the resource fair. I encourage all spouses to open themselves up to new experiences and opportunities, because they are capable of achieving so much more than they may think.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My involvement within my community is never ending, it's where my heart lies. Big or small I am always looking for ways to support and give back to my military community because they are my family. When tragedy struck off the coast of San Clemente in 2021, my immediate thought was we need to be here for each other. So I joined the housing communities in San Onofre together to stand with one another in the grief we were all feeling. When there are new spouses with so many questions and looking for friends, I open my home for spouse nights and other events to help give a more relaxed opportunity in a judge free zone. For the past 2 holiday seasons given our remote location, I took on directing the local elementary school's holiday program so that not only would our military kids but also our local kids have a holiday show. We had an influx of babies here in Bridgeport and the need for a Budget for Baby class so I reached out and made it happen and have been able to teach several classes.

Describe how you support your community:
As a Family Readiness Advisor, I believe in building a strong community amongst our service members and their families. Whether it's through fun social media conversations or hosting get-togethers, my goal is to bring people together. Recently, I organized a Secret Santa event that helped connect service members and spouses in a unique way. I also work closely with our installation counselor to introduce her to the community and ensure that our families have access to the resources they need. When issues arise, I make sure to bring them to the attention of the Commanding Officer and command team, reaching out to necessary parties as needed. It's all about supporting one another and building a stronger, more connected community. Whether its teaching a NMCRS Budget for Baby class or adding some fun like a Zumba session I work hard in supporting my community.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Advocating for a strong and supportive military community is key to keeping the bond within all military spouses and families. The Marine Corps is all about tradition, and I work towards the tradition of being there and supporting my military community. It's important to be able to have a trusting community when times get tough and when there is reason to celebrate because not always do we get lucky to have our actual families close by. A death of a pet, a miscarriage, a baby’s first birthday, postpartum care, moving during the holidays, moving overseas; we are not always so lucky to have family to come be there when we need. Our military family/tribe, however, is always there. No matter where we go or what we go through, there are those ready to step in. It's important to have a trusting community, especially during difficult times. Let's continue to support and uplift one another, and keep our military families strong.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Supporting military spouses and families has always been important to me. As a military brat myself, I understand the unique challenges that come with this lifestyle. That's why I advocate for spouses to never feel alone and to always feel connected. There are so many reasons why military spouses feel overwhelmed but sticking together and supporting each other can make the difference. I believe that there isn't just one way to support one another, and I strive to learn about each person's individual needs and connect them with others who could become their tribe, or apart of mine. Whether it's providing resources and information, volunteering, or mentoring new and seasoned spouses, I am always looking for ways to give back to this community. Through disadvantages, there are also opportunities, and I want to encourage military spouses and kids to see their potential and become leaders themselves.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
With the title AFI MSOY overall, I am committed to raising awareness about the challenges faced by families and service members stationed in remote locations. While places like MCMWTC Bridgeport offer some amenities, there are many things missing that make it difficult. My goal is to work on ways to bring more resources to these locations, so spouses don't feel isolated or miss out on opportunities available at other bases. With a little support from the military community, we can find solutions to make life easier for everyone.