Jennis Stewart

Share your military spouse story:
In 2018, amid the challenges of Hurricane Florence, I met my wife, she was completing humanitarian work aboard Camp Lejeune, NC and I was working as a Police Sgt in Atlantic Beach, NC. A month after meeting, she was due to attend TBS in Virginia, and I was set to continue my career in South Florida to be closer to family. Although we only met for a brief time, we decided to embrace a long-distance relationship. After graduating from the Police Academy, I joined my dream agency, while my wife completed TBS and was informed that she would be attending a lengthy MOS school across the country in California. Undeterred, I drove with her cross country to 29 Palms, and I remained in Florida with my daughter. Given our demanding schedules, we relied on flights and FaceTime calls to bridge the distance. In 2020, after two years of long-distance, we happily married but faced the challenging decision of enduring living apart or one of us prematurely relinquishing our careers for our marriage to have the optimal chance to thrive. Jointly we made the decision, and I left my career of eight years and moved to her new duty station, Camp Lejeune, NC, back to where our story initially began. We remained at Camp Lejeune until 2022 when we received orders to MCRD Parris Island, SC. We packed up our home and moved to the beautiful Low Country with our daughter and one-month-old son. Upon arrival, we had a week to settle into our home before my wife returned to work. I felt isolated and overwhelmed in a new city with two children and a home to manage on my own. But I was determined to belong to this new community. So, I searched for an outlet to meet fellow military spouses and give back. That’s where I found the Parris Island Spouses’ Club and joined their philanthropic club, Private Peppers. Shortly after, I began to feel like I belonged again and have since made it my goal to ensure other spouses feel included and part of the military community.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
Serving as a Family Readiness Assistant (FRA) to five companies within two Battalions has been a dynamic leadership experience. One challenge was the diverse range of personalities and family dynamics within each company. To address this, I prioritized inclusivity, ensuring everyone felt a sense of belonging. I spearheaded initiatives to strengthen community among military families by organizing company potlucks and company picnics to provide an opportunity for families to connect with their Drill Instructors. These activities fostered camaraderie among the military spouses. In addition, I developed a turnover binder for incoming FRAs, ensuring a seamless transition by providing essential insights into the flow of the recruit training cycle. Furthermore, my approach to mentoring fellow FRA's involved personalization, as I took the time to understand their strengths. This has enabled me to continue to foster a collaborative and supportive environment within the Family Readiness Team.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My strong commitment to the military community lies in facilitating an opportunity for military spouses, retirees, and active-duty service members to volunteer within their community and provide support to new Marines without families present on Family Day. In my capacity as Co-Chair for Private Peppers, within the Parris Island Spouses' Club, I oversee the coordination of providing prepaid phones for Marines to connect with their loved ones during this significant milestone. In addition, I collaborate with local military spouses and retirees to donate baked goods for the new Marines, fostering a welcoming atmosphere. In my tenure as Co-Chair, I've had the privilege of engaging with spouses from diverse backgrounds, ranging from the Commanding General's wife to those experiencing their first duty station. Despite these differences, my goal is the same: to support each other, build friendships, and be there for the new Marines.

Describe how you support your community:
Due to the demanding schedule of military members, the extended working hours can be difficult for all families. To foster a sense of community and support, I actively encourage spouses to participate in various events organized by fellow military spouses. These gatherings, such as Play Group, Coffee Club, Book Club, and Stroller Warriors Running Club, provide opportunities to build camaraderie and form lasting friendships with spouses aboard the Tri-Command. Additionally, I participate and encourage spouses to engage in MCCS-hosted competitions. These events serve a dual purpose: raising Battalion funds to reduce meal costs for Drill Instructor families during a recruit training cycle and organizing family-oriented gatherings like the Battalion Christmas Party. By engaging in these activities, I aim to alleviate the potential isolation experienced by military spouses and contribute to building a supportive community and increasing involvement aboard Parris Island.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for building stronger connections among military spouses through community engagement. I actively promote volunteering, lend a hand in organizing purposeful events, and focus on fostering genuine friendships. My goal is to create an atmosphere where spouses feel supported and have the opportunity to participate in activities that contribute to our shared sense of purpose within the community. I sincerely wish that the bonds we make while stationed in Parris Island forge into the strong foundation of a supportive network, providing strength and encouragement through both joyful and challenging moments as military families transition into their next chapters.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
As an administrator for the Private Peppers Facebook Group, I provide weekly updates, informing spouses of opportunities to volunteer on Family Day. Furthermore, I create and maintain a monthly calendar featuring upcoming events hosted by members of the Parris Island Spouses Club. I have also been an administrator for various training Company Facebook pages, where I share information about upcoming base events and relay pertinent details at a company-specific level. In addition, I attend Discovery Night, a monthly event hosted by Family Team Building, designed to introduce new Drill Instructors and their families to life aboard Parris Island. As a Family Readiness Assistant during this event, I aid incoming families by addressing their questions about the Recruiting Company their service member is being assigned to. I also take the opportunity to inform military spouses of upcoming Company Events, ensuring they are well-informed and connected within the military community.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
It has been an honor and privilege to be nominated for the AFI Military Spouse of the Year title and it holds special significance, especially considering the inspiring individuals who have previously received this recognition from Parris Island. Therefore, if chosen, my goal is to use this opportunity to advocate for the involvement of military spouses within their communities and offer support to those who don’t know how to get started. This involves continued collaborative efforts with the Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program to create a supportive and interconnected network for military families and to replicate the positive and inclusive environment experienced at Parris Island. Moving to a new location, away from your home and family, can be an intimidating experience. However, through fostering friendships and relying on each other, military spouses cannot merely overcome challenges but flourish in any new environment no matter where the military takes them.