Kaitlin Severson

Share your military spouse story:
I have had "military" surrounding me from the time I was born. I was first the proud daughter of an active-duty U.S. Army dad, then I became the proud sister of an active-duty U.S. Navy sister, and by far, my favorite title has been a U.S. Marine Corps wife. Growing up next to Marine Corps Base Quantico, I never knew how much the words “Marine Corps” would become so much of who I am. I began working for the Marine Corps and Navy shortly after college, forming relationships with the media, writing speeches and press releases for senior leaders, and spending time documenting the technology that would inevitably end up in the hands of our American warfighters. It was in this role that I met my now husband, an active-duty Marine, and the most steadfast and loyal man I've ever known. In observing his unwavering dedication to serving others, the Marine Corps, and our country, I fell in love with the man in front of me and the mission he was so fervently chasing. For the last 6 years, through every PCS, deployment, TAD, and everything in between, I have grown committed to serving the Marine Corps, a service that has provided me and my family with so much. I look at every "change of plans" as a new opportunity to serve Marines and their families. In 2022, just days after my husband deployed, I joined a community of military spouses called 'Wives of the Armed Forces,' as the Marine Corps lead, where I seek to help and empower other Marine Corps spouses around the globe. In a world where "military spouse" has become an increasingly difficult badge to wear, I am proud to wear it amongst many other inspiring and resilient men and women. Today, we are so blessed to call Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton our home, but as the saying goes - home is where the heart is, whether he's here with me in sunny SoCal, training in the middle of Twentynine Palms, or thousands of miles overseas completing a mission. I look forward to all of the years to come!

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
In my current role working for the Marine Corps, I have the honor of serving as a Global lead for our Service Employee Resource Group, alongside another incredible woman who serves in the National Guard. Given the nature of our work, many of our employees are veterans, actively serving our country in the reserves or National Guard, spouses like myself, or are allies, looking to support our nation's heroes. My mission in my employee resource group is to elevate the voices of those who have sacrificed so much, time and time again, for our country. I have worked hand-in-hand with our incredible HR and DEI team to ensure that our employees' voices are heard and reflected in every decision that we make. We often participate in events, fundraise with other organizations that are serving the military, and host speakers in our military community to empower those in our group. I've been involved in our service employee resource group for 3 years, with this year being my second as a lead.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I am so incredibly grateful for all of my involvement with the military community, but I am most proud of my involvement with the Wives of the Armed Forces (WAF), of which I get to serve alongside. The WAF team, built by two strong military spouses, seeks to cultivate an environment where all significant others have a seat at the table, regardless of rank, branch, or Military Occupational Specialty. The common denominator? A love of country and an unwavering commitment to support our spouse. The community has grown, through so much love and support, to over 18,000 other military spouse followers and receives over 1 million unique views monthly! As the Marine Corps lead, my hope and mission is to add value to Marine Corps spouses and significant others across the globe. If I have learned one thing in my years as a military spouse, it is by surrounding myself with other incredible military spouses that I have become better myself. The WAF community is proof.

Describe how you support your community:
While my days are now spent as a Marine Corps spouse, so much of my childhood, I was the proud military daughter, eager for her dad to come home from that (seemingly forever) 18-month deployment to the Middle East. I believe there is so much importance in supporting our military families - spouses, but also parents, siblings, children, grandparents, and all other extended family members. I belong to a community called Birthday Wishes, where I volunteer to help family members celebrate the birthdays of their loved (long-distance) service member. I have now delivered over 200 cakes, cupcakes, meals, balloons, and flowers. I drive from my home all throughout Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Coronado, and Naval Air Station North Island. Nothing compares to seeing a servicemember with a smile on their face, knowing that their family is thinking of them, from thousands of miles away. I'm so grateful to be trusted to serve in their special day.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for ALL military families, whether you're a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a friend, or a combination of all of the above. There is room for everyone at the table. My heart has a soft spot for all new military spouses since it's a place that our entire community has been to before. I remember being so new to the military spouse life; I had no idea how to sew a button onto cammies, I was so unfamiliar with moving my entire life every few years and leaving friends, family, and homes behind - and gosh, there were SO many acronyms. On top of these new-found emotions, I felt that there was such a stigma against military spouses and felt a sense of imposter syndrome, being completely new to the community. I hope that no matter what room I find myself in, every spouse, knows that he or she has a seat open next to me. We're all in this crazy, beautiful life together and we're likely to win more battles when we join side-by-side.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I've made a conscious effort to integrate the message of supporting military spouses into every conversation I engage in, whether it's with fellow military spouses or within a professional context. In fostering community, my approach extends beyond my husband's unit. I love reaching out to spouses across various Marine Corps units. Recognizing that spouses often experience the same challenges, I emphasize the importance of a broader community that transcends unit and rank boundaries. Being part of the Wives of the Armed Forces allows me to contribute to a collective effort in spreading awareness and support for military spouses. With a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, we're reaching spouses around the globe, in every demographic. By consistently embodying these values, promoting community ties, and actively participating in advocacy platforms, I aim to make a meaningful impact in raising awareness and support for the unique challenges faced by military spouses.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
The AFI Military Spouse of the Year title offers a chance to continue to amplify the voices of military spouses and to continue to open doors for our community. I want to prove that impactful change can happen at any level, emphasizing the potential for meaningful contributions, regardless of one's reach. Regardless of your story, your perspective matters and is so desperately needed in our space. I believe that this would be an opportunity to be a beacon of hope for spouses in a difficult season of military life. I'm committed to uplifting the voices of ALL spouses, especially our Gold Star spouses and families, ensuring their experiences are remembered and honored. Above all, I aspire to encourage and empower others to serve, regardless of their spouse's rank, job title, or duty station. There is another spouse out there who needs a spouse like you for support. In the meantime, rest assured that I'll always be in your corner rooting for you, whether we know each other or not!