Kuria Lyn Spindler

Share your military spouse story:
My journey as a military spouse started in 2007. My husband and I were both active duty and when I separated in 2010 and truly took on the full time role as a military spouse. We have been together now for 17 years and have 2 incredible children. Being in the military has given our family the opportunity to explore our great nation and we have loved every minute of it. Being a military spouse isn't always easy. There are many times that our lives feel out of our control, but it’s this chaos that built my resiliency, adaptability, and the desire to support my fellow military spouses. When our civilian friends ask how I do it, I tell them it’s because he needs me to. But in reality, the whole family needs me to.I am the "Anchor" of our family. I provide the support, security, and the stability which we all need to be successful. Throughout our journey, volunteering has provided me with the opportunity to give back. I have served as an Ombudsman, various positions on our Family Readiness Groups, President of a military spouse organization, volunteered as a Compass Mentor for Naval Services FamilyLine and at my kids school, and am a Girl Scout Troop Leader. While my husband is serving his country, I am dedicated to serving others to make our community better. This year, I went back to work at the Armed Services YMCA and am the assistant Early Learning Director for Hampton Roads. From developing support networks for military spouses, providing early learning development to our military children, and assisting our military families with food insecurity with our onsite food pantry. Every day is a blessing, an honor, and I am humbled by the impact we are making for others. The last 17 years have been an amazing adventure. From the places we have been, people we have met, and those we have helped along the way, every opportunity the military has given me has made me a better wife, mother, and citizen.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
When the COVID pandemic restrictions hit, many of our military support networks stopped. Our community was uncertain of what lay ahead, and the fear of the pandemic made us feel more alone than ever. During this time, I was the President of a military spouse group and it was my mission to be there for others, even when we couldn't be together in person. From virtual escape rooms, to online yoga with friends, it was this creativity that kept us together. When the holidays came, I rallied our board to bring cheer directly to our members' doorstep. By reaching out to local businesses for donations, we assembled over 75 care packages. The Board and I executed Operation Semper Gumby, or always flexible, by donning festive outfits and hand delivering the care packages to families throughout Hampton Roads. It wasn't about the box, but about the message behind it; support. The military group continues to do Operation Semper Gumby today, and it will always remain my favorite contribution.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
When I left the military, I knew I still had more to give to our country, so serving our military spouses is where I dedicated my journey. Throughout my time as a military spouse I have served on numerous Family Readiness Group boards, volunteered as an Ombudsman, and am currently a mentor for Naval Service Family Line's Compass. Helping others is what drives me. I have been a Compass mentor since 2014 and have mentored hundreds of spouses on how to navigate Navy life. From teaching our Naval history, to navigating benefits, learning about available resources, finances, and tips for handling deployments, Compass allows me to assist military families be successful along their journey. My involvement is sometimes as small as sitting with a spouse to just listen, or staying up to date on the ever-changing resources so I can better help others. We are all on this journey together, my drive is to ensure they know what is available to them to make it easier.

Describe how you support your community:
I work for the Armed Services YMCA and our mission is to provide support for military families of all branches and ranks. From education, to socialization, to helping with food insecurity at our local pantry, every day is devoted to giving back to others. Creating a community can be hard, especially when you are moving every few years. Our Operation Little Learners program is designed to help aid others by introducing them to spouses with children the same age. The program is developed in 12 locations throughout Hampton Roads to cover all bases in the area. While we are providing their children skills for educational milestones, the parents are also in attendance to socialize and get to know one another. Knowing another family can make all the difference and we continue to strive to build their communities.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for the military spouse that gave up their hometown, their family, and their friends, for a life as a military spouse. There are so many resources at their disposal, but the first, and largest hurdle, is making sure they know what is available to them. Things like informing them about Tricare's open enrollment period and being an advocate for themselves. That the Armed Services YMCA offers a food pantry that is open to all branches and ranks when times get tough. To taking courses at Fleet and Family Support Center to gain insight into employment, money management, counseling, etc...Even knowing about the fun side of resources that the bases offer with MWR or the USO. I advocate for them to have the best possible experience wherever they are, and to know that they are not alone in their journey.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I was once told that even if you only help one spouse, you are making a difference in their life. Connecting with individuals can be done in many forms. Whether it is meeting them for coffee, commenting on their Facebook posts, or speaking at military events; it is all about getting the information to them. In my free time, I attend Family Readiness Group meetings, military spouse symposiums, Ombudsman assemblies, and have met with military commanders to inform them about programs that can not only benefit their Sailors, but their families. Every day is an opportunity and I will continue to use my voice to advocate for others.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I’ve heard many times, "I wish we knew," or, "I didn't know that was available for us", and both of those statements motivate me to continue my mission. Being named the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year would allow me a larger platform to showcase programs available to provide continued support, opportunities, education, and togetherness for our military families. Together, we can support our military community and ensure that while our service members are defending our nation, their families are being taken care of at home.