Amanda Kibble

Share your military spouse story:
Early in my marriage, I thought silence was a strength. I believed enduring challenges without complaint was part of being a military spouse. But silence only deepened the void. The turning point came during a financial crisis. My husband, serving in the National Guard, didn’t get paid. Missed paychecks turned into months without income. Desperation forced me to act. When we were finally heard, it was clear we were just another problem to solve. That moment changed me. I vowed no other family would feel that helpless if I could help it. When I had to find my voice again, it was for my son. During a deployment, I saw my little boy struggling to make sense of it all. To help him cope, we coauthored a children’s book. I spent years learning to illustrate and publish it. It became my love letter to him that we share with other families around the world. A couple of years later, we used that courage to face an even bigger fight. A change of address meant my son couldn’t stay in his school, despite thriving after years of challenges and a dyslexia diagnosis. A state law meant to protect military children didn’t apply to National Guard families. I begged for his stability but was met with refusal. Turning to the law, I argued the language was ambiguous enough to include us. After months of advocacy, the Attorney General ruled in our favor. This bittersweet victory exposed deeper inequities. Mississippi legislation continues to exclude Title 32 National Guard children from school choice. This fight is far from over. Every child deserves stability and opportunity, regardless of their parent’s military status. I know what it means to feel invisible. But I also know the power of finding your voice and fighting back. For the many National Guard families left out of the conversation, I will continue to fight. Every child deserves to thrive, and every family deserves to be heard.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
As a leader in the military spouse community, I spearheaded the MSNG Semicolon Project to raise suicide awareness within the Mississippi National Guard. This initiative united military families, service members, and external organizations, fostering a collaborative network that created lasting impact. Additionally, I coauthored and illustrated a children’s book with my son to support military children during deployments, showcasing resilience and fostering connection. When my son faced school challenges due to exclusionary legislation, I led advocacy efforts, successfully arguing for National Guard children to retain their educational rights. This experience demonstrated my ability to navigate complex systems, unite diverse stakeholders, and fight for systemic change. I strive to empower military families, amplify their voices, and lead initiatives that foster equity and support within our community.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I have been deeply involved in the military community through advocacy, creative projects, and addressing systemic challenges faced by National Guard families. I coauthored and illustrated a children’s book with my son to help military children navigate the emotional challenges of deployment. I have also brought attention to the gaps National Guard families face with insurance systems designed around Active Duty needs, advocating for reforms to ensure equitable access to healthcare. Additionally, I have worked to challenge legislation that excludes National Guard children from educational protections, successfully securing rights for my son and pushing for broader systemic changes. My involvement reflects a dedication to amplifying the voices of National Guard families and addressing the unique challenges they face, creating lasting opportunities for growth and stability within our community.

Describe how you support your community:
I support my community by advocating for systemic changes that address the unique challenges faced by military families, particularly National Guard families who are often overlooked. In supporting my community, I am working to build bridges between policymakers and military families, ensuring their concerns are heard. By successfully challenging legislation and advocating for equitable healthcare and educational rights, I’ve helped create opportunities for families to thrive. My efforts extend beyond advocacy, as I strive to share resources and knowledge with other spouses, empowering them to navigate their own challenges. Through my creative work, like coauthoring a children’s book, I foster understanding and connection among military families. My passion lies in building an inclusive community where every spouse feels supported, heard, and equipped to overcome the unique hurdles of military life.

What do you advocate for? Why?
In short, I advocate for equity and visibility for National Guard families, addressing the systemic gaps that leave them overlooked. These families face unique challenges in areas like education and healthcare due to policies built primarily around Active Duty needs. I focus on ensuring National Guard children have equal access to educational stability and that Guard families receive healthcare coverage that meets their specific needs. My advocacy stems from witnessing firsthand how these gaps affect families—the uncertainty, the struggle, and the feeling of being unheard. By working to close these gaps, I aim to create a more inclusive system that recognizes and supports the diverse needs of all military families, ensuring no one is left behind simply because of their service status.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I have shared my advocacy message through various platforms, including direct engagement with policymakers, public speaking, and media outreach. I successfully communicated my family’s story to advocate for educational rights for National Guard children, working with public policy organizations and leveraging their networks to amplify the message. I’ve also used writing as a medium, coauthoring a children’s book that addresses the emotional challenges of deployment, which has reached military families nationwide. By collaborating with organizations that support military families, I’ve built bridges to bring attention to the gaps in education and healthcare. My approach combines storytelling, strategic communication, and collaboration to ensure that the unique challenges faced by National Guard families are not only heard but addressed in meaningful ways.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
With the AFI Military Spouse of the Year® title, I hope to bring national attention to the unique challenges faced by National Guard families. This platform would allow me to advocate for equitable policies in education, healthcare, and support systems, ensuring that National Guard families are no longer overlooked. I would use this recognition to connect with policymakers, build collaborations with organizations, and inspire other military spouses to find their voices and lead within their communities. My goal is to create lasting systemic change while fostering an inclusive military community where every family feels supported, regardless of their status. This title would empower me to continue my mission of advocacy, build new opportunities for military families, and leave a legacy of positive change for future generations.