Bethany Jett

Share your military spouse story:
I didn't intend to marry a military man but God had other plans. Shortly after we married in 2004, Justin Jett entered veteran status and began his dream of full-time vocational ministry. We started our family and I worked happily by his side until we realized ministry wouldn’t be our forever path. The military welcomed us back with open arms and this time, I walked into its sweet (and sometimes salty!) embrace happily. As we waited almost a year for a tech seat to open, Justin worked two jobs and I needed a way to help supplement our income. With three little boys at home and a move to Keesler in our future, I needed flexibility and something I could control. To make ends meet, I began a part-time freelance writing business, published several books, and eventually transitioned into my current role as a literary agent. Though my career grew and evolved, military life continued to leave its mark on our family and my personal growth. Life as a Guard spouse has its own unique challenges, but only a military spouse understands the struggle of holding down the fort during deployments, crying over the kitchen sink after the kids confetti the kitchen walls and ceiling with taco meat during an ill-timed one-moment-of-solitude-for-mommy-please, and dealing with the aftermath of a flooded basement in a new home less than twenty-four hours after our spouse leaves the country. Military spouses don't always get moments of peace but we get to wave "Welcome Home" signs and American flags at the airport when our heroes finally have their “boots on the ground.” We recognize the smell of uniforms that have been in other countries. We tolerate gear and go-bags littering our foyers. We raise resilient children as we become more resilient ourselves. This life has brought strength, independence, tears, courage, and an immense amount of love and sacrifice for this country that we serve hand-in-hand with our spouse. And that’s a badge I wear with pride.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
I had the privilege of attending the MSOY awards last year and was deeply inspired by the incredible leadership demonstrated by so many spouses in our community. Comparatively, my leadership experience has been quieter and more behind-the-scenes. While I’ve not held any official roles, I strive to be the helping hand, the listening ear when deployments feel overwhelming, and the voice of encouragement to spouses navigating the challenges of military life. As a literary agent, I’ve had the honor of connecting with military spouses at writing conferences and representing both military spouses and veterans as clients. Having lived the military life myself, I bring a unique understanding to those I support, offering not just professional guidance but also empathy and encouragement as they pursue their dreams.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My involvement in the military community was more active when we lived in Tampa and Justin was on full-time active duty. During those years, the role of “military spouse” felt all-encompassing. While I’m grateful for online groups (especially now that I also hold the title of “military parent” as a proud #WingMom!), the experience of being a military spouse feels different now that we’re in the season of once-a-month drill weekends. These days, my connection to the military community is strongest through the writers I support—military spouses pursuing their publishing dreams while navigating the unique challenges of military life. While it’s not an official group, those personal connections are incredibly fulfilling and allow me to serve this community in a meaningful and impactful way.

Describe how you support your community:
I am passionate about seeing more military spouses supported and involved in writing conferences. During my tenure as co-owner of my business, I’ve hosted multiple writing conferences—both online and in person—in several states and even led retreats in Tuscany, Italy. As a literary agent, my military connection often becomes a shared bond with querying writers, which I absolutely love. For the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with a group of military spouse writers at one particular conference. Sadly, I’ve noticed this group is no longer listed for the upcoming event, which has only deepened my resolve. This change has sparked a desire to use my connections and resources to ensure military spouse writers are supported—not just within a single conference, but through a group that can connect and uplift military spouses worldwide.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for writers. Being a military spouse doesn't carry a lot of weight when it comes to trying to get a manuscript through a publication board, but it's the millions of moments before, during, and after that matter most. While I mentor and teach writers from all walks of life, it's the military spouses who have a spot closest to my heart and there are not enough opportunities granted to them. Despite the ever-increasing number of online trainings and conferences, I think that military spouses can feel like their whole word revolves around supporting their spouse, solo-parenting when needed, and sometimes setting their dreams to the side, particularly when finances are tight. I mentioned that I'm in a time of transitioning from my writing business into full-time agenting and I believe filling out these questions has helped put the pieces of the puzzle together for me with regards to the future and how I can best use my voice for others.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Over the past eleven years, I’ve been teaching and leading writing conferences and events, where being a military spouse has served as a wonderful icebreaker. It’s often the starting point for meaningful connections with writers eager to network and share their stories. With a modest following of nearly 30,000 across all platforms, I’ve been able to use my voice to encourage military families through my writing. In my book, They Call Me Mom, I dedicated an entire devotional to military families—a message I’ve shared over the years through social media and national podcast appearances. Additionally, I actively support writers within the military community by sharing their work and, whenever possible, gifting their books to others. It’s a small way to uplift their voices and help their stories reach a broader audience.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
The timing of the nomination for the AFI Military Spouse of the Year couldn’t be better, as I’ve been planning my next steps after retiring from my company. I’ve explored several ideas to support writers broadly, but filling out this application brought an unexpected clarity—my two worlds, writing and military life, have come together with purpose. With this title, I hope to amplify awareness within the writing community and create opportunities for military spouse writers. Whether that means starting my own group or partnering with established organizations, I want military spouses to feel empowered to use their writing talents—whether as a means to support their families or simply to support their own mental health and well-being. This nomination has already been an incredible gift, bringing focus to my purpose and reigniting my passion to serve this amazing community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this honor.