Brett Turner

Share your military spouse story:
I am an Air Force spouse and an Air Force veteran. I have a unique perspective as a male spouse who has also served, because I understand how the military operates and what to expect during difficult times. As a father of three boys under the age of six, I have learned how to be patient, creative, and proactive when it comes to taking care of a military household. I met my wife while I was still Active Duty, stationed in Hawaii. I was going through a medical board for a heart condition I sustained while serving. We fell in love and stayed together while I was medically retired and moved across the world. When she got orders to Pensacola, I dropped everything and moved to be with her. We moved to Maryland shortly after and got married. It was hard moving around, trying and failing to start a career due to us not knowing when the next set of orders would come down. We became a strong unit, and only became stronger when our first baby was born. Since becoming a military spouse, I have achieved my Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and am currently pursuing a financial management certification as well as a Masters Degree. I am also a key spouse in my wife's Squadron and manage Patrick SFB's Spouse Facebook page. It is very important to me to make sure other spouses have all the information they need to be successful and they know they have resources accessible to them. Being a military spouse is hard but exceptionally rewarding. We are there to love and support our service members through all the hardships the government chooses to throw at us. Through TDYs, deployments, shift-working, weekends in the office, holidays away from family, and late night calls from wayward troops, we weather the storm and fortify our families to face every challenge. I am proud to be an Air Force veteran and spouse, and when my wife retires, we will look back on our time in the military fondly.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
I am the lead moderator for the Patrick SFB Spouse Facebook page. I make sure that every spouse, the service members, and even retirees and civilians associated with the base has the access to resources and community help that they need. I ensure the group is free from scammers, and quickly end negativity if posts become heated. I have also led spouse events such as a trivia night, which was extremely successful. My wife and I have "adopted" Airmen and their families for holiday dinners, and I have assisted families with vehicle maintenance by showing them what to do and lending them tools to complete the job. I have become known for my honesty, integrity, and charm throughout the base. As the Squadron's first male key spouse, I am more approachable for the younger men who may have trouble asking for help, and I am seen as competent and knowledgeable in many areas.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
Unless I am sick or out of town, I make every attempt to attend base, squadron, and spouse events. I am the first to raise my hand to lead events, volunteer my time, and even bake four dozen cupcakes at a moment's notice. There have been several instances where a spouse has reached out to me for help taking them to an appointment when they don't have a reliable vehicle, driving people home when they have had too much to drink, and called to settle disagreements. I learn as much as possible about Air Force and base programs that are available to spouses and help facilitate services to families who need it.

Describe how you support your community:
Education is very important to me, so I always talk about the various educational benefits available to spouses. As with many government programs, navigating educational benefits is often difficult and time consuming so I have maintained SOPs on how to access entitlements and start learning. I share this information with every spouse I meet. These programs are supposed to help spouses develop skills that will help them find careers and improve their financial status as well as empowering them to become highly trained in specialized fields.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for education and being aware of every hidden benefit entitled to military spouses. Being a military spouse is not easy, because we are often uprooted from our lives and careers every couple of years. Sometimes we can find jobs at our next station, and sometimes we go years without something to put on a resume. Having education and transferable skills is vital for us, so we can support our families and be able to have independence and pride in our work.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
The Spouse Facebook group, which boasts 4.4K members, is where I highlight educational benefits. When people are confused about how to initiate their education journey, I walk them through it step-by-step and give them contact information for the program managers. I also try to encourage spouses to come to base events and get to know other spouses to form networks of support. The military is a family, and I treat everyone regardless of rank or status with respect, dignity, and compassion.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I would love to get more male spouses involved in the key spouse program. There has long been a perception that only women run key spouse programs, but 13.8% of all Air Force spouses are male. I want to help male spouses feel comfortable in reaching out for their educational benefits and supporting base events. I would use my platform to coordinate with key leaders to expand spouse benefits and ensure our military families have what they need to not only survive, but thrive and be successful. I am honored for the opportunity to expand my reach and advocate for the families of the brave service members who defend our great country.