Brianna Thrash

Share your military spouse story:
My name is Brianna Thrash and I have been a military spouse for 14 years. The beginning of this life style was very difficult for me. My husband and I met when we were in sixth grade and our senior year of high school, we found ourselves pregnant. Trevor graduated from basic training, 5 days later we had a beautiful baby boy, and 17 days later Trevor reported to his first duty station in Hawaii. After 8 months of being apart, we finally got married, but one month later Trevor deployed to Iraq. We had spent so much time apart and our son had grown so much, by the time we were finally reunited we faced a lot of hardship. Being so young, new to parenthood, new to living together, and being so far from home caused a lot of strife between us. I didn’t understand his job and he didn’t understand why I was having a hard time with the adjustment. For a year and a half we struggled, and it wasn’t until I met a wonderful woman who had some experience that I started to find my way. She let me know that I wasn’t alone and helped me to find a way to fill my time. I began volunteering for the company my husband was attached to and through that I found a new understanding for his job. I finally felt like I was a part of my husbands world and not just along for the ride. I continued to volunteer my time and slowly began to find myself and happiness once again. The more time I spent within the community the more I realized there were others who also had the same struggles I had. If it wasn’t for one woman in my life coming in to help guide me I don’t know where I would be. I started and I have continued to help other spouses navigate the military lifestyle. No one should be alone.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
In the past I have lead 2 company SFRGs and I am currently leading one now. In that role I help plan and execute welcome home events for the troops, help to connect spouses to one another to create a community within the company, and distribute information to keep everyone updated with the garrison and company level events. I am also the Spouse Sponsorship Coordinator for the battalion here in Italy. In that role I am helping incoming spouses with their OCONUS PCS by getting them the information and resources they need for the move, and welcome them to the community when they arrive. At the Vicenza Middle School, I am the student advisory committee President. There we come together and discuss community concerns within the school and do our best to create solutions for them.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
In 2012 we PCS’d to Texas and I found myself fulfilling a volunteer role as a key caller within the SFRG and eventually leading the SFRG. I also realized how many others were struggling the same way I was, and how I could help those young spouses and let them know they were not alone. I have taken that approach forward into my role here in Italy as the Spouse Sponsorship Coordinator and SFRG leader for Legion Co with the 1-503. That realization also lead me to volunteer within other areas within the community. I began volunteering with CYS as a coach for youth sports while stationed at Fort Moore. I have continued to coach through CYS here in Italy and now at the high school as a cheer coach. I also volunteer at the middle school on the SAC Committee. This position allows me the opportunity to help bring community concerns to the table and help create a wonderful environment for the kids.

Describe how you support your community:
Within the SFRG and the Sponsorship program, I am always reaching out to others to include them in the program. Being stationed overseas is very difficult especially if it’s your first PCS, and making connections can be hard. Bringing seasoned spouses and new spouses together through these programs helps to build a strong community.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I am a huge advocate for helping new spouses navigate moving overseas, and for the kids. Making an OCONUS move is much more difficult than a normal PCS. The spouse sponsorship program is amazing and allows for the spouse to have contact with someone here who can help them step by step without having to rely on their soldier. If utilized correctly, it could elevate so much stress of the unknown with the move for both the spouse and the kids. This big of a move doesn’t just affect the adults, it affects them as well.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I have continued to press the importance of the program at all meetings I attend. There are already big Army moves happening to help better facilitate the process.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope to continue to encourage all of those around me to find a way to give back to the community. I will also continue to with pushing the Spouse Sponsorship Program to reach everyone it’s intended to. No one ever wants to feel like a fish out of water or be lost in the shuffle. My desire to bring the recognition to what needs to be fixed and do my best to make sure everyone has help.