Caroline Torres Marin

Share your military spouse story:
I have been a Navy Spouse for 8 years, a loyal friend, a science and nature lover, a lifelong learner, and a skilled cooker and baker—much to the delight of my husband and friends. In my native country, I was a chemistry, biology, and physics teacher. Teaching is a natural skill for me. It is something I do without even thinking about it, probably because it is in my blood since my parents were teachers, too. How did I end up in military life? My husband and I met as kids and became the best friends in high school. He moved to the United States and joined the Navy. As we matured, our eyes opened to realize that we were exactly the partners we had been searching for. So, after an unforgettable proposal in an idyllic place in Costa Rica, we married. I quit my teaching job and left behind 15 years of my very successful teaching career and my cherished friends and relatives. More than eight years later, I don’t regret my decision. My husband is my soulmate, best friend, best food client, lover, and the love of my life. It hasn’t been easy to make my way in a different country and this military world, but I am also a fighter and someone who doesn’t give up easily. As a scientist, I’m familiar with adjusting hypotheses and persevering until I find solutions—a mindset I’ve carried into life’s challenges. Now, I am embarking on a new career path in computer networks while also leveraging my teacher's natural skills to support military spouses who need someone to mentor them through the vicissitudes of Navy life. I also guide a team of mentors in our organization, helping them support their mentees with compassion and knowledge. Through these experiences, I’ve discovered that I’m a natural leader with a talent for organization and administration. These skills have been invaluable in supporting my team and contributing to the success of the organization I proudly volunteer with.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
After joining the Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN), I was honored to advance to the position of Branch Mentor/Manager of the Navy Team of Mentors within seven months. I have now served in this role for a year, during which I’ve made significant contributions to supporting Navy spouses and enhancing engagement within our community. In this time, I’ve authored 190 resource-packed posts, which have increased education and awareness about available resources for Navy spouses by 64.32%. These efforts have also boosted member interaction in the Navy Spouses Forum Hub by 55.88%. In addition to my own contributions, I lead a dedicated team of Navy Mentors who have collectively supported 61 Navy spouses through the Mentorship Program. Together, we’ve created and shared 88 additional informative posts, driving a 35.68% increase in member readership and a 44.12% rise in platform interaction.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My involvement in the military community began a few years ago when I joined the Military spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) as a member. I was amazed to discover the abundance of resources available to us – military spouses. Honestly, I had no idea. As someone who is intrinsically motivated, I delved deeper into researching additional resources and quickly realized two things: there’s an incredible wealth of support out there, and many military spouses remain unaware of these opportunities. This realization inspired me to take action. So, I decided to join MSAN as a volunteer and help spread the word about these resources while mentoring fellow spouses. I now dedicate over 10 hours a week to researching, curating, and sharing resources in the MSAN hub. My goal is to educate and empower my peers, ensuring they have access to the support they need to thrive in this unique lifestyle.

Describe how you support your community:
I support my community by creating digital resources that streamline mentorship responsibilities and empower my team to confidently assist others. These efforts have enhanced our ability to make a positive impact on Navy spouses while fostering a connected, informed, and resilient community. Additionally, I actively engage with my community by attending events organized by fellow military spouses and leaders, as well as spreading awareness of valuable resources to service members so they can share them with their spouses.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for educating and empowering military spouses in all aspects of what military life entails. Why? Because ignorance and complacency are our greatest enemies. We – military spouses – have remained passive for way too long instead of fighting for a better outcome for ourselves and all the military spouses’ community.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I have spread it by talking to other military spouses within my base, through my social accounts, and by representing the MSAN organization in other events.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I aim to be a beacon of hope for other foreign-born military spouses, guiding them to navigate this unique journey. My hope is that they embrace their identities and cultures while allowing the challenges of military life to shape them, uncovering strengths they never knew they had and opening doors they never imagined. Though my journey hasn’t been easy, it has been profoundly rewarding, and I am deeply grateful for this life.