Elizabeth Birk

Share your military spouse story:
I've been a military spouse for almost 24 years. I had no idea what I was getting into, but loved my husband, so I said yes when he proposed. When I married my husband, I immediately got involved in the FRG, and soon took the leadership role. I brought the families together during deployments and made sure everyone had the help they needed. We married in May of 2001, and most of you know what happened right after that. We had four children within six years, and dealing with small kids while spouses deployed was not exactly fun. But I got through it. How do you do it? How do you manage when your husband is gone for a whole year? These are questions that I've been asked over and over again. The answer is, I don't know. I just put one foot in front of the other and breathe. Ok, sometimes wine, and other times chocolate. Always, friends. I've always been a dooer, and can't really sit still. My family thinks I'm part Energizer Bunny. If I see something that needs to be done, that I am able to do, I do it. I have a hard time saying no. But again, I'm not alone. Every military spouse goes through some hard times, and we are stronger for it. Someone once told me that I am a community builder. After much thought, I have to say, she's not wrong. When my kids were in pre-school, I started a play group as a way to let the kids burn off some energy, and give the parents an outlet to share stories and support each other through the toddler years. I was active in my kids school years, and even became the PTA President. When I started my small business, I met with my teammates often to work together to set and achieve our goals. Now, I help other small business owners succeed while overseas. But what's special about me? What has made my life so compelling? It's really hard to look back at your life and decifer it. You see, I don't think I'm all that special. I do what I do, every day, because I love it, and I feel deep in my heart that I can help people.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
FRG Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2-15 FA. After just a couple of years a as military spouse, I became the Family Readiness Group (FRG) Leader for my husband's unit. His commander was a bachelor officer, and asked Jim if I would help. Since Jim had deployed a year before in a different unit, I knew a little bit of what to expect, or at least thought I did. As this was the first time deploying for 90% of the Soldiers, I didn't have any "senior wives" to turn to- it was their first time too. It was a steep learning curve, juggling a couple of toddlers and navigating a whole new alphabet of agencies, but I learned two things along the way: 1/ most agencies legitimately were willing to help work through issues (bills, childcare, medical stuff) and 2. the other spouses were navigating this just like I was, and as scared or alone as I felt, I had least been through it before, so I had a duty to over-communicate and make sure people knew I was available to talk to.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
Over the last 24 years, I've volunteered thousands of hours supporting organizational and installation events. I've primarily focused on spousal employment outreach and on advocating for access to services. Currently, my involvement takes the form of being a sitting member of the US Army Garrison Stuttgart Community Leaders Information Forum, US European Command Family Readiness Group Core Steering Committee, Home-Based Business Council, and President of the Stuttgart Community Spouses Club. These organizations all give back to our military community in a variety of ways including grants and scholarships, information sharing, and employment opportunities.

Describe how you support your community:
As the current president of the Stuttgart Community Spouses Club, I'm leading an organization consisting of approximately 350 members with members social events, community outreach and 450 hours of engagment each year. Additionally, on our grant and scholarship side, we raise and distribute approximately $261,000 every year to military families here in Stuttgart. We also run the Stuttgart Thrift Shop, providing low-cost items to our community, where we have a constant stream of gently-used donated and repurposed goods. When not working with the Spouses Club, I also help propel the Home Based Businesses in the Community with opportunities to share their products and services. I set up a networking group, to include meetings and communication avenues to help other working spouses, as well as supporting those who are still looking for ways to get started in business.

What do you advocate for? Why?
My biggest issue is spousal employment. Outside the US, the policies, regulations, national laws, and other bureaucratic hurdles can make spousal employment- especially with a home-based business- seem like an impossible goal. In line with President Biden's 09JUN2023 'Executive Order on Advancing Economic Security for Federal Spouses', I work with the various agencies such as MWR, Garrison Employment Office, Home-based Business Coordinator, and the Private Org Office to ensure that locally implemented policies aren't in oppoistion to the Executive Order. I work with spouses to help them 'get to yes' when it seems like everywhere they turn, the intial answer is always something like "we can't do that", or the (old) policy says otherwise. It's my understanding that cutting through red tape and out of date policies regs is the true spirit behind Presidential Directives of this nature. I wish there had been someone advocating for me in this way when I was a young military spouse.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I have used the Home Based Business panel, Community Leader Information Forum, higher echelon Family Readiness Group, and the Stuttgart Community Spouses Club Presidency to discuss spousal employment advocacy and HBB initiatives. I've done a couple of spotlights on AFN (local radio station) for upcoming events. I participate in active community Facebook pages and try to spread information as widely as possible. I attend agency meetings that focus on strategies to support HBBs. I also have sat down with key leaders and key spouses in the community and quality of life councils to explain the obstacles working spouses overseas face. Public speaking has never really been a concern for me. So I take opportunities as they present themselves to share pain points with people who may be willing to work with me to make improvements. Communication is key, and I will use any forms that might reach the person who needs to hear it to enact change.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
As an MSOY selectee, I have a duty to spread awareness and advocacy. In a military system, each commander or unit leader has a vision and a command philosophy, but also inherits a set of planned activities as well as a responsibility to carry out work that spans more than their tenure in a leadership role. Essentially, every leader stands on the shoulders of those who came before, and also creates their legacy by passing on a roadmap for the leaders that will follow them. If selected, I'll do my best to continue to reach and empower spouses just like other spouses have reached out and empowered me.