Emily Alos

Share your military spouse story:
I’ve been an Army spouse for six years and counting. After relocating to Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2014 for a teaching job, I joined eHarmony – because why not? After matching with a few duds in 2015, I matched with my now husband, Joey, who was at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty). After three years of crazy 82nd Airborne training schedules, a deployment, and impending orders to PCS to Washington, DC., we decided to tie the knot. Embarking on this military life has taken us to Washington, DC., where we survived the COVID pandemic. In 2021, I followed my husband to Fort Rucker, Alabama (now Fort Novosel), where he went through WOCS and flight school. We have spent the last two years exploring the Last Frontier at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Despite a large portion of my identity as a military spouse, I have many other titles, including mama, Doctor of Education, teacher, and volunteer. We welcomed our daughter in 2022. Due to an OCONUS PCS, we decided I’d stay home with her. This spunky, strong-willed girl keeps me on my toes all day as I try to keep the household in line and functioning while attending to day-to-day activities. Aside from our child, my most significant accomplishments have been my teaching career and obtaining my doctorate in educational leadership. Moving around is never easy for a career; however, I have been lucky enough to find jobs doing what I loved in all of our locations before Alaska. In June of 2023, after 5 years of studying, researching, analyzing, and writing, I graduated with honors from National University with my EdD. Since childcare is hard to come by in Alaska and I’m not currently teaching, I’ve spent much time giving back to the FWA community through lots of volunteering.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
Upon arriving at Fort Wainwright, I quickly sought out the spouses' club. Unfortunately, at the end of the 2022-2023 club year, the club was at risk of disbanding. In a location like Fort Wainwright, we deal with long, cold winters and isolation from family and friends in the Lower 48; therefore, an organization that allows individuals to get out of their houses and meet other spouses is essential. Since the fall of 2023, I have been the president of the spouses' club. I have worked tirelessly with my small board of 5 other spouses to rebuild and rebrand the organization. Countless hours went into gaining Garrison's approval and reestablishing the organization legally. I continue to lead the board in event planning and execution, fundraising efforts to benefit military dependents and organizations, and creating a sense of community for all interested in participating in this organization while supporting the Fort Wainwright community.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My goal within the military community has always been to create that feeling of belonging for those around me. I have supported the military community through various volunteering since shortly after meeting my husband. I was a key caller for the SFRG during our time at Fort Liberty. When we PCSed for recruiting duties to the Washington DC area, I took on the role of company SFRG leader. Unfortunately, COVID hindered many of my plans for the SFRG to grow. Since relocating to Alaska, I have been a key caller, treasurer, and co-leader. In the fall of 2023, I became President of the Fort Wainwright Community Spouses’ Club. The club went through a rebuilding period, and the hard launch was in August of 2024. Regardless of what I’m involved in, I want everyone to feel a sense of community and build that village we all need as military spouses/families.

Describe how you support your community:
Being a military spouse can be wonderful yet utterly chaotic. We pick up, move, and then rebuild our lives every few years. Despite thinking we can be Superwoman when dealing with deployments, training exercises, children, jobs, and whatever else life throws at us. Add living in Interior Alaska to all of that, and there's now isolation and seasonal affective disorder to worry about. "Finding your community" and "building your village" is so important when we can't count on family or consistent childcare to get us through the mundane. There should not be shame in admitting we cannot do it all. I want spouses to understand that asking for help is okay. Several people are ready and willing to lend a hand if we encourage one another to speak up when times get tough. We don't have to weather all these storms alone. By leading the spouses' club and SFRG, I hope that I am helping each member find connections to build their communities and villages.

What do you advocate for? Why?
As a military spouse, I advocate for inclusion and involvement to encourage community and positive relationship building. Being a military spouse is hard. We all deserve to have that community and sense of belonging. There is often still a misconception that officer spouses can only be friends and interact with other officers and enlisted spouses with other enlisted spouses. My husband's rank doesn't dictate who I can be friends with, who I call on in a time of need, or the people I want to surround myself with. We are all equals in this role as military spouses. Everyone has something to share that others will benefit from or learn from. We need to build one another up, not tear one another down.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Most of the work I do to encourage inclusion and involvement is through the spouses' club. The platform for the spouses' club is to foster friendship and community through participation in social events, volunteering, and fundraising efforts that directly benefit the community. I meet monthly with the Garrison Command Team and senior spouses to brief them on past events, fundraising efforts, and the general direction and climate of the organization. I attend many events hosted by MWR and various SFRGs to tell more about the spouses' club and its mission. As an SFRG co-leader, I ensure the company's spouses and families are current on events and training affecting the soldiers' schedules. I let each family know I am here if they need anything.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
My role as a spouse within the military community is just beginning to bloom. I am confident that in another year, when it's time to leave Fort Wainwright, I will have left it in a much better place for the spouses lucky enough to continue calling it home. Aside from encouraging inclusion and involvement amongst fellow military spouses, I hope to continue giving back. Right now, I want to volunteer and do all the things. I also know that there are many struggles and challenges that military spouses and families face each day, whether it be PCSing, spouse employment, childcare, or education. Through continual volunteering and networking with more individuals, I hope to find one facet of military life that needs strengthening, focus on improving, and take with me to continue advocating for wherever we end up next.