Ginny Beers

Share your military spouse story:
Hailing from Chicago, it was a leap of faith to move to California for a new career and after a year of exploring my new home, I met my now husband. He introduced to me to a whole new world called the US Air Force. Our first adventure as a married couple sent us to the East coast and we settled in Northern VA. Unfortunately, I found myself discovering our new area largely by myself since he was frequently TDY. Quickly I realized that I needed a social circle for my mental health. Our next move to Maxwell AFB offered an opportunity to manage a large event which I saw as an opportunity to meet spouses also looking to connect. After just a year, we moved back to Los Angeles AFB and considering my previous experiences I came to the realization that connections with other military spouses made all the difference to avoid feeling alone. So, I jumped at the opportunity to be a Key Spouse and supporting over 600 families. My goal was to foster camaraderie for the families within our Directorate through quarterly events, helping spouses connect and share resources, and ultimately forming a true sense of community. With our most recent move we returned to VA and to the NRO which is not a typical base. I was generally aware of a spouse’s group that had been created since our last tour but it was difficult to find any information. The group was hidden on Facebook and the facility did not have any space for spouses to meet which made for an extremely tough environment for spouses to connect and flourish. A problem I ultimately chose to tackle and solve. Additionally, during our current assignment, the Space Force was established, prompting Brandon to wrestle with the decision to transfer. After he served 21 years in the Air Force he made the tough decision to transfer and I found myself married to a Guardian. With continued backing from leadership, I’m committed to fostering connections, even as we approach new changes in 2025.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
Upon returning to the NRO, I volunteered to lead our spouses’ group. I sought feedback in order to understand the various challenges our spouses faced. It was clear the spouses at the NRO were not aware of all the services available to them in the National Capital Region. I worked with our First Sergeant and the Commander to organize a resource fair showcasing organizations throughout the local area dedicated to assisting our families. I also seized the opportunity to speak at an All Hands to get the word out of our spouses’ group as well as developed a business card with our contact information that is distributed during in-processing for all new spouses to ensure they were aware of the resources available to them. I also saw a need to develop zip code clubs due to how spread out our community is and hosted quarterly events in the various zip codes in order to foster a sense of kinship. I am truly passionate about not only connecting our spouses to resources but also to each other.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
During my time at various locations where we have been stationed, I've learned that the essence of feeling "at home" lies in our connections with others. Volunteering has been the most rewarding way for me to meet people and foster these connections. Whether I organized a Fall Fest in Alabama, served as a Key Spouse at Los Angeles Air Force Base, or took on the role of Area Director for Blue Star Families, I found that actively engaging with individuals and showing a genuine interest in their stories helped me build strong and lasting relationships. Each experience enriched my life and strengthened my sense of belonging, proving that our bonds with others are what truly create a feeling of home, no matter where we are stationed. Volunteering allowed me to give back to the community and provided a network of support and friendship that made each location feel more like home.

Describe how you support your community:
I am honored and privileged to be the Family Liaison at my son’s elementary school. This role allows me to assist families in our community that are experiencing food insecurity, needing clothing or other daily items or assisting in finding employment. It aligns perfectly with the role of a military volunteer, as it offers crucial support to families in need who may be unsure of where to seek help or who may feel reluctant to reach out for assistance. Because of the various resources I can access, I can disseminate invaluable information to military and civilian families within our school that they might not have been aware of, ensuring they have the tools they need to flourish regardless of their scenario.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Join, link, fit—these words all convey a crucial meaning: connection. Many people feel alone and isolated and military spouses often experience this as well. I prioritize finding a community where my family can thrive at every new base. Once settled, I actively seek out new spouses who need a warm welcome. Whether it's a new mom who feels overwhelmed or a veteran spouse eager to learn new skills, I strive to create an inclusive environment. While some may find it easy to connect upon arrival, others hesitate. I work diligently to provide approachable opportunities for spouses to forge connections, such as resource fairs to navigate local schools and neighborhoods, dinner gatherings, or casual walks in the area. Building a community takes effort, but it's essential for creating a sense of belonging and support.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Engaging with base leadership to reinvent our spouse's group has been a challenging yet rewarding effort. We must communicate creatively with our spouses, so I requested time to speak at a Town Hall to introduce our new logo and slogan: "All Branches / All Ranks / All Serve." This initiative emphasizes our unity and support for one another. We hand out business cards at every in-processing meeting to help spread our message. We are also developing a database to reach spouses who may not be on Facebook, organized by zip code, to facilitate connecting families. Each quarter, I organize family gatherings in various locations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) to remind our spouses that they are not alone and encourage them to connect with others.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If selected as the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, I will work to grow my network within the broader MSOY community. Since connections are vital to military spouses thriving, I will welcome this opportunity to learn from and collaborate with fellow spouses, ultimately strengthening my ability to support current and future families within the unique community of the NRO. I am committed to adapting to our community's evolving needs, ensuring that we provide invaluable resources and connections for those we serve.