Jaime Billert

Share your military spouse story:
My life is interesting and compelling, like most others. I thought I had a plan and certain aspirations to achieve, but then life and love happened. I met my spouse in my home state of Illinois in 2016. I graduated college the year before with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education Physics and working my first teaching job. So, when I met my spouse, I thought life was too good to be true. That first year together in Illinois was joyous until it became a trail of faith: faith in us, faith in our spiritual beliefs, and faith in the Coast Guard. Our oldest was diagnosed with cancer after that first year together. Looking back, I am moved to tears by my husband's support system and, in turn, the support our blended family received from the Coast Guard. My amazement at the support from the Coast Guard and other military families expanded further when we relocated to Staten Island in 2019. This point in time is when I truly felt my military spouse's story began. This was my first PCS, and I had my own life in Illinois. My husband was at a small boat unit, and most, if not all, of the members associated with the unit lived on the economy. So, there really wasn’t a military feel. Since our relocation to Staten Island, we have grown from a family of 4 to a family of 6 and received an autism diagnosis for one of our children. Since meeting my husband, my life has pivoted and has been wrapped in the supportive arms of the Coast Guard. Seven years ago, I had aspirations of becoming a competent, caring educator with the hopes of contributing to the field of Physics Education Research, all because of an underlying passion for helping others. However, life and love happened. My passion for helping others now manifests through learning, gathering, and communicating with fellow Coastie families about the resources available to them to maintain a work-life balance and ensure that both are successful experiences.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
In 2021, I accepted the role of President of our Spouses’ Club. The following year, I served as the Vice President. Before serving in these capacities, I was club Treasurer and an active member, volunteering during events and with set-up and take-down. In addition, I served as a Certified Family Child Care Provider with the Coast Guard from 2019 - 2022. I gained knowledge and helped families with the Child Care Subsidy within these roles. I collaborate with spouses, Coast Guard Associations, and Local Resources to carry out community enrichment events and opportunities, for example, spearheading Hello Fresh meal kit distribution to military families, Blue Star Families Inaugural Dandelion Festival, Housing Santa Parade, and Military Family Baby Shower. In 2023, I became the Ombudsman for Sector NY. In 2024, I became the Ombudsman for Station and MSST NY. In my current role, my co-ombudsman and I are creating a “Guide to New York” to aid families transitioning and PCSing to the area.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I have learned that opportunities, circulation of information, and community events directly result from spousal action. Which is why I have flourished and grown as a leader since becoming a military spouse. I remain a part of our Spouses Club. I attend installation events to ensure the visibility of the Ombudsman and what our role provides families. These installation events include All-Hands, Morale Team meetings, quarterly command meetings, Leadership meetings, Coast Guard Day, unit holiday parties, and Ombudsman Community of Practice meetings. I also stay connected virtually with local resources to maintain the yearly Turkey and side items distribution for our military families each Thanksgiving. In collaboration with three local resources this past holiday, we provided over 200 military families with a Thanksgiving meal.

Describe how you support your community:
Due to pursuing a degree in education, I firmly believe that knowledge is power and that growing as an individual takes a village. Therefore, I love it when Albus Dumbledore, in the Chamber of Secrets, says, “Help will always be given to those at Hogwarts who ask for it.” Plainly, and as I have learned within life and the Coast Guard, help will always be given to those who ask for it. That is why my co-ombudsman at Sector New York and I are working to create a family guide to help families with the multitude of questions that come along with PCSing to our area.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for the Spouses Club and the Ombudsman program. By advocating for these two things, which foster inclusion and channels for official communication to flow between commands and families, I can advocate for the new military spouse navigating professional licensure transfer and job hunting. I can advocate for the junior member and their family participating in the EFMP program and trying to navigate resources. I can advocate for the life side of our workforce. We all make sacrifices as Coast Guard families. While these sacrifices are unique to each of us, they are all made in the best interest of our family: to provide a better quality of life. A better opportunity for resources, accommodations, education, and experiences. Making the best choice possible can only be achieved when one is informed, supported, and knows the facts. The Spouses’ Club supports, welcomes, and includes and the Ombudsman program informs and circulates the facts and policy.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
First and foremost, I try my utmost to spread the value and importance of the Coast Guard Spouses Club and the Ombudsman program through my actions. It’s what people see. Actions include participation during Coast Guard Day and networking with local vendors in attendance to bring awareness to the organization and program and build a connection for collaboration. They include working with the school district on Veteran’s Day and during the Month of the Military Child that our military dependents attend. They include the enormous privilege of participating in the opening remarks of Dr. Jill Biden’s 2024 Friendsgiving. Spreading awareness of the value and importance of the Coast Guard Spouses Club and Ombudsman program includes actions as small as day-to-day interactions with Coast Guard community members and those within our local civilian community.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
The title of AFI Military Spouse of the Year enables the voices of a cause to be heard at the highest level and among those most eager to make change and ensure consistency. As such, I hope to raise the voices of the volunteer spouses who serve within spouses clubs and as ombudsmen to maintain their existence and their visibility. To highlight that the community surrounding a military family sees and knows their sacrifice firsthand. The Spouses Club and Ombudsman program is there to support and help navigate because they are comprised of spouses who have navigated similar paths to those seeking help and know where to look and who to turn to so a family can make an informed decision in the best interest of their family.