Jerad Knight

Share your military spouse story:
I’ve never fit the stereotype of a Military Spouse. I’ve always fully embraced this lifestyle, transitioning from service member to spouse, and ultimately to an advocate for our community. I met my husband years ago on a dating app in Washington, D.C. I was nearing the end of my service, and he was still relatively fresh his career. After some time of him asking me out, my reservations and non-matching schedules. I let my guard down, having come out of an unhealthy relationship. I thought I had decided on life plans, I was preparing to move to Krakow, Poland and see where I wanted to go from there, but his charm and determination changed my plans. We had our first date, and we've been inseparable ever since. After our first year together, I surprised him with a New Year’s Eve proposal, saying, “No one makes me anything, but I’ll be your military spouse.” Transitioning from service member to spouse was a big change. I learned to navigate “Dependa” jokes and thrive amidst PCS moves, deployments, and the Navy’s sea-and-shore rotation. My husband and I have traveled the world, built a meaningful life, and connected deeply with our diverse military community. I’m passionate about advocacy and giving back. I volunteer with both local and national organizations to help improve the military family experience. I’ve worked with mental health groups, housing reform coalitions, and EFMP advocacy initiatives. My experiences on both sides of military life give me a unique perspective. I focus on highlighting the challenges we face while also seeking solutions to improve the system for future generations. Even with our frequent moves, I believe short stays at each duty station can make a lasting impact if we approach them with purpose. Short term living with long term goals is the balancing act of the military family. It is that fine line we live on, that gives us the very definition of resilience to the outside world. This life is difficult to walk but, I wouldn't trade it.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
My leadership journey began with the Family Readiness Group (FRG), where I served as president and later served as a command Ombudsman. My passion for supporting our community grew, leading me to roles such as Active Advocacy Director for the Ohana Homefront Foundation, DAV coordinator, co-host of the Warriors Unmasked podcast, and blogger for Mission: Milspouse. I was also honored to be selected for the Association of Defense Communities’ Spouse Leadership Initiative (2024-2025), where I had the opportunity to meet with Department of Defense officials to address key community needs. Through these experiences, I’ve gained invaluable insights into the challenges military families face. Currently, I am the Executive Director of Mission: Milspouse, where we are focused on expanding outreach, enhancing support, and connecting military spouses to valuable resources through our website, blog, and podcast. Our mission is to strengthen and uplift the military spouse community.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I actively engage with organizations like DAV, ADC, Mission: Milspouse, OHF, PCSGrades, Warriors Unmasked, The Men’s Room for Military Spouses, Macho Spouse, and media outlets such as PBS and CBS to raise a voice for our community and its needs. At Starbucks, I work with the Military Hiring Program and advocate for Spouse opportunities. I help create Military-Friendly Cafés and teams, providing spaces for our community to connect and access career opportunities that are transferable. With a servant-leader approach, I listen to the needs of our community and connect them with essential resources. I foster positive dialogue, promote self-care, and offer support during both good and challenging times. My mission is to amplify the voices of military spouses, ensuring they are seen and heard. This year has marked significant progress, and I’m proud to be part of the positive change within our community. With keeping active daily and in positive kind ways we can keep making advancements.

Describe how you support your community:
I support my community by leading with a servant’s heart and fostering collaboration between local employers, military bases, and the broader community. I work with employers to establish military spouse hiring initiatives, ensuring greater career opportunities for military families. By engaging with base and community leaders, I help cultivate mutually beneficial relationships that strengthen our collective efforts. Through social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, I highlight the incredible sacrifices and contributions of military spouses, raising awareness about the unsung support they provide. I also advocate for policy awareness, sharing updates on new regulations and their potential impact. I share positive and inspiring messages with our groups, reinforcing the power of kindness. I proactively engage with elected officials, advocating for policies that consider the real-world consequences on military families. I take pride seeing the spouse’s voice is heard and valued.

What do you advocate for? Why?
I advocate for LGBTQ Visability, availability in mental health care, EFMP standardization, food insecurity, and housing reforms and speak up on equality and visibility. A key priority is amplifying the voice of the LGBTQ spouse, often overlooked despite facing disproportionately high rates of invisibility our community. Our community, like a diamond, has many facets, each with its unique challenges. Too often, we view our collective experience through only one lens. For example, while PCS moves can be challenging for families with children, stay-at-home military fathers face similar burdens, but the support structures are less visible. I am committed to bridging these gaps, fostering understanding, and creating a more inclusive, supportive environment. When we harmonize our differences, our community shines brighter—together. I advocate for a strong and united military family community that can work together and bring amazing progress to our unique needs and struggles.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
By being the change I want to see in the community. By speaking up with Mission: Milspouse, by going to the summit meetings with ADC, by blogging online, by making the calls and writing the letters to DC. By filling out this profile. By working in the on base and off base community to foster the conversations of support and mutual benefits of our bases being in their towns and their towns being grown around our bases. By being passionate about the community I am lucky to be a part of and serve with my energy and emotion and willpower. By realizing no one can make me feel inferior without my consent and by not consenting. By not being content to be the stereotypical mil-spouse that the outside makes fun of or calls dependa. By showing and highlighting the works of other amazing spouses who are true paragons of this community and also highlighting those who are just making it day by day figuring out the systems and resources. I have been interviewed by PBS, CBS, NBC, military podcasts.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If I were honored as the 2024 AFI Military Spouse of the Year® overall winner or a branch winner, my primary goal would be to elevate the voices of the military spouse community, ensuring that their dedication and contributions are recognized. I aim to inspire others to seek a seat at the table, emphasizing that inclusion requires active participation. Becoming the first LGBT & U.S. Navy overall winner would be a historic achievement, symbolizing the progress we've made as a community. It would also demonstrate how far we've come, reflecting the growth and evolution of the AFI Military Spouse of the Year® legacy. This opportunity would allow me to influence the decision-making processes for our community, carrying this title to advocate for greater non-exclusivity — especially for male spouses. There are no limits to what can be accomplished when we open doors, embrace new opportunities, and champion a future where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered to make lasting change.