Nicole Bartlett

Share your military spouse story:
I thought I understood what it meant to be a part of a military family. Growing up as an Army brat, moving every few years, I had learned the ropes of military life early on. New towns, new schools, new friends - it was always an adventure, but it was also a life full of sacrifice. I witnessed firsthand the strength and resilience my parents displayed as they navigated the challenges of military life. I met my husband while serving in the Idaho Air National Guard and even deployed together before I decided to not reenlist so that we could start our family. I have faced the uncertainty of deployments, the pressure of constant change, the goodbyes and hellos to many, many TDYs. I understood firsthand the sacrifices required of service members, but I gained an even deeper understanding of these sacrifices as a military spouse. I learned that being a military spouse is not just about supporting your loved one in uniform. It's about embracing the responsibility to help others in your community. As an Army brat, as a member of the Idaho Air National Guard, and now as a military spouse, I've seen how powerful it is when we all stand together.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
My husband is a part of the Activities Committee for his squadron and plans and hosts numerous events for the service members of that squadron each year. In my personal career after my military service I was in a similar position and planned and hosted many events for the public. I helped in the planning process for many of the events my husband was a part of. I play an active role in supporting my husband while he serves in the National Guard and will continue to lead those in the military community by assisting others.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
My involvement with the military community has stayed mainly on the personal side. I have always had a very giving spirit and want to help others. If I see others in need, or know a spouse is deployed, I often reach out and support their family. I have brought over groceries, made dinners or other meals, watched children or picked them up from school. Being a friend makes a greater impact than anything else. I wanted to be authentic and myself when supporting the community. But in recent years I have volunteered with Resolve and assisting a national organization that advocates for family building and served on the Military & Veterans Committee, even as the lead. I accepted the role as the lead member for this committee again this year and work with other military veterans and spouses to advocate for access to care and family building benefits.

Describe how you support your community:
Education. Awareness. Information. For many years I worked in the family building world of surrogacy. I found a passion in helping others create and build a family they may never have otherwise. When I got involved with Resolve, it ignited another spark in this passion and for helping others. I can help more families find the care that they need by advocating for bills and laws to be passed to allow a greater, more attainable, access to care. I supported hundreds of surrogates, as well as the intended parents, through their surrogate journeys. And now get to continue supporting families by assisting those who need fertility care, specifically those with military background. Everyone deserves to be a parent and to be supported through their journeys to parenthood.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Amplify the voices of military families. I want to bring awareness to the unique challenges and sacrifices we face, and work to ensure that the issues affecting our community are heard and addressed. I hope to continue advocating for policies that better support military spouses and families - specifically through Resolve by participating on Advocacy Day. I aim to empower other military spouses to take pride in their own service and contributions, no matter how they serve. I want to show other that the role of the military spouse is just as important as anyone else's in the military community, and to inspire spouses to recognize their value and impact.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
In my career in surrogacy I hosted numerous events inviting those in the public to learn more information about family building through surrogacy. Education means awareness, and there is a deep misunderstanding about the fertility world. I aimed to "shout it from the rooftops" any chance I could talk about surrogacy. I hosted booths at a variety of places, from small town bazaars to large expos, even traveling out of state many times. I have spoken on the radio and been a guest speaker on multiple podcasts aiming to spread awareness on surrogacy and to correct the misunderstandings. I have conducted support groups, both in person and virtually, and have held live question and answer forums. As a person who skated through high school as the quiet mouse in the corner, I have certainly "cracked my shell" wide open and found my voice.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
With the title, I aim to bring spouses together from all backgrounds, branches of service, and walks of life to share their experiences, insights, and support. Our community is at its strongest when we stand together, and I would love to encourage more collaboration, mentorship, and mutual aid among military spouses. I hope to serve as a role model of resilience and determination, showing other military spouses that no matter what challenges we face - whether it's dealing with deployments or TDYs, family separation, or personal struggles - we are capable of not only surviving but thriving. I want to show that military spouses are warriors in their own right, and that we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others while navigating the complexities of military life.