Dustin Caroland

Share your military spouse story:
I was a civilian serving service members as a mortgage lender and thought I was doing a good job, until I married my wife and learned more about the dynamics that come with military service. Even then, becoming a military spouse wasn't something I fully understood until I became a parent. When I adopted my daughter, I didn't just gain a child- I gained a deeper understanding of what military life truly means for families. Stability, housing, and routine suddenly carried more weight, especially with the uncertainty that comes with military service. That perspective shaped how I viewed the challenges families face at rural installations. Ensuring my daughter has a safe, stable home made it impossible to ignore how inadequate housing support affects so many military families. I started with navigating military life as a new parent and it became a commitment to advocating for solutions that protect family security. Being a military spouse has transformed advocacy into something personal.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
My leadership within the military community is grounded in advocacy, service, and collaboration. As a military spouse at a rural installation, I have taken an active role in advocating for equitable Basic Allowance for Housing reform-not only at Cannon AFB, but across rural military installations nationwide. I routinely engage with policymakers, military stakeholders, and community leaders to elevate data driven solutions that support family stability and readiness. In addition to advocacy, I co-lead a 501(c)(3) dog rescue that is active with the military and local community. In 2025 we rescued over 800 dogs and cats from the area. With the rescue background, I am working with base leadership to establish a no-cost Trap and Release program at Cannon AFB to address cat overpopulation in a humane, sustainable way. I am an active member of a committee of over 50 local business owners that's goal is to support Cannon's mission and be a liaison between Cannon AFB and the local community.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
My involvement within the military community is multifaceted. Currently the two largest projects I am working on daily are advocating for improved Basic Allowance for Housing across rural military installations and operating the largest dog rescue in Eastern New Mexico. Advocating for BAH reform has opened the door with local, state, Cannon AFB, and federal leaders to bring a strong voice. The amount of time and work that is involved is intensive but rewarding. Our dog rescue routinely has 60-100 dogs in our care at any time and ensuring each one is cared for properly is important to me. While these are both extremely important, as a former critical care paramedic, I have also stepped up to begin a Red Cross babysitter certification course for teens at Cannon AFB. With childcare being limited at rural installations, Cannon's spouses club is going to begin offering semi-annual opportunities to expand safe childcare options while empowering our youth within the military community.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
The moments that best reflect my impact on building an inclusive military spouse community are the conversations I've helped elevate into decision-making spaces. Through my advocacy on BAH at ALL rural installations, I have met with Executive Director of the Association of Defense Communities, the Executive Director of the New Mexico Base Planning Commission, Five & Thrive leaders, congressional staff, local officials, and the Military Family Advisory Network. In each setting, I heard clear support for addressing military family challenges. The most impactful moment is my meetings with base leadership that reinforced that military spouses have a credible voice. I have shared actual experiences with them, and they have heard and began acting on my concerns, thus showing that as a spouse, speaking up strengthens connection, trust, and resilience across the entire military community. If my voice from a small base can be heard, I hope that all spouses realize that theirs can be heard too.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My primary advocacy effort is reforming how Basic Allowance for Housing is calculated for service members stationed at rural installations. My personal connection began at my work during a conversation with a service member worried about housing costs and their family's stability. As a parent myself, I felt that concern deeply and my advocacy began. That moment transformed housing from a policy issue into a personal mission. As a military spouse at a rural installation, I've since heard the same worries echoed by families across various ranks and locations. What started as empathy became action, driving my commitment to advocate for equitable BAH reform nationwide so military families can remain resilient, stable, and mission ready wherever they are assigned. Department of Defense Instruction 4165.63 establishes that housing programs must support the readiness, morale, retention, and quality of life of service member. Having access to safe and affordable housing is a must, not a want.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy focuses on improving Basic Allowance for Housing for rural military installations, and my communication approach has been intentional and strategic. Rather than immediately engaging media or social media, I chose to work collaboratively with base leadership to ensure concerns are addressed constructively and without undermining trust in them from others. Change of this scale is a process, not an overnight solution. I have briefed local leaders including the Armed Forces Support Committee during a public quarterly meeting, and continue to meet with regional, state, and national entities to build informed support. Navigating public messaging carefully allows leadership the time needed to effect meaningful change. As this effort progresses, I plan to share the process publicly to demonstrate how collaborative advocacy leads to lasting outcomes. I have aspirations to co-host a Q&A forum with base leadership in the near future to help answer questions locally and positively.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If selected as AFI Military Spouse of the Year, I would use the platform to elevate the voices of military spouses-especially those at rural installations whose challenges are often overlooked. The title would also amplify ongoing efforts to modernize BAH so it reflects real cost-of-living conditions and supports family readiness, retention, and stability across the force. I also hope to highlight scalable, community-driven solutions that strengthen military families, from nonprofit support during PCS moves to humane, low-cost animal welfare programs and youth childcare education. I would love to see Red Cross babysitter certifications be available to teens at all installations. Most importantly, I want other spouses to see that their experiences matter and their voices are powerful-Homefront readiness is mission readiness and military spouses are leaders on the homefront aspect, and they matter. AFI MSOY would allow me to turn lived experience into meaningful, nationwide impact.