Emily Kasnick

Share your military spouse story:
My military journey began at a summer camp, where I met my husband while he was on leave before his first deployment. After years of friendship and one year of long-distance dating, we married, only for him to deploy twelve days later. Over 13 years and 5 duty stations, I have mastered the art of resilience, teaching in various states and running a small business through multiple moves—all while raising three children with unwavering dedication. My story is defined by turning personal hurdles into communal strength. In 2025, I faced significant challenges: completing five months of solo parenting, managing a household pack-out, and facilitating an overseas move to Guam while my husband was away for military training. Having once felt isolated and unsure of how to find my place early in this military life, I now use my 13 years of experience to mentor junior spouses. I serve as a steady source of encouragement through deployments, extensions, and the everyday uncertainties of Navy life.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
As the Family Readiness Group (FRG) President for a forward-deployed Navy Helicopter Squadron in Guam, I advocate for officer and enlisted spouses. I strengthen unit morale by leading deployment send-offs, homecomings, and coordinating meal trains and community events, such as deployment care package drives. By establishing vital communication channels between families and command leadership, I foster a supportive environment for naval families. Beyond the squadron, I support service members' children as a substitute teacher at the base elementary school. I also helped revive the base chapel’s Vacation Bible School and lead the worship team as the primary vocalist, contributing to the spiritual well-being of the community. To further community ties, I helped start a volleyball team that unites active-duty members, spouses, and local Guam residents.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I am currently serving as the Family Readiness Group (FRG) President for the Navy’s forward deployed Helicopter Squadron in Guam. I have organized and led events that strengthened unit morale and familial cohesion, including send-offs and homecomings for multiple deployments. In this role, I have established communication channels between spouses and command leadership, coordinated spouse gatherings, and created spaces of fellowship and support. I have also coordinated community events, including a deployment care package event that uplifted deployed sailors. I am teaching at the elementary school on base as a substitute teacher—directly enhancing the education and well-being of service members’ children. Last summer, I was able to help revive the Vacation Bible School program at the base chapel, and I also played a key role in revitalizing the chapel worship team and serve as the lead singer for Sunday services, contributing to the spiritual well-being of the military community.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
As the FRG President, I am an advocate for all spouses, bridging the gap between officer and enlisted families. I have cultivated a culture of belonging through transparent communication, ensuring no spouse navigates deployment alone. This dedication to empowerment led me to found a sewing business in 2019, where I hired multiple military spouses to provide meaningful and flexible employment. In 2020, I leveraged this business to sew and donate surgical caps to military-affiliated medical staff. My commitment to inclusivity extends to high-level advocacy; I forged strategic partnerships with local and national businesses to secure substantial donations for spouse care packages, ensuring those holding down the home front feel as deeply valued and recognized as their deployed service members. By also co-founding a squadron book club and a volleyball team for active-duty and spouses, my leadership proves that an integrated, diverse community is the backbone of mission success.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
Driven by my early experience as a military spouse—where I felt isolated and unsure of how to integrate into and navigate the community—I have dedicated my leadership to ensuring no spouse ever feels alone. As FRG President, I serve as a bridge for both officer and enlisted families, dismantling the barriers that once hindered my own sense of belonging. My passion is to provide every spouse with a clear roadmap for involvement, regardless of rank or experience.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
I advocate for inclusivity during the most isolating times, including PCS moves, deployments, and TDYs. To combat loneliness, I established a spouse book club and partnered with companies to provide care packages specifically for the "home front," reminding spouses they are valued. Whether through our volleyball team uniting active-duty and spousal moms or my work as a mentor, my mission is to transform military hardships into opportunities for connection, ensuring every spouse has a supportive community to lean on!

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
As the AFI Military Spouse of the Year, I will use my voice to listen to the diverse experiences of military spouses and amplify their stories to a broader audience. Having once felt isolated and unsure of how to find my place, my primary goal is to use this platform to ensure no spouse feels invisible. I am committed to creating environments where every spouse—regardless of rank, branch, or background—feels an immediate sense of belonging and empowerment. I intend to leverage this leadership role to build inclusive communities that provide clear roadmaps for involvement, turning the challenges of deployments and PCS moves into opportunities for connection. By modeling this inclusive leadership, I hope to inspire and equip other spouses to do the same within their own circles. My mission is to foster a culture of radical hospitality across the military community, where we proactively reach out to one another, ensuring that every family has a strong, supportive network to lean on.