Isabel G Schmitt

Share your military spouse story:
I met my husband, Peter, in Iraq in 2004, on a convoy, in the middle of a war. We shared lunch, and I told my best friend I’d just met the hottest guy on the planet. Even in a place defined by chaos, something about him felt grounded. After redeployment, our paths crossed again in Germany, and by 2005 we were building a life together. In the fall of 2006, we eloped, packing a hastily purchased wedding dress, Peter’s dress blues, and a deep belief that love, commitment, and teamwork would carry us wherever military life led next. Over the years, our story unfolded in the familiar chapters military families know well: duty stations, long separations, frequent moves, and constant adaptation. Through it all, I’ve learned this truth: military families don’t just endure change, we rise through it. Along the way, I witnessed the unseen labor of military spouses, holding families together during deployments, rebuilding careers after every relocation, and creating stability in unfamiliar places. Those experiences shaped my commitment to advocate for military families, especially during transitions when support matters most. Today, we’re raising two incredible teenagers. One is in college and was recruited to row at Temple University. Our youngest is a high school junior and part of North Carolina’s #1 ranked 4x200 track team. Watching them thrive reminds me what happens when people are supported and believed in. My journey as a military spouse taught me that service doesn’t end with the uniform, it lives on through advocacy, leadership, and the intentional care we show one another. That belief guides how I serve and stand alongside military families every day.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
At every duty station, I step into roles that build connection and stability. I’ve served as a unit family support leader, military youth sports coach, Scouts leader, and career management mentor. First, I co-founded LOGSA Mil Moves, the first and only military spouse and veteran owned moving company dedicated to military families. I understand the stress of unreliable moves and the challenge of portable spouse employment. Since 2020, we’ve stayed committed to transparency, accountability, and care. We’ve paid millions directly to the contractors doing the work and created portable roles for military spouses in quality control and operations. Second, I founded Guerrero Leather to expand opportunity in Mexico while also creating flexible income opportunities for military spouses. Third, I served on the Hiring Our Heroes Board in South Korea, helping spouses access remote employment overseas.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
Right now, my focus is two-fold: improving the PCS experience and expanding sustainable, portable employment for military spouses, two of the biggest pressure points military families carry. Through LOGSA Mil Moves, I work to provide moving support that is transparent, dependable, and built around what families actually need: clear communication, accountability, and a smoother relocation process that protects peace of mind during a demanding season. Through Guerrero Leather, I help create stable work opportunities that reduce vulnerability and exploitation risk, while also providing flexible income pathways for military spouses who need employment that can move with them. My goal in everything I do is simple: strengthen military families by creating stability through employment, support systems, and a PCS experience that feels less chaotic and more cared for.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
One of my most meaningful moments of reflection came while reviewing our 2025 LOGSA Mil Moves profit-and-loss statement. What stood out wasn’t revenue it was the community behind it. In 2025 alone, we paid out well over a million dollars directly to contractors performing military moves, including military spouses and veterans, creating real income and stability that can travel from duty station to duty station. Every payment represented a household supported and a spouse empowered. Even more important, our 2025 claims rate was just 0.0076%!, an almost unheard-of level in the moving industry. That’s the result of a culture built on accountability, communication, and dignity, where families feel protected during one of the most stressful parts of military life. Seeing both the economic impact and the service impact side-by-side captured what inclusive community means to me: military families supported not just by words, but by systems that create stability, opportunity, and trust.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
I aim to protect military families during PCS moves by fighting for accountability and quality in the household goods system. I also ensure families are not financially burdened during a transition they did not choose. In 2025, this became deeply personal. The rollout of TRANSCOM’s Global Household Goods Contract raised serious concerns about reduced capacity, strained communication, and fear around delays, loss, and damage. As a military spouse and co-founder of LOGSA Mil Moves, I faced a choice: step back, or lean in and advocate for families who deserved better. With our milspouse team, I leaned in. I hosted webinars, launched a widely shared “Dear TRANSCOM” series, and helped families protect themselves by asking the right questions and elevating concerns through proper channels. I also expanded services despite rate reductions so families could move with confidence. This work is personal. I’ve lived the PCS reality, and military families deserve moves handled with dignity.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach focuses on improving the military relocation experience and expanding sustainable employment for military spouses. In 2025, as concerns grew around quality, capacity, and communication within the military moving system, I used my platform to elevate spouse voices and push for accountability through podcasts, newsletters, webinars, and trainings for moving professionals. I also led a widely attended discussion at the 2025 Military Influencer Conference on thriving as an empath in business giving spouses practical tools and confidence to pursue entrepreneurship and build income. Alongside this, I founded Guerrero Leather to create stable work opportunities that reduce vulnerability and expand portable pathways for military spouses. Across both efforts, my goal is the same: reduce stress during transitions, strengthen families through meaningful employment, and build an inclusive community where military spouses can thrive anywhere they’re stationed.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If awarded the AFI Military Spouse of the Year® title, I will use the platform to improve the military moving experience, while advancing military spouse employment as a key component of readiness and retention. As the leader of the only military spouse and veteran owned moving company dedicated exclusively to military families, I bring a perspective that combines lived experience, operational insight, and direct service delivery. I will advocate for stronger communication, accountability, and transparency in PCS moves. I will also elevate military spouse employment as a readiness issue. Frequent relocations disrupt careers, yet spouses bring resilience, leadership, and problem solving skills employers need. I will promote best practices that support remote and relocation friendly work. Most importantly, I would amplify the voices of spouses balancing caregiving, careers, and family stability during relocation. My goal is less stress, greater stability, and dignity for every family.