Lauralee Smyth

Share your military spouse story:
Sixteen years of military life have been measured in time zones and passport stamps. My husband’s career has kept our belongings in perpetual transit, leading us through five global moves in twelve years. We’ve found our footing everywhere—from the humidity of Guam and the shores of Okinawa to the neon energy of South Korea and the tulip fields of the Netherlands. I’ve mastered the art of "milspouse grit," turning unfamiliar houses into sanctuaries for two children who are perpetually the "new kids." While overseas living made a traditional counseling internship difficult, I adapted by earning a related degree and volunteering. For the past eight years, I’ve found purpose working as a valued substitute teacher for DoDEA Schools. People often ask how we handle the constant deployments and restarts. The truth is, "home" stopped being a physical address long ago. Home is our suitcases lined up in a terminal and my children’s ability to make friends on any playground, regardless of language. The military has asked for holidays spent on FaceTime and celebrations far from blood relatives. In exchange, it gave us the world. It transformed me into a logistics expert and a cultural navigator who knows that as long as we are together, we are exactly where we belong.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
My community leadership includes facilitating Wellness Wednesdays, a support group I founded in coordination with the Geilenkirchen EFMP Coordinator. To improve accessibility, I collaborated with the Family Advocacy Program and MWR to host the group at USAG Benelux Brunssum. I led weekly sessions for 10–12 spouses, partnering with Military Family Life Counselors to provide localized support. Additionally, I co-facilitated an IEP/504 Support Group under the School Liaison Officer and EFMP. I guided families through special education processes, connecting them with resources to advocate for their students. By coordinating with school leadership, I brought in the Superintendent and Instructional Systems Specialists to brief families directly. I also partnered with Partners in Promise to provide specialized advocacy and expert knowledge to families navigating the IEP and 504 systems.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
Currently I am involved in volunteering with the American Red Cross at the last Non-Combatant Evacuations event. This event is a vital part of the military community in Korea because we must be ready at any moment to evacuate. I also volunteer at the on-base food pantry that is staffed by American Red Cross volunteers. This is a vital role in providing confidential and empathic understanding to those families in need. I also currently facilitate a bible study group at the morning Protestant Women of the Chapels bible study.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
The moments that best reflect my impact on building inclusive community among military spouses was in my bible study last semester. We had women from a multitude of cultural backgrounds that were worried about praying and being able to speak about prayer in their own language. We had spouses from China, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico and America. I reassured them that no matter what language they prayed for the group in we would be accepting and appreciative of that prayer. I also reassured them that their feelings were valid even if they were culturally specific.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My main advocacy effort is facilitating support groups in the community. These families are so far from home and are often not able to work through their feelings and turn towards depression and isolation. My connection is that I have been a family member that has lived overseas and away from family for 12 years and I personally know the challenges we face of moving, finding jobs, new schools for children, new friendships for the entire family and so much more. My advocacy effort is to be a person for those going through all the emotions, to let them know they are not alone and to build connections.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach strategies are getting involved with the entities that have the ability to stand up support groups and volunteer my time with them. I also continue to be a face in the community and get to know as many people as possible in order to provide positive support. I engage in social media to let individuals know I am available. I go to the local church, PWOC groups, American Red Cross Events and workout groups to be actively engaged in public settings. Lastly, once I group is stood up I put out flyers via social media.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
Receiving the AFI Military Spouse of the Year award would provide a vital platform to bridge the gap between military families and the resources they deserve. My primary goal is to advocate for mental health, inclusion, special education needs and family readiness, ensuring that no spouse feels they must sacrifice their identity or well-being. Specifically, I hope to: • Foster Connectivity: Build stronger peer-to-peer mentorship networks that support spouses through the unique isolation of frequent PCS moves and deployments. • Empower Through Education: Create accessible toolkits that help spouses navigate new duty locations with confidence. Ultimately, I want to show every spouse that they are not just 'dependents,' but the backbone of military readiness. I aim to turn shared challenges into collective solutions, strengthening the resilience of our entire force.