Melissa Mosher

Share your military spouse story:
As Air Force brats, my husband and I met in middle school. We reunited a few years later. He was delayed-enlisted in the Navy. We married and moved to VA, when I saw a Navy ship at sea and realized what my future would hold. It would not include my sailor's hand very often. After 20 years, mostly separated and an astounding son, we are still committed. It has not been an easy journey. My sailor was injured on a ship and endured the medical board process. After several surgeries for endometriosis, I was diagnosed with cancer. At the same time, our son was diagnosed with a tumor, with the potential of no medical insurance. We endured the surgeries, treatments, and being reinstated for duty with the love and support between us and with our faith to carry us. We resolve to spend the days ahead of us serving, supporting, and assisting military families. Without our struggles, we would not have developed empathy to this level. I am thankful for the blessing of knowing how to support others.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I have served in every role of the FRG at multiple commands, as Ombudsman currently and at a previous command, as the Co-chair of the first Military Homeschool Support Group, as the President of an Officer and Senior Enlisted Club, as a Lead and mentor for COMPASS, and as a BSF and OH volunteer. I am the Western Washington consultant for a DOD military resource program to support military families. I am the CEO/President of the Thriving Spouses Network, which hosts monthly resource fairs for our SOAR (Spouse Opportunity and Resource) program. In my previous role as the Everett NMCRS Director, I led a staff of over 40 volunteers. I continue to support and assist military spouses with their educational and career goals with mentoring and recommendations. I have had the honor of being selected as a FINRA Military Spouse for 2024 to obtain my AFC certification, graduating from the MSLDP Fall 2025 Cohort, and selected as 1 of 5 OH military spouses to receive a scholarship to SNHU for 2025.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
The PNW area is incredibly unique, with a lack of connection and community for military families. In addition to my other volunteer roles, I am a member of the Marysville Chamber of Commerce Military Advisory Committee. From that role, the opportunity came to connect resources with veterans. I saw the need for our local military spouses. From that need, I launched the Thriving Spouses Network in December 2025. We will host our first resource fair (SOAR) in January 2026. The fair will connect military spouses with local and military resources for support, to share volunteer and employment opportunities, and to build a strong local community. We know that the more one invests in something, the more they get out of it. We want to serve the Heroes Behind our Heroes to help them thrive. The military spouse is the heartbeat of the military family, and they are often overlooked. We want to bless them, empower them, and launch them to SOAR in all communities to be a blessing and to serve.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
As a Program Manager for the ASYMCA, I supported the military through a Mommy and Me program with educational activities. I served at the preschool and led military families with demanding situations to show support. At the same time, I served on FRG boards to support families of the command with events/activities during deployments. I advocated and launched the first Military Homeschool Support Group with the Norfolk SLO for the forgotten homeschool community. During a homeport shift overseas, I served as FRG President to serve families at two locations. During COVID, I was the command ombudsman and advocated for the families. As the NMCRS Director, I increased our staff, opened an extension office, and revived a closed thrift store. Currently, I serve every military branch, including non-base-connected families, with help navigating resources. My mantra is that an informed spouse is empowered, but a heard spouse is valued. I serve military spouses in both ways on this Navy journey.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
A military spouse is often on their own when arriving at a new duty station. A service member has peers and a chain of command to rely on, but the spouse has to create and build their own community and support system, on top of caring for the household requirements, children, pets, career ambitions, and the chaos of military schedules. In addition, isolation breeds depression. Depression is the catalyst for so many negative results. As the heartbeat of the family, if the military spouse struggles, the family struggles, and the service member is not mission-ready. If I can provide an avenue to connect a spouse with another or a resource that gives time back, or even just an ear, I am there with open arms. When I have seen a need, I volunteered to provide an avenue of support. Unfortunately, I have carried the load without support, which has been detrimental to my mental and physical health. I do not wish that on anyone, especially our military families that already sacrifice so much.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My goal is to be an active military community builder. I am a servant leader and serve right alongside others. Details matter and show effort. I ensure each detail of a project is considered, reviewed, and implemented to the best resolution possible. I wrote and published a book, Homecoming, which I give to military spouses to show them hope on their journey, an understanding of their plight, and encouragement to serve and support others along the way. I resolve to connect community resources to spouses regularly, with base leadership, community connection, and in my volunteer opportunities. I was interviewed a few times by the local news: https://komonews.com/news/home-of-the-brave/nonprofit-thrift-shop-helps-sailors-and-marines-save-money-military-army-navy-marine-homegoods; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyujCwC6rjU; https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/military/military-spouse-scholarships-2025

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
It is an honor to be considered for AFI Military Spouse of the Year, among such valiant peers. A few years ago, I couldn't even leave my house because of pain. Being diagnosed with cancer is a wake-up call. I decided my call was to continue to serve. I wasn't capable of much then, but each day I heal a little more, and my vision is clearer. Every person has a cross to bear, but they do not have to do it alone. Being a community builder fills me with the passion to connect people. My heart is for the military, as it has been my lifelong family. I hope I can inspire spouses to reach for the stars, empower them to look beyond their circumstances, engage with those in my purview to listen and support them, and advocate for military families to lessen the burden that is so heavily placed on their laps: our country's pride and freedom. Thank you to every military member and family for serving so selflessly. Thank you for your consideration to help me assist others on their military journey.