Meredith Mctague

Share your military spouse story:
I’ve been a military spouse for 11 years—long enough to measure time in deployments, duty stations, and boxes instead of calendars. Four deployments taught me how strong coffee, FaceTime, and resilience can be. Three PCSs turned me into a professional goodbyer, a fast friend-maker, and an expert at finding the best grocery store within a week of arrival. We’ve built a home and a family everywhere we’ve landed—sometimes with borrowed furniture, sometimes with brand-new dreams, always with a lot of heart. I’ve learned that “home” isn’t a place on a map; it’s who shows up with you, unpacks beside you, and laughs through the chaos. It’s not always easy, but it’s always an adventure—and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
Leadership in the military community often starts with simply showing up—and that’s where my journey began. During my husband’s previous deployments, I volunteered at the unit level, supporting events and helping with homecoming efforts to ensure families felt connected and cared for during long separations. When we arrived at his current unit, I quickly sought out ways to get involved and discovered a very small volunteer team made up of our DRC and two spouses. I was asked to step into the role of spouse advisor, and together we began intentionally rebuilding and growing the community. Since then, I’ve worked closely with fellow advisors to plan and execute events, share resources, and pass along timely information. Our goal is simple: make sure spouses feel supported, informed, and never alone—and I’m proud to be part of a team that’s created a vibrant, thriving network.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I am currently involved with the UPFRP team for CLB26, where I serve as a family advisor supporting military families at every level. In this role, I act as a liaison between the command and families, ensuring communication flows both ways. I regularly gather feedback and concerns from spouses, parents, and extended family members and relay that information back to the command so leadership has a clearer understanding of how unit decisions impact families at home. I also work closely with our DRC to share timely resources, updates, and support information with unit families. My focus is helping families feel heard, informed, and connected—because when families are supported, the entire unit is stronger.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
One moment that truly reflects my impact on building an inclusive spouse community was our recent mid-deployment check-in event. We created a space for open, honest conversation with a short class focused on self-care through the holidays and setting realistic expectations for our spouses’ return. What made it meaningful was the dialogue that followed—seasoned spouses and brand-new spouses sitting side by side, sharing what they were experiencing, what they were looking forward to, and even what made them nervous. The evening blended support and connection. We spent time in fellowship, listening without judgment, and reminding each other we weren’t alone. To mark the milestone, spouses made charm bracelets to celebrate reaching the halfway point of deployment—small but powerful symbols of resilience, shared experience, and community.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My main advocacy effort focuses on building strong, connected communities at the unit level—where the spouse sitting next to you understands your experience because their loved one is serving right alongside yours. I believe there is incredible power in bringing together people who are navigating the same challenges, timelines, and emotions, and giving them a space to lean on one another. This cause is deeply personal to me. As a young military spouse going through my first deployments, I didn’t have a strong support system or sense of community. I often had to figure things out on my own. That experience drives my commitment today to ensure no spouse feels isolated or left behind. I strive to help create the kind of community I once needed—one rooted in connection, understanding, and shared strength.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach focuses on consistent, accessible communication and creating meaningful opportunities for connection. I help manage and contribute to our unit’s social media platforms, which serve as a central hub for sharing upcoming events and resources available on Camp Lejeune and throughout the greater Onslow County area. We intentionally host frequent opportunities for spouses to connect, typically organizing three gatherings each month to accommodate different schedules and interests. In addition to event promotion, we share interactive posts designed to spark conversation, encourage engagement, and highlight shared experiences. By combining regular communication with intentional community-building events, we create multiple entry points for spouses to feel informed, involved, and connected.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If selected as the AFI Military Spouse of the Year, my hope is to inspire other spouses to get involved right where they are. Whether that means stepping into an already thriving volunteer team or becoming the grassroots effort that helps build community from the ground up, every level of involvement matters. Strong spouse networks at the unit level make a real difference—whether a unit is training, non-deploying, or in the middle of a deployment. Many spouses arrive at a new duty station knowing no one beyond their service member, and having an immediate place to connect can be life-changing in this often unpredictable lifestyle. Through this platform, I hope to highlight the impact of engaged spouses and encourage connection, leadership, and community wherever military families are planted.