Mia Speier

Share your military spouse story:
I met my husband 14 years ago when we were both located in Colorado Springs, CO; him stationed at Fort Carson, myself having moved with my family to the area a decade earlier. Fairly quickly into meeting we just knew- this was it for us. A little over 6 months into our relationship he deployed, and I quickly realized what life as an army spouse was going to be like. We married in 2014 after 3 years of dating and a PCS to Fort Jackson for Drill Sergeant Orders. The military has also taken us to Hohenfels, Germany, where we got to have the most incredible 2 years of traveling Europe, Fort Drum, NY, Fort Bliss, TX and now Ft. Wainwright, AK. While I am a military spouse, I am also a mom to two boys who keep my hands and heart full, as well as a volunteer for several agencies. I have devoted my time to the USO, various unit SFRG’s, Spouse’s Clubs, as well as every school PTO/PTA our kids have attended. This year I have also started substitute teaching within our local schools.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I served as an SFRG leader for 2 companies for a total of 2 years at Ft. Drum. I built rosters, created events, and helped foster the community spirit within both companies. I then stepped into the role of a SFRA (or FRSA) for our Battalion. Within that role I was able to build the SFRG program across the entire Battalion allowing company leaders to step into their roles feeling supported, which led to all spouses within the Battalion feeling supported through a very difficult deployment. I took a leadership role within a newly created Outreach Committee for the USO El Paso- which was responsible for providing snacks, entertainment, and more for soldiers deploying/redeploying on the installation. We served countless soldiers and their families on one of the hardest or happiest days in their military journey. I currently serve as the Interim President (prior Vice President) of the Fort Wainwright Community Spouses Club and president of our local school PTO.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
My goal as a military spouse is the same at every installation we go to- to foster or create a community for spouses to feel welcome and supported. I currently serve as the Fort Wainwright Community Spouses Club Interim President. We have built a wonderful community, that continues to grow each month. Alongside with that, I am working with the local city tourism office to help give spouses more opportunities to see and learn about the broader community within Fairbanks Alaska. Interior Alaska can be quite daunting and potentially isolating for spouses and families both due to weather and location, so allowing spouses to see what all there is to offer both within the military installation, as well as the broader Fairbanks area is key. I am the PTO president at our local school which is located on Fort Wainwright and serves predominantly military children and teachers. I help to serve as a bridge not only for parents, but also for military and needs. I also volunteer with our local USO.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
The moments that I feel the most significant impact from are when I hear from a spouse that they utilized a resource I let them know about that they didn’t know about prior. That they not only felt supported by the community, but that they can also handle problems or needs as they arise. In connecting and identifying needs to local (or even national) resources I not only help the spouse out and foster that community feeling, but also enable them to help themselves. While I love to be at events, planning and hosting, I find that hearing that a flyer that was shared or the knowledge of a resource provided can sometimes go further. It’s a triangle- resources, connection, community.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
When we moved OCONUS the first time (Hohenfels, Germany) I realized what not only culture shock was, but also what it felt like to truly have to find and build that community. And then what it felt like to leave it behind. Being a military spouse often means packing up and moving every 3 years or so- which often means leaving behind whatever community you’ve built. Community means everything: from friendship, to support, to resources, to the person you can put down as a local emergency contact. While the army operates the same, each installation comes with its own resources, programs, challenges, and opportunities. My main advocacy area is in creating that community for spouses and families. Not only in helping them feel supported and welcome within the community, but also what resources are available, what gaps are there within the community and where those gaps can be filled. As a family, we tend to lean towards smaller installations, where community is vital.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
For me, outreach is personal and full of actions. It is attending events, meeting people in person, and having conversations. Understanding what they need, what they want, and what opportunities and resources are available for them. I have done this by attending monthly briefings, attending installation spouse events (incoming briefs, fairs, MWR events, etc.), and volunteering within several organizations (USO, FRC, Library, SFRG, Spouses Club). I firmly believe that that personal connection is key to not only advocacy, but to my focus of building community. I have also utilized email and social media to highlight events, information, and resources.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I am beyond honored to be nominated for the title. I hope to continue to advocate for resources, programs, and positions that allow spouses to have a sense of community wherever they go. To remind them and show them that while picking up every 3 years is hard, it doesn’t have to be impossible. That the community they found or created can be found or created at any location they move to. This title also allows a larger opportunity for those voices within the community to be heard and those resources and gaps to be shared to a higher level.