Rachael Conner

Share your military spouse story:
I guess you could say that I dove face first into the military spouse life. At 19 years old, I married my high school sweetheart and watched as he boarded a plane for basic training. Like many spouses, I entered this life without a roadmap but I was away from home for the first time and eager to explore the area, learn all the things, and meet as many people as possible. Almost immediately after arriving at our first duty station, I found that there were holes in the support systems that needed filled. I discovered that community and connection were essential to surviving (and thriving) in military life. It was serving others made me feel at “home” and over the years— across many bases, through several deployments, and with every crazy life event, I’ve embraced the communities that I’ve served to get me through the good times and bad. I have used my toughest of times— fertility struggles, a miscarriage, and the death of my father — to encourage others through their worst days. This year marks 17 years as a military spouse and I am honored to say that my story is one of growth, service, and loyalty to military families who need to feel seen, supported, and most importantly— never alone.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I’ve immersed myself in volunteer service and proudly took on leadership roles focused on trust, reliability, and connection within the military community. I recently celebrated 16 years of service as a Key Support Liaison. Through this role, I have been able to uplift service members and their families by offering a sense of belonging upon arrival, sharing valuable resources, hosting morale events, and ensuring our families felt safe and supported during deployments. With everything I’ve learned from my Key Support Liaison role and my focus on connectedness, I have been able to provide valuable insight to our base support agencies. This past year, I was fortunate to serve on our Community Action Team where my insight impacted events, policies, and support efforts. I played a valuable role in the development of our base’s DOW mandatory Community/Installation Prioritized Areas for Improvement plan where we focused on suicide awareness, domestic violence, and community connection.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
As a lead ambassador for the That Others May Live Foundation, I am able to support the thousands of Air Force Rescue community members and their families with scholarship opportunities, tragedy assistance funds, morale support, and through our Visible & Invisible Wounds aide where our focus is promoting resiliency mentally and physically. I have assisted with promoting our services, fundraising, hosting events, and relationship building while training others to do the same. Additionally, I serve as a kindness ambassador for the Inspire Up Foundation where I share small acts of kindness throughout the year and coordinate a large project each December for Giving Tuesday Military. This past GTM, I was able to provide comfort packages to many of our spouses. I feel that I am able to offer the most impact when volunteering behind the scenes at events and connecting others with support or ways to get involved— often using my MSOY network to make that happen.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
Every time I reflect on moments that impact inclusiveness it’s always the most vulnerable times that remind me why I continue to serve. Reaching out to a spouse who feels overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where they belong and bringing them to my table— literally and figuratively. Setting up a deployed buddy program. Offering my own resources and support following our town’s back to back category 5 hurricane hits. Coordinating 2 food distribution lines during the government shutdown. Consistently sharing reliable information with the masses. I’ve made it a priority to intentionally seek those who are suffering— whether it’s through a social media or in person — and connect them with reliable solutions. I’ve learned that behind every uniform is a family navigating sacrifice quietly and through my network of military-focused nonprofits and community events, I see the valuable impact in turning strangers into support systems because no one should have to carry this life alone.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
Connectedness. In a world where our lives are constantly flipped upside down, I know the struggle of restarting. My advocacy effort is supporting military families and encouraging the building of connections between them. In a poll at my base, I learned that 75% of our spouses have ZERO family within a 6 hour drive. 68% said that they had no idea where to find resources in an emergency. This is deeply personal for me. As a military spouse who married young and grew alongside my airman through deployments and the unseen challenges of military life, I understand how isolating this lifestyle can be. I’ve experienced the uncertainty, loss of community, family emergencies, and constant adaptation that military families face, and I’ve seen how powerful it is when someone shows up and says, “You’re not alone.” This is about more than programs; it’s about people. I am driven to ensure military spouses and families feel seen, supported, and valued at every stage of military life.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach focuses on meeting people where they are and using storytelling to build meaningful connections. By supporting events and resource opportunities, I promote my fellow MSOY team and bring new faces to the table. I was able to promote the Air Force's ELEVATE training through a personal interview. Sharing my experience of the program and encouraging others to attend was a joyful experience. I collaborate with nonprofit leaders, speakers, and social media influencers to amplify military family stories and increase awareness. I also help shape messaging that is respectful and emotionally impactful— ensuring military families are represented with dignity and authenticity. In addition to public-facing efforts, I prioritize one-on-one and small-group communication, mentoring spouses, and fostering peer-to-peer support. Whether through events, online engagement, or personal conversations, my outreach strategy centers on connection, trust, and lasting impact.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If honored as the AFI Military Spouse of the Year, I hope to encourage more military spouses to step into leadership in roles and opportunities that feel authentic to them. I want others to know that there is always room for them at the table and I hope to model that meaningful impact doesn’t require a title— but that with the right platform, we can create lasting change, build stronger communities, and ensure military families feel seen, supported, and valued long after the uniform comes off. This title would allow me to elevate conversations around connection and belonging, and promoting valuable resources— especially those driven by our MSOY network. I hope to use the platform to amplify the voices of military spouses and families whose stories often go unheard. I want to strengthen the bridge between the military and civilian communities by helping others better understand the sacrifices, resilience, and quiet leadership of military families.