Reese Smith

Share your military spouse story:
My name is Reese Smith, and I have been a military spouse for 4 years. When I became a military spouse, I was 19 years old, my husband was 21, and we were living a busy life stationed at Shaw AFB, SC. My husband had just returned from his first 6-month deployment, and all we had was a cheap Walmart bed, Facebook Marketplace couch, his dorm TV, a sweet deal of a car, and each other; and that was all we needed. Neither of us had any idea that there was a whole community and network of military spouses, nor the wild adventure we were about to embark on. Two days after getting married, we received an assignment notification that we had been selected for an overseas long tour to Guam, our first PCS and overseas location! Little did we know, this assignment would push us to our limits mentally, physically, and spiritually, pull us every which way, and test the bounds of what we ever thought was possible.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
It was only a matter of time before I stepped into the Social Events Coordinator role with the Team Andersen Spouses Club(TASC), creating, and hosting monthly events to include base wide scavenger hunts, potlucks, boardgame nights, and much more! During the holidays I also coordinate a Christmas and Thanksgiving party for all to attend! These events are especially important to me because Guam is so far from home for so many, resources are often strained and going home is not always an option. By leading the charge for togetherness, I feel that I’ve helped build a strong community and instill resilience in everyone who attends these events!

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I am involved in the Key Support Liaison (KSL) Program here at Andersen AFB and currently serve as the KSL for the 36th Maintenance Squadron. One thing I heard a lot about from spouses and members stationed here prior to Covid-19, is how the base movie theatre used to operate as a movie theatre, not a conference center. Since the Covid epidemic, the Meehan Theatre shut down and was no longer showing movies. Enabled by Brig. Gen. Palenske and his wife Jeryn; along with donations from multiple organizations, I was able to return what once was, to a reality! We successfully hosted 5 free movie showings, hosting over 350 people with base access. Additionally, I planned and coordinated a kid-friendly summer’s end event, girl scout investiture, and another spring break movie event is in the works!

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
I have been fortunate enough to receive two Wing level quarterly awards for my contributions to TASC and the mil spouse community on Andersen AFB, however, I cannot be more thankful for my support system, mentors, friends, coworkers, and family. When I see my friends who I’ve made through TASC I just get so excited! Their faces brighten my day and their laughs and smiles during gatherings, events and even just in passing make every second of every effort more than worth it!

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My mentality to combat this is simple: “prepare for the worst, hope for the best”. It’s a lot easier said than done and that’s why my main advocacy effort is to create the guide, community, and communication system that I didn’t have. I want to ensure that spouses of all ages and identities are equipped with the knowledge needed to access essential resources in a time of crisis. Within our first month living in Guam, the island was devastated by Super Typhoon Mawar and the reality of isolation set in. After months of looking for community and seeking involvement, our Units Key Support Liaison and my Key Spouse Mentor referred me to the Team Andersen Spouse Club (TASC) where I quickly began to find purpose and community! During this time, resources were strained, WI-FI and cellular service were scarce, and I didn’t have any friends or family to call or turn to. It is of the upmost importance to me that no spouse feels the same sense of being alone because we’re not!

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
I create most of my event flyers from scratch, which I then post via social media to as many outreach platforms as possible from personal pages to mainstream organization social media pages. I usually coordinate through the TASC social media manager to post on our platforms and around our community. Additionally, I have coordinated with Wing leadership to have my event flyers posted on the Base Commander’s social media page, liaised with PA to post on the official installation social media page, along with regular announcements during spouse club meetings. I also work as a barista for Infusion Coffee and Tea at the Andersen AFB, Base Exchange. I find that I can get a lot of personal face time with countless spouses of members from all branches of the military. Seeing spouses on base as customers helps serve as an icebreaker and often leads to further conversations about helpful resources but more importantly, has led to countless friendships and connections made!

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope for more outreach! I want to serve as a beacon for other young and new military spouses to see that it’s okay to be the youngest person in the room. Some of my best friends and mentors are 20-30 years ahead of me and that’s okay! I have learned more from them than I would’ve learned from anyone else and there’s nowhere outside the military spouse community that can prepare you like they can! It’s okay to be inexperienced. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not know what’s next. It’s okay to be in a new place with a new culture and a new language. I want to show military spouses that although you may be young or new to this crazy military lifestyle, you are important, you are supported, and you can make valuable contributions to our military spouse community regardless of your situation or where you are!