Here’s what our Coast Guard Spouse of the Year community is up to:
I have continued to write a column about military family life for the Coast Guard every two weeks. I started writing it as a volunteer effort four years ago, and From the Homefront has been a great way to show how dynamic and resilient our families are. I’m also a member of the board of directors for the Military Family Advisory Network, where I have the chance to serve families of all branches of service and to make sure they get the support they need. I also volunteer my time as an Arlington Lady, making sure that no member of the Coast Guard family is buried alone.
Our family moved to the Washington, D.C., area a few years ago and, after struggling with unemployment at our previous station, I was able to find work teaching media law at The George Washington University and at the University of Florida.
My husband is stationed at Coast Guard headquarters, where he is the chief of aviation forces. Last year was the 100th anniversary of Coast Guard aviation, so it has been an exciting time to be here!
~Shelley Kimball, 2013 AFI U.S. Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
My husband, 12-year-old son and black lab PCSed from Rhode Island to Astoria, Ore., at the end of June. I am going into my third year working full time with Semper Fi Fund. I am a graphic designer/photographer and website administrator. This past year I was able to travel for many of our Team Semper Fi and Community Athlete events – Boston Marathon; Beat the Bridge, Jacksonville, N.C.; Tunnel to Towers, New York City; and the Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, D.C. Last year during Thanksgiving week, Semper Fi Fund was given a PSA in Times Square. Eleven of my images were chosen and displayed in bright lights during one of the busiest travel times in NYC – what an amazing feeling that was!
I have been a photographer for almost 18 years. My passion is photographing high school seniors, military families, service members and children. I finished up my fourth year volunteering with Military Spouses of Newport – the local all hands spouse club. I was the Hospitality Committee Chair from 2013-2015 and President from 2015-2017.
~Stacey Benson, 2015 AFI U.S. Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
While stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, I met with Senator Nelson, Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Ray (PACAREA Admiral’s wife) to discuss Kodiak work-life/family issues and with Superintendent MacDonald (Kodiak Island Borough School District) regarding Education Opportunities for Military Children. Our superintendent was asked to provide input for the entire state of Alaska.
I also participated in Mishap training with Air Station Kodiak. Essentially this was a drill to practice if one of our aircraft when down. We role-played our participation and brainstormed what if scenarios. It was the most important and beneficial training I ever participated in. It was also the most emotionally draining.
I worked with Safe Routes to School, a local organization to create the first Bike Rodeo on Base Kodiak. This free event provided bicycle helmets, bike tune ups, taught street safety and obstacle courses.
In 2016 we PCS’d from Kodiak to NAS Pensacola where my husband was promoted to CPO. He is in a very unique position as a composite instructor. In a nutshell, he is a Coastie working for the Air Force on a Navy base. It’s been an interesting year. Before leaving Kodiak I became an ombudsman trainer. While I am not able to be an ombudsman at this unit it is an invaluable resource that is near and dear to my heart.
Due to the unique nature of this assignment I decided to take this time for myself to focus on me. I finally put my big girl panties on and took the teaching certification exams for the state of Florida, earning my Special Education Teaching License, became a Registered Behavior Technician and will enroll in a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analysis) program to provide ABA therapy to children on the spectrum (a dream of mine).
Rob and I have three boys (Robert 13, Chris 11 and Paul 8). This summer we adopted the best dog ever — a black mouth cur named Bruno!
~Danielle Medolla, 2014 AFI U.S. Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
It was PCS season for us. We transferred over the summer and are settling into the same city where our oldest son is stationed. I am working diligently on starting up a multi-unit spouse club at our new duty station and assisting with doing the same at our old one. I’ve also continued my efforts to assist special needs families throughout the Coast Guard, starting with District 7. I recently traveled to Dubai for a Lifestyle Rewards vacation I earned from Jeunesse Global. While there I enjoyed a desert safari, which included an off-road sand dune excursion, a once-in-a-lifetime camelback ride, and an extravagant torch-lit dinner at a desert oasis with belly dancers for entertainment!
My husband and I recently dove in to a monthly fitness challenge presented by Cerno called #GiveASquat (spearheaded by Michelle Aikman, 2016 AFI Air Force SOY). We’ve rallied together active duty service members and spouses across the country, friends and fitness instructors from local YMCAs, and fellow Jeunesse Independent Distributors to donate their squats to assist with completing the challenge. In turn, the sponsor of the month makes a financial donation to the benefitting nonprofit of the month. Our team #Squattin8ers takes pride in our work with this program and intends to continue building awareness of the challenge! Be sure to check out gocerno.com/giveasquat or the Facebook Group “30-Day GiveASquat Fitness Challenge” for more details!
~Mary Nelson, 2017 AFI Coast Guard Spouse of the Year
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