Global Business Continuity Manager | Developing Resilient Solutions | CBCP | WILMA Leadership Institute 2024
I had several interviews in my past: “I see you lived in Va Beach are you a military spouse?” “We are a family here and know how hard it is for someone transitioning from federal law enforcement (which is a question 9 out of 10 times—and no as an agent it’s not 20 years and retirement) can you bring your husband? Is he service?” I could go on and on. It was the hardest, scariest thing I did leaving a job I felt I could do in my sleep (sometimes on very little or no sleep). When you’re comfortable it’s hard to go elsewhere. There are a ton of USSS annuitants that tap back into working at the USSS. I needed for myself to break free. To try something completely different. What was it — at the time I did not know. Being a military spouse was one of those reasons. I once had a supervisor say, “you’re an agent first and a person second.” When you let something define you it defines everything. So I don’t define myself strictly as a military spouse. I didn’t define myself as “just a special agent.” Neither should any of my friends out there. Do not downplay your breaks in your career, volunteerism, etc. truth be told those have been some of my hardest moments. Because I finally had time to think. I mean deep, down, THINK. What would another 13 years in the USSS earn me? Would I be as nimble to make the move or frightened to change? Hearing a USSS protectee on stage hit the hardest talking about what they were doing for military spouse employment when meanwhile my agency was making us sign waivers for a “pilot program” for spouses. I was a spouse, and certainly it was not easy. Then came the pressure regardless of my spouses career assignment. A lot of us in the pilot program learned it was the opposite. That is a main reason why I was ashamed of saying I was a military spouse. It was a barrier to career progression. When I joined the USSS it was in combination with 9-11 and wanting a career in forensics (utilize my Bio degree). Come to find out I didn’t see the forensics and I did have some amazing cases which was always my favorite part of being an agent. Standing in a stairwell taught me politics. Time is limited and remember who you spend it with, how you spend it, and where you spend it are all as equally important. I’m a lot of things—to some it might be resilient, failure, lucky, smart, etc etc but don’t ever view yourself as “just a military spouse.” Your time also comes with a cost. If you do volunteer go with organizations which will lift you up and not put you down. 😎 #thursdaythoughts
Independent Writer | Org Leadership Expert | Ops Director | Military Commander | Lawyer | Combat Pilot
We've normalized treating military spouses as free labor. Meanwhile, we've done almost nothing to ease the challenges they face. In decades. Not only is this just wrong, but it masks the cost of war and readiness. If we had to pay for everything these people do supporting us, it would make some of the constant budgetary bleating a lot more legitimate. We need to be doing a lot better for military spouses. Along with it being wrong and misguided, taking advantage of them is creating a readiness risk that could hobble national defense. Without their families standing with them, our warriors will not have fighting hearts. If bureaucrats aren't going to fix any of this, they could at least have the decency to refrain from saying stupid and horrible things. Then again, we always learn when someone says the quiet part out loud. This is a situation long overdue for a political ruckus. Corie Weathers, LPC, NCC, BCC you are mentioned within. #veterans #milspouse #readiness #culture
