Your AFBC’s Post

Your needs may change, but our support won’t. Watch Pfc. Nickelson talk about how fatherhood has shaped his life and his perspective on service. #ArmyJobs #TeamAFC #BeAllYouCanBe #TomorrowIsWorthProtecting

💻 Share your highs and lows of handling parenthood and life as an Emergency Manager in the comments! If you want to read my quick thoughts on the matter, check out page 5 of the IAEM Region 1 May 2024 Newsletter here. #IAEM #Region1 #WomeninEM #Womeninleadership #boymom #parenthood #AirNationalGuard #militarylife

#Divorce This is definitely not the popular topic for a career-focused social media platform like LinkedIn but it is part of life. At work and at home, both areas of life are effected. I experienced it myself 13 years ago. At first, I felt like a failure because I was determined to make it work between me and my now ex-wife. When I knew it couldn't work, when my ex-wife assaulted me (DV happens female to male much more often than people may assume), that is when I filed for divorce. Within a year, I started volunteering in the #PTO at my sons' elementary school, I'd scored the best score yet on my #USAF fit test (I'd been in nearly 4 years, on the USAF side, at that point), I'd qualified in a different section in my squadron, I was voted #JuniorEnlistedCouncil President, and I became founding member of the #DADS group (Dads of Great Students) at my sons' school. By the end of that first year, the divorce became "Final" so my attorney rescinded services. There was a lot of vague areas in the final paperwork that I had to get cleaned up myself though. This meant going to court against my ex-wife and her attorney was the only option. I likened myself to #LincolnLawyer but considered myself #TrailblazerLawyer, #TahoeLawyer, #BlazerLawyer, and by last year... #CamaroLawyer. (Yep, #Chevrolet for me.) Thankfully, that last hashtag wasn't needed much at all as my younger of the 2 sons (with my ex-wife) turned 18 this past March so my ex-wife lost any reasoning to contact me at that point. It may sound rough, but divorce is never a smooth and simple process... up until the very end. Moral of the story: the more you focus on you and your kids... the less you focus on your ex... the better you come out of it--your career and your life overall. #TheMoreYouKnow 🌠🤙 #SocialSaturday

One of the Ultimate Gifts We Can Give It is at this time of year when I am continuously reminded that one of the ultimate gifts we can give is the gift of ensuring we have done everything possible to take care of our personal affairs so that if and when something happens to us, things will be as simple as possible for the people we love. My gift to you is actually not a gift to you at all, but to the people who matter most to you, and this is a gift that they will be so grateful for when they need it. But here is the key: You need to take action for your loved ones NOW. This gift is a complimentary Life & Legacy Planning Session (normally $750), and during our time together, we review what you do or do not have in place to ensure the well-being and protection of everything you own and everyone you love, if and when something happens to you. If you have nothing in place now, we will discover whether the state’s plan for you is sufficient, and if it is not, we will design a plan to ensure things go exactly as you would want them to when something does happen. If you do have an existing plan, we will review whether it still reflects your current wishes, your assets, and the most up-to-date laws. Whether you need a new plan or not, this process alone will get you more financially organized than ever before and will provide you with total clarity as to what you need in order to ensure you have handled your personal affairs in the most loving way possible. At the end of your Life & Legacy Planning Session, you may discover you have everything set up exactly as you want and you can rest easy knowing your loved ones will be well cared for no matter what. Or at the end of your Life & Legacy Planning Session, you may realize you need a plan that truly protects your loved ones in the best way possible. To claim this offer, please schedule today >>> https://lnkd.in/gc56AVEh #compasslegalplanning #compasslegalplanningOK #estateplanning #willsandtrusts #OKestateplanningattorney #powerofattorney #healthcaredirectives #kidsprotectionplan #assetprotection #buildyourlegacy #familylegacy #outdooradventure #OKmom #OKdad #OKveterans #OKmilitary #guidingfamiliesforward

Hayley Ann Boswell ⭐️This hit me. Our eldest is onto her 7th school and all four of our children have faced challenges with their education due to being Defence Kidz. Thankfully, they have also thrived. As Defence families, we do not get to pick where we live. The amount of times some snarky person on the phone has said to me, "Why didn't you have them on the wait list from birth?" We, as Defence families, don't get that luxury. How about priority of placement for Defence Kidz in ALL childcare centres. Who needs respite more than a Defence spouse doing it solo? How about State School of CHOICE? We don't get to pick where we live, so how about allowing us to pick the State school that best suits our child regardless of catchment area? Small actionable outcomes that would give Defence families a little bit of power to determine the best educational outcomes for their children. These options are already available to at risk children, so the framework is there. How about our Defence Kidz?

The iceberg; a metaphor for the experiences of many military parents. On the surface, it may appear that military families just cope and become accustomed to the many curveballs thrown their way. But sometimes what people fail to understand is that underneath it all there can be a variety of competing emotions related to military life and parenthood. A simple visual, but one that reminds us that just because someone carries the load well, it doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy, and that we should never make assumptions. Unfortunately there is a very real stigma around showing vulnerability as a military family. Sadly, some within our community feel that they have to remain silent about the difficulties they’re experiencing or the overwhelm they may be feeling. We want to challenge that narrative, and strive for spaces where people can be honest, and receive compassion and understanding which is free of judgement or comparison. We need families in our community to know that it’s ok to feel these things, natural even, and that they are not alone. #militaryfamilies #militarylife #militaryparents #armyfamilies #navyfamilies #raffamilies #marinefamilies #parenthood #dandelionmilfamilies #challengethenarrative #honestconversations #perinatalmentalhealth #parentalmentalhealth #youarenotalone #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

"Check your problems at the door." This was (and still is) a saying some companies use to attempt to draw a hard line between work and home. At Hoffmann Brothers, we take an approach aligned with something I learned from the best leaders I worked with in the Marine Corps. Being "Mission Ready". In the Marines, Mission Ready meant that: (1) you were trained and equipped to complete the assigned mission, AND (2) things on the home front were in a good place, allowing you to focus on the work we needed to do. Our job as leaders is to be able to assist with both. Not just #1. My Marines could have been incredibly well trained and well equipped for a mission. But then life happens. Divorce. Loss of family members. A spouse losing their job. Aging parents. Addiction. Rebellious kids. Suicide. No matter how well trained or well equipped you are, these things most certainly affect your team’s mission readiness. Over the last year, Hoffmann Brothers' team members have experienced all of the challenges listed above. Some in the last month. Some in the last week. We certainly cannot solve every problem and have every answer. But we can listen, provide support, and share access to various resources and employee assistance programs. I take pride in our company's holistic approach to caring for our team members, both at work, and when appropriate, on the home front. #MissionReady #EmployeeAssistancePrograms #TeamSupport

Similar to the cohesion within an army, a family’s resilience and power stem from the unwavering loyalty and support they offer one another. Let’s delve into various strategies and approaches to cultivate and strengthen these crucial bonds within our families. By prioritizing #FamilyFocus, we can work towards nurturing deeper connections and fostering unwavering support, ultimately strengthening the relationships within our families. #StrengtheningRelationships #LoyalBonds #HealingChoice

Reflecting on my Peace Corps journey, I've been asked to share some advice for future volunteers in an upcoming manual. As someone who's moved frequently, I've learned the importance of orienting oneself to a new place. Moving to a new community can be disorienting. Take time to explore your surroundings and understand how your community can support you. Create a personal needs assessment by mapping out immediate, short-term, long-term, and non-critical needs. Identifying local resources can ensure you're physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually well. Even if you're settled in your own home, this approach can help you better understand your surroundings. Check out this worksheet and try it for yourself! #PeaceCorps #VolunteerLife #Adaptation #CommunityEngagement #PersonalGrowth