Congratulations to our 2022 AWN Empowerment Gallery Recipients! If you or someone you know would like to join the ranks of these elite empowerment champions, nominate an individual for Everyday Empowerment or a charitable organization for AWN Empowers.
January Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Sarah Robichaud
Sarah is a Maryland native who married her husband, Andrew, in 2012. Since then, she has had the opportunity to live at Fort Benning, Georgia (twice); Vilseck, Germany; Fort Bliss, Texas; and now lives in southern Virginia where her husband teaches ROTC. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salisbury University and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University.
The majority of Sarah’s time is spent rocking the stay-at-home-mom life with her two amazing children, Emily (5) and Logan (2). She also has two small dogs and an out-of-control vegetable garden. During her free time, you can probably find Sarah out for a jog or playing at the beach.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Cynthia Gruver
Cynthia shares a little bit about herself and her milspouse story. She states, “my husband and I have been together for 9 years. He was out of the Army when we met, but went back in a few years ago. We have three children total, as I have one from a previous relationship and he has two from a previous relationship. I work in the medical field and love to help others. My passion is oncology. I am obsessed with all things Harry Potter, my house is Ravenclaw. We currently live in Oklahoma and I honestly despise it. I miss living in a big city so much… I miss Target and Dunkin most of all! I am continuing my education here and would eventually like to run an oncology clinic for vets. I have a passion for helping those in need and try to volunteer and give as much as possible. I am so excited to have this recognition.”
Everyday Empowerment: Kristine Scrip
Kristine was nominated by our News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt.
Jolene states, “Kristine was my first friend in moving to our current duty station. She answered a Facebook post (a plea!) of mine when I was looking for an occasional babysitter. We have had so much fun together since that first meeting – from perusing markets to coffee dates, hiking together – even swapping dogs when one of us is out of town. She is one of a kind! Kristine is kind, sweet, intelligent, and thoughtful…and those are just the tip of the iceberg! She supports her active duty husband, works full time, and is running a side hustle called Thrifted Lucky Finds, a vintage online thrift shop. You can check it out on Instagram @thriftedluckyfinds.
February Recipients:
Command Team Member: Chrissy Gibbs
Chrissy married her husband in 2010 and jumped right into her milspouse role. She knew that life would be more adventurous and sometimes more difficult, but it would always be worth it. She had previously received her teaching degrees from Niagara University in Special Education and spent a few years teaching, but once she began having children, she chose to put those talents to work in her own home. Chrissy is a mother to four energetic boys and one husky pup (also a male), so you could say she’s the queen of the castle! Chrissy and her family are currently living in Fort Leavenworth but will have another PCS on the horizon. In her free time, you can find her working out, at a playdate with close friends, on the hunt for the next geocache, or hiding away binge-watching her favorite guilty pleasure TV shows. She is super excited to be a part of the AWN team and can’t wait to connect with new friends.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Morgan Farr
Morgan is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd and aspiring author. As an Army wife of 8 years, Morgan has learned to lean heavily on Christ as she walks this military life. Morgan and her husband have four children (ages 7, 5, 3, & 1) and two fantastic dogs.
As a jack-of-all-trades, Morgan is always working on projects. When she isn’t homeschooling her children, writing for Christian publications, or training her Dutch Shepherd, Morgan can be found listening to Texas country music while she is crafting, lifting weights, or reading.
Morgan is best known for her structure, discipline, and organization. Using these skills Morgan helped her husband build an awesome garage gym ministry called Farr Fitness. While they are stationed in Philadelphia they are on a sabbatical from the gym ministry and look forward to starting it back up at their next duty station.
You can connect with Morgan on her blog morgandfarr.blogspot.com and on all major social media channels using her handle: morgandfarr.
Everyday Empowerment: Michelle Bowler
A little about Michelle: I’ve been an Army Wife for just under 10 years, in both the Reserves and Active Duty. We have five children, four daughters, and our son, James, who was stillborn in March 2020.March Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Annie Pearce
Annie was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers & Penguins!). Over ten years ago, Annie met her husband Chris in Alexandria, VA, while he was assigned to The Old Guard, before being sent to Fort Bragg, NC. In March 2020, Annie and Chris moved with their 4-month-old son from Hohenfels, Germany, to Fort Drum, NY. They literally flew the day before the travel ban went into effect and got a house during the global pandemic – while NY realtors weren’t allowed to show houses. Then two months later, Chris deployed. With lots of calls to her mom, family, and friends – Annie and Owen survived Chris being deployed. They are now happily all together and exploring the upstate NY area.
Before moving to Germany, Annie owned her own event planning business – Attended. Her passion for events has led her to volunteer for non-profit organizations, including the AMA Triangle and Innovate Raleigh. Annie has served in multiple roles for large events including Event Director for Fail Fest Raleigh, Trade Show Manager for High Five Conference, and has managed multiple events for an economic development organization. Annie holds a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Ithaca College.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Bernadette Soler
A little about Bernadette is: She is a military spouse, yoga therapist, and teacher, currently living in Wilmington, NC! She is on this planet to help people feel better in their bodies and minds through their consistent yoga practice. With an extensive training background and over a decade of teaching experience, she has a knack for effectively applying the ancient tradition of yoga to your modern lifestyle. Having experienced the powerful life-changing effects of yoga, Bernadette is excited to help others move in the direction of their highest potential by way of these ancient teachings. She offers a Military Spouse Resilience Bundle as well as an on-demand yoga program that has new content every month. Reach out to her on Instagram at @bernadette_soler, her website at bernadettesoler.com, or by email at bernadettesoleryoga@gmail.com. Be sure to mention Army Wife Network sent you to get a special rate on any or all of her packages!Everyday Empowerment: Shermaine Perry-Knights
Shermaine Perry-Knights is an award-winning facilitator, project manager, speaker, world traveler, and author. She is a proud third-culture kid and a lifelong learner that uses her experiences in keynotes on resilience and change management. Her books make military-connected families feel “heard. and seen”. Shermaine also owns a publishing agency, Amazingly Published LLC.
Shermaine sent my (Amanda Bicknese) family a copy of her book, “I Move A lot and That’s Okay.” My daughter loves it and now that we’ve had a new addition to our military family, I can’t wait to keep it as a staple in our household- especially for any time the military decides to move us. You can find Shermaine’s books on Amazon and follow her on IG @amazinglyshermaine.
April Recipients:
AWN Empowers: Operation Gratitude
In March of 2003, Operation Gratitude sent its first four care packages to deployed service members in Iraq. Since its inception, the organization has provided opportunities for thousands of Americans to express their gratitude through hands-on volunteerism, in turn lifting the spirits of those who raise their hands to serve. Volunteers of Operation Gratitude are a generous group of grateful Americans who want to say “Thank You” to all who serve our great nation. Its mission is to honor the service of our Military and First Responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude.
Command Team Member MRE: Brooklyn Morgan
Brooklyn is a Reading Interventionist for Kindergarten through 2nd grade, mom of two, and wife of almost 13 years to her high-school sweetheart. She earned a BS in Early Childhood Education, MSE in Educational Leadership, an ESL and Dyslexia endorsement, and is currently working on her doctorate of education with an emphasis on educational leadership, technology, and autism.Empowerment Platoon Member: Clydine Reed
Everyday Empowerment: Kayla Parkinson
Kayla has been with her husband for almost 10 years and married for over 8 years. He has been in the Air Force for all but 6 months of those years. She has worked since she was 17 and has been in Business administration/management for over 8 years, but always felt like she was being called to something more. Kayla says she related so much to women around her at different stages in life, who were struggling with body image, mindset, their purpose, and moms sometimes losing who they are or making that their only defining title. She decided to help herself and others to break through those negative thoughts and patterns, rebuild their mindset, and truly find what else sets their soul on fire all while strengthening their body and their health. Women can still be incredible wives, moms, and friends, and chase after their own dreams. Either/or and all or nothing is something Kayla works hard to remove. She has been a Certified Life & Wellness Coach for over 3 years and has been blessed to witness such renewed joy in her clients. Kayla has her own private coaching company, and also utilizes Beachbody for fitness resources and the ability to train women on how to help others. If you’d like to be inspired and empowered by Kayla like I am, follow her on IG @krpcoaching.
May Recipients:
AWN Empowers: Military Hearts Matter
It all began as a movement in 2013, as a series of social, and educational events for military spouses. In 2020, Vega officially co-founded a non-profit organization, Military Hearts Matter (“MHM”). Together with a board, volunteers, and ambassadors of military spouses and veterans, the organization is paving the way to fully support the military heart community.
Their mission is to support the military hearts who serve. For more information or ways to get involved, be sure to check out their website, militaryheartsmatter.org.
Command Team Member MRE: Amanda Bicknese
Amanda officially became a military spouse in 2014. She is a mom to her daughter, Mikayla, and her son, William. She also has two fur babies—a dog named Daisy and a cat named Cadet. Amanda is from Florida, where she and her husband, Michael, met in high school and began dating during their freshmen year of college. She holds a Bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in Teaching Elementary Education from North Carolina State University. Amanda has been in education for ten years and was a classroom teacher for seven. She has currently decided to stay home with her little ones but works as a freelance editor and writer.
In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, practicing yoga and barre, watching movies, trying out new restaurants, and exploring new places and activities around her. She finds daily inspiration through a favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Amanda is very happy to be a part of such an amazing and supportive community and hopes she can provide encouragement and empowerment anywhere she goes.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Harley Zollers
Harley is originally from a small town in central North Carolina, but she has spent the last 10 years hopping around due to the military with her parents. She shares that she is thankful to have gotten the opportunity to see more of the US and parts of Japan during these last few years and hopes to continue traveling with her fiancé Kevin, wherever the army decides to send them. They have been long-distance since the start of our relationship in 2021, but she can’t wait to be married and start this crazy journey of military life together after this deployment. Harley is 23 and currently studying for a Bachelors in History with the intention of specializing in Genealogy. She loves to do photography and cook and bake in her free time. Once they get settled into their home, she hopes to be able to volunteer more and help to encourage others within this community wherever she can.Everyday Empowerment: Erin Byal
Erin Byal, aka “The Short Wife” is a blogger and content creator. She has been married to her Marine husband for 6 years. They currently live in New Bern, North Carolina with their 2 golden retrievers, Kylo and Abby. They got married in Lincoln, Nebraska, and soon after PCS’d for the first time to Quantico, Virginia. Since starting this journey of military life they’ve lived in Virginia, Pensacola, Florida, San Diego, California, and now North Carolina. Being a military spouse has really formed so much of who she is. From the challenges of moving and starting over to experiencing a deployment in Afghanistan, it has been a whirlwind over the last 6 years. Erin is forever grateful to hold the title of military spouse!
As far as her social media brand, The Short Wife, it’s not only become a part-time job, but also her creative outlet. All of her content is centered around anxiety & mental health, military spouse life, funny and inspirational reels, and our dogs. She actually began blogging back in 2016 to let friends and family know what they were up to. But Erin started getting serious about content creation when she began openly writing about her anxiety disorder in January of 2020. It has brought some really cool connections, and she’s so grateful for that. Her biggest goal for social media is to make connections with other military spouses, people who may struggle with mental health, people who need a friendly face to see, and to spread joy and encourage others to be authentically themselves!
June Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Kathleen Palmer
Kathleen is an educator and project seeker from Texas. In her 25 years as an Army wife, Kathleen has taught and coached in six different states and Germany. Kathleen has a big heart for both Army families and soldiers having served as a Soldier for Life counselor in both Germany and Korea. Her favorite part of Army life is her acquired community of battle buddies!
Kathleen loves words (both speaking and writing them) and has contributed to AWN, NMFA, The Fort Hood Sentinel, The Army Spouse Handbook, Inside Abu Ghraib, Memoirs of Two US Military Intelligence Officers, and The Army War College at Carlisle. Her favorite writing piece about being an Army wife is “The Lady in the Grey Suit” which was published in 2015 in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors (Vol.3). You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, or on her website, Life Is Messy, Love Big. Just like Kathleen, the site is a WORK in Progress!
Empowerment Platoon Member: Becky Ellingham Powers
Everyday Empowerment: Wendy Packard
Wendy met her spouse when he was in the Navy, per her request he ended his Navy career after eight years, they settled into normal life, had their son, bought a house, and were civilians for 9 years. As her husband never really lost the call of the military and a strong sign from God, he reenlisted in the Army.
Here is where she found her calling and family. Stationed at Fort Carson she became very involved in spouse programs from Army Family Team Building, to Family Readiness groups. As she found herself older than many of the spouses she learned she could really be a part of the military spouse community as a mentor and a leader. Continuing to mentor spouses in correct expectations of military life, career and family, and valuing all the military had to offer she achieved her bachelor’s degree in communication proving it is never to late to move forward with dreams.
As her family has moved 6 (preparing for the 7th next month) times in the 11 years, each move gave her more direction on how to help military service members and spouses. Finding a niche in helping spouses to find employment she jumped in with every move, becoming involved with Military Wife Network as a co-host of table talk, being a part of leadership for the Protestant Women of the Chapel spouse group, facilitating Employment Education classes, taking on the lead for the Military Spouse Professional Network @ Goodfellow Airforce Base, and working as the Military Spouse Liaison for the local Workforce office. She also stays close to spouses by staying involved in the Soldier and Family Readiness group for her husband’s unit to promote and ensure all the members understand the employment resources available to them.
She continues to work with businesses to bring awareness to the talent pool of potential employees’ military spouses can be. She loves to recreate resumes and get spouses on the correct path to a wonderful career in spite of frequent moves and childcare issues. Her son is now grown and attending college allowing a bit more free time in which she will continue to educate spouses and the community on spouse employment, will enroll for her master’s degree, and move where God asks her in continuing to help the spouse community.
July Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: KateLynn Heavilon
KateLynn was born and raised just outside of St. Louis, MO. She met her reservist husband while KateLynn was pursuing an undergraduate degree. After they married, her husband transitioned to Active Duty and they spent three years at Fort Hood, TX, then two years at Fort Bragg, NC prior to arriving at their current duty station, Goodfellow AFB, TX. KateLynn has held a variety of volunteer positions, and continues to be active within her local community. She enjoys spending time with their two rescue dogs and completing craft & DIY projects her free time.Empowerment Platoon Member: Anya Rose
Everyday Empowerment: Brook Morgan
Brooklyn is a Reading Interventionist for Kindergarten through 2nd grade, mom of three, and wife of almost 13 years to her high-school sweetheart. She earned a BS in Early Childhood Education, MSE in Educational Leadership, an ESL and Dyslexia endorsement, and is currently working on her doctorate of education with an emphasis on educational leadership, technology, and autism.
August Recipients:
AWN Empowers: It’s a Military Life
It’s a Military Life, founded by Christina Etchberger a little over two years ago, is a milspouse and vet networking community, dedicated to serving military families and those who serve our country past and present. Christina Etchberger is an Army spouse on a mission to give a voice and opportunities to members of the military community by sharing their stories and providing resources. Their mission is that their network advances resiliency, promotes community involvement, and forges meaningful relationships.
Be sure to check out It’s a Military Life at itsamilitarylife.org, where you can also subscribe to their monthly newsletter for more empowering military resources!
Command Team Member MRE: Jolene McNutt
Jolene is a writer, editor, and graphic designer. She co-owns a business with her retired teacher dad creating hands-on resources for elementary and middle school teachers. Jolene has been married to her extroverted husband, Phil, for more than 11 years. Phil recently jumped ship as an AGR soldier in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and re-enlisted in the Big Army with 17 years of active-duty service. Jolene and Phil have an elementary-aged son, Finn, who loves legos, math, and reading.
Jolene enjoys traveling, reading, and making allergy-friendly recipes for Finn. Despite her introverted nature, Jolene loves hosting friends and family. You can find her volunteering or playing with a pup or two during her spare time. Find her on Instagram @jolenemichelle1.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Wendy Woodard
Wendy currently resides in Galveston, Texas. She is still a very proud Army wife, although her soldier is now retired. They are also proud grandparents to a wonderful grandson, and new granddaughter. Her hobbies include cooking and trying new recipes, interior design and making crafts. She also enjoys traveling and seeing new places. Her family also enjoys supporting organizations that support and empower military families. They love the support and closeness of the military community. Wendy says, “Thank you so much for nominating me.”Everyday Empowerment: Shantel Perez
Before becoming a military spouse, Shantel was on Active Duty Army herself. She and her husband, Daniel Perez, are high school sweethearts. They did future soldier training together and then eventually joined the Army together. At the beginning of their marriage, her husband was infantry and was never home. Constant training and the long days that turned into nights were SO hard. They knew eventually that they wanted to have kids and so her husband reclassed to signal. Through that, there were a lot more date nights, family time, and all-around happiness. And then, after 4 1/2 years of being a stay-at-home mom and fully supporting my husband’s career, Shantel felt like she lost her identity. She wanted more, needed more. She needed something that was going to work for her and her schedule as well as being a mom & wife. She took a leap of faith and started in real estate. Now here she is, just ending her first year of real estate with 39 families served, being nominated for Huntsville, Alabama’s BEST realtor, receiving rookie of the year, top producing agent multiple times throughout the year, and getting her MRP Military relocation professional title. Being a Veteran and military spouse and knowing how hard it can be to get an “offer accepted” because of being a VA loan, she made it a priority to ensure that she educated herself and took all additional classes to serve her VA clients and to give them a chance in this challenging market. Being a military spouse is challenging, but also so rewarding. She also gets the question “How do you do it?” and immediately she thinks of so many answers. The military lifestyle is amazing. It has provided their family with income stability, healthy benefits & the constant surprise of “Where to next?” Again, it’s hard but when you get to your new duty station you find your tribe and you grow. Military spouses lean on each other, they create forever bonds, and we keep each other strong. Shantel shares that she is so grateful for this opportunity and to even be considered. She wouldn’t change being a military spouse for anything. Shantel is proud of her husband and the constant growth he is having in his career.
If you’re in the Huntsville region of Alabama and looking for a realtor to help you find your dream home with an understanding of military life, definitely reach out to Shantel Perez! If you’d like to touch base with her via email, hers is shantel@whoopitsperez.com
September Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Kayla Geblein
Kayla currently lives with her husband in Fort Benning, Georgia. She is a mom to twin girls and a dog mom to her two pups. Kayla graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor’s in Social Studies Education and Special Education, then attained her master’s in Literacy Education. She has taught in Georgia and at her previous duty station, Fort Bliss. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Kayla and her husband are avid Buffalo Bills fans and try to attend as many games as they can! After living in Texas, she found a new love for barbecue and has since become quite good at smoking her own meats. Kayla enjoys reading and doing puzzles, but when her husband is around, they enjoy movies and an occasional video game. Volunteering has been a part of her life as far back as she can remember, and she is very excited to start with AWN!Empowerment Platoon Member: Sydney Berg
Everyday Empowerment: Gabby Hubbard
Gabby met her boyfriend early in high school. He had always talked about serving one day, but she didn’t take him too seriously. They started dating during their junior year of high school. They went on to start college together, where he learned about the Army National Guard. She jokes it was the fastest big decision he ever made because he is notoriously indecisive. Now, 4 and a half years into their relationship, they are learning how to navigate distance after consecutive missions and the loneliness that being in the guard can bring. Gabby says she is staying busy by pursuing an education in Nursing and working at a children’s hospital.
October Recipients:
AWN Empowers: Ohana Homefront
The Ohana Homefront Foundation was founded on October 4, 2021 by Marine MilSpouse, Natalie Ealy, and (Ret.) Navy MilSpouse, Sarah Otto. Both Natalie & Sarah have been MilSpouses for over 2 decades and have a heart for the Military Community as a whole. They realized that there is a gap when it comes to Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention and want to make sure that EVERYONE in the Military Community is receiving the care that they need to their Mental Health.
Ohana Homefront Foundation is working to bring the talk of suicide to the front for the Military Community as a whole and to offer support to all that hold down the Homefront. There is a gap when it comes to Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention within our Military Community and OHF wants to make sure that EVERYONE in the Military Community is receiving the care that they need for their Mental Health. To do so, we have a team of licensed Counselors on board, along with a Life Coach, Health Coach & Peer-to-Peer Mentors.
The statistics in the most recent (FY2021) Military Family reported suicide deaths are staggering. In 2020, there were 202 reported suicide deaths among military family members; 131 being spouses, 69 being dependents under the age of 23. 6,146 Veterans took their own lives in 2020 and 519 Active Duty/National Guard/Reservists personnel took their own lives in 2021.
Throughout 2021 & 2022 we built community through programs, resources, and events – Counseling services, National/State/Base specific resources, Friday morning Coffee Connection, National/State Partnerships. We also received input from Military Families, as we actively chart new ways to support our Military Community when it comes to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
2023 will bring accreditation of a virtual crisis center, which will include a hotline, text line, and chat line that will be open to all that are and have been, within our Military Community.
Command Team Member MRE: Amie Fisher
Full-time Army Wife and mother of three, Amie Fisher is a certified Life Coach and Retreat Speaker. Amie has led SFRGs, served on various leadership teams, spoken at Army Strong Bond Retreats, and mentored other military wives through 23 months of combat deployments. She led her family through 12 PCS moves in 16 years of active duty service. She is also a proud Military “Coastie” Mom.
Amie has served alongside her husband of 25 years Ron in premier Army organizations like the 10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Recognized by the National Infantry Museum and the Fort Benning Infantry Community, Amie is a recipient of the Shield of Sparta. She is also a contributor to the book From Reveille to Retreat, a handbook for the Army Chaplain’s spouse. Amie consistently seeks opportunities to encourage other military families challenging them to make the most of the shared military adventure.
When Amie is not homeschooling, coaching clients, or speaking, she enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, crafting, reading, traveling, and cooking. She loves making new and enduring friendships around the world and helping these friends connect with one another for the betterment of the home mission.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Evie Service
Everyday Empowerment: Amanda Bicknese
Amanda officially became a military spouse in 2014. She is a mom to two tiny humans, William and Mikayla, and two fur babies. Amanda is from Florida, where she and her husband, Mick, met in high school and began dating during their freshmen year of college. She holds a Bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in Teaching Elementary Education from North Carolina State University. Amanda has served in education for a decade, but she is currently working as a freelance book editor and a virtual Chief Executive Assistant while staying home with her little ones. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys writing, reading, hiking, traveling, trying out new restaurants, and exploring new places and activities around her. Amanda is very happy to be a part of such an amazing and supportive community and hopes she can provide encouragement and empowerment anywhere she goes.
November Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Sarah Robichaud
Sarah is a Maryland native who married her husband, Andrew, in 2012. Since then, she has had the opportunity to live in Georgia (twice), Germany, Texas, Virginia, and now Michigan. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salisbury University and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University.
The majority of Sarah’s time is spent rocking the stay-at-home-mom life with her two amazing children, Emily (7) and Logan (5). She also has two small dogs and an out-of-control vegetable garden. During her free time, you can probably find Sarah out for a jog or playing at the beach.
Empowerment Platoon Member: Tina McRae
Tina McRae is a 44-year-old born into an Air Force family, who at the age of 17, switched teams and became an Army wife to her amazing husband, Rashan. They have 4 incredible kids, 2 sons & 2 daughters. Rashan has been on active duty since he enlisted on Tina’s birthday a few months before they met in Philadelphia but is currently AGR. As he closes in on 30 years of active federal, Rashan is on his path to retirement at JBMDL in New Jersey. During their almost 27-year marriage, they have PCS’d 7 times and weathered a few deployments. While stationed at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, Tina helped to open and organize a six-unit empty housing building to accept and distribute donations for Military families affected by Super Storm Sandy.
COVID-19 was one of the hardest times for our family because for the first time, her husband was a GEO bachelor while their youngest two finished high school and that was very new to them especially when travel bans were placed, and he was unable to come home. Like most families navigating 2 high school students and a special needs child, virtual schooling was a huge challenge, however, like other Military spouses, she learned to rise to any challenge. One of their favorite pastimes is to travel to Orlando and Disney World. Recently, Tina began vlogging about all the wonderful Military offerings and savings in Disney and Orlando-based attractions called, The Travel Life Of Tee. Being able to travel to places her kids still love as much today as they did when they were little brings her extreme joy and she cherishes every trip. As a stay-at-home mom and full-time caregiver to their son, she always felt it was her duty to give her soldier a special warm place that outside of his military obligations was loving, fun, and filled with laughter.
She has always gotten great joy at lending a hand and mentoring the new generation of military spouses as she believes we are the force beside the force. Tina has spent years teaching military spouses how to coupon efficiently and save those hard-earned paychecks allowing for an improved quality of life. Raising a son with Autism has made her work even harder to help military families navigate their way around a diagnosis of Autism and to ensure they are being amazing advocates for their own children. Their son has taught their family more empathy and compassion than she thought was possible and her other children are impeccable siblings to him, so they couldn’t be prouder.
As Rashan sets his sights on retirement, which is new territory for their family, she looks forward to continuing their connection as retirees of military life and the new relationships that come with it. Tina shares she can only take credit as the amazing Army Wife she is all because of the magnificent mentor she had as a young Army Wife, whose knowledge was invaluable. Being an Army wife has been one of the most significant, rewarding, and proudest times of her life, and she is honored to wear the badge of Army Wife.
Everyday Empowerment: Amanda Krieger
Amanda is an Army wife and mom. She met her husband while he was enlisting, online to boot, even though at the time they only lived five miles apart.
She has BA and MA Theology degrees from Ave Maria University and the Franciscan University of Steubenville, as well as an MA in English and Creative Writing. Her hope is to publish a memoir chronicling her life as a woman with a disability who happens to be married to a military man.
A stay-at-home mom and still relatively new to military life, Amanda spends her days taking care of her family and learning as much as she can about military life. She’s passionate about body positivity, disability representation, self care, her faith, and good food. She loves to see new places and try local cuisine. Her bucket list for Fort Drum after three years of living there still includes a trip to Canada, and trying all of the Mom and Pop ice cream shops in the area! (Ice cream counts as cuisine, right?)
Amanda loves the seasons at Fort Drum but is looking forward to the change of scenery when her family heads to Texas next year. You can find her on YouTube here.
December Recipients:
Command Team Member MRE: Cheyenne Shelnutt
Cheyenne has been married to her husband, Griffin for a little over a year and they have a daughter and two dogs. Cheyenne’s passions include teaching, spending time with family, and helping others. She is a natural-born runner and has a love for doing hair and all things creative.
Cheyenne and her family are originally from North Texas and are currently stationed in Colorado. Her husband’s commissioning into the Army just a few short months after welcoming their daughter produced its own challenges as she navigated two new journeys all at once. Because of this, Cheyenne felt called to serve the military community and help others navigate this journey. She is excited to join the AWN and empower other military spouses!
Empowerment Platoon Member: Jenny Manago
Jenny recently celebrated 25 years of marriage to her former Infantry, now MI soldier. As empty nesters, they are now able to enjoy traveling in their RV when the military allows. Living in Arizona, and working out of Ft. Huachuca, there is plenty of opportunity for site seeing and deciding how they want to spend their retirement years. She started her career when she met her husband while at Ft. Benning. They PCS’d to Ft. Sheridan, she changed careers to raising a family then later picked up her career as a Project Manager in the Fitness Industry. They then PCS’d to Ft. Devens then Ft. Belvoir then Ft. Devens again where she changed careers again as a full-time IT Project Manager and earned her PMP Certification. After a recent PCS to Ft. Huachuca, she has become a Certified FASTERway to Fat Loss coach which is where her true passion lies.
‘Many women are at a crossroads in life. We have followed our spouses across the country and globe and have often put our health and fitness on the back burner. We have encouraged them throughout their career and deployments while we take care of the house and kids but often not ourselves.” She is inspired to help coach other mil-spouses, like her, to get on an earned path of improved energy and health with whole food nutrition, intermittent fasting, and strategic workouts that can be done at home (or the gym).
She is excited to build a community of mil-spouses who can connect via the FASTERway to support each other while we build our resilience and readiness for ourselves and our families. She can be found on Instagram at JennyManagoFitness or on Facebook at Jenny Manago.
