From a Flight Home to Helping Others Get There

One memory from that visit stands out. The three of us went to Medieval Times, something I had wanted to experience since I was a kid but had never had the chance to do. I could have checked that wish off my list at any point, but finally going with Shannon and Tahiry made it special in a way I could not have planned when I was younger. We shared an experience that was new to me, together. It was a simple family outing, but it is one of the memories I took back to my duty station with me.

The flight itself was important, but what it made possible mattered more. It gave me time to be a husband and father in the same place as my family rather than from a distance. That is the part of this experience I hope people understand when they hear about Miles for Military. For a Soldier who is stationed far from home, assistance with travel is not just about getting from one airport to another. It can mean getting back for everyday conversations, shared experiences, and the moments that are difficult to recreate once they have passed.

My connection to service did not begin with Miles for Military. Before joining the Army, I worked in the nonprofit sector, where I saw how relationships and community support could make a difference in people’s lives. I continued volunteering after arriving in Oklahoma because giving back has always been important to me. Through Miles for Military, I learned that the volunteer service I was already doing could also help me return home to my family. Anna Staley helped me navigate the flight process, and her support helped turn that possibility into an actual trip.

Having received that opportunity myself changed how I talked about the program. I knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of someone’s effort to help a service member reconnect with family. I also knew there were other Soldiers in Okalahoma who might not be familiar with Miles for Military or understand how volunteering could connect them with its mission. After the trip, I became a Miles for Military ambassador because I wanted to help close that gap.

In that role, I actively share my story with peers and incoming Soldiers to help connect them with military family support networks. I also work with community partners and fellow service members on projects such as backpack, food, and toy drives. These efforts give Soldiers a way to support the communities around Oklahoma while introducing them to a program that recognizes the importance of both service and family connection. My goal is not simply to tell people that Miles for Military exists. It is to help them see how they can participate and what that participation could mean for their own lives.

I have found that speaking from personal experience makes those conversations different. When I describe Miles for Military, I am not only explaining a program or sharing information from a presentation. I can tell Soldiers that I used the opportunity to spend meaningful time with Shannon and Tahiry. I can tell them about a childhood wish that became a family memory. Those details may seem small, but they are exactly why the opportunity mattered to me. Every Soldier has different reasons for wanting to return home, and each family has its own moments worth making time for.