By: Mary Patten, Military Spouse, Miles for Military Ambassador, and SFRG Leader
The military has deeply impacted my life and shaped who I have become. My father, a member of the United States Air Force, and my mother, an exemplary military spouse herself, were my beacon while facing the challenges of an ever-changing environment. I was born in the great state of Alaska and spent my early childhood years moving around with the Air Force. After I graduated college, I met my husband in Anchorage, Alaska where he was stationed with the United States Army. Throughout our 15 years of marriage, we have moved with the Army nine times to various duty stations all around the world, and are now currently stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. We have four children of our own, who have also grown up experiencing the challenges of being raised in a military family.
My experience with the military has given me a profound sense of duty to help lead our families through some of the challenges that we face. On a daily basis, military families face frequent relocations, financial uncertainty, disruption in education, deployment distress, lack of employment, and many emotional factors that often go unsupported. Every military spouse’s experience can be different. Sometimes it’s beautiful and rewarding, and sometimes the challenges are daunting and enduring. In my experience, volunteering with the Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) is invaluable and of immense importance for the well-being of our military families and their service members. It is also where I continue to find my sense of community. I would not be where I am today without the guidance and leadership of the military spouses who came before me, and I hope to continue to light the way for those who come after me.
As an SFRG leader, an important part of my role is spent compiling information and resources into a monthly newsletter to help our military families and service members. Over the summer, I came across the Miles for Military program during an information briefing with our BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) representative. At first, I did a double take to make sure I was hearing the information correctly. Service members E4 and below can volunteer 25 hours with an approved organization and receive free airfare home to see their families? What an incredible opportunity that would benefit so many of those in our unit. Because of frequent moves, most of our service members are separated from their families, and a great many of them cannot afford to fly themselves home to visit. I cannot imagine a better way to boost morale than to send our service members home to see their families. I became very passionate about spreading the word, and since then, I’ve continued to push out the information to my wide network of other leaders in the Army as well as publish the MFM flyer monthly in our newsletter.
"After all, volunteerism and service are really the essence and embodiment of our military community, and how wonderful it is to gain time with your family in return that you otherwise might not have."
Shortly after discovering Miles for Military, I became an official ambassador for the program. In doing so I hope to reach more individuals and help them discover this wonderful opportunity that not only benefits the service member and their family, but also the community that they choose to volunteer in as well. After all, volunteerism and service are really the essence and embodiment of our military community, and how wonderful it is to gain time with your family in return that you otherwise might not have.
Read More Stories Like Mary's:
Miles for Military on Good Morning Washington | ABC7 News
Miles for Military Executive Director Windle Jarvis joins Good Morning Washington to share how Miles for Military is helping junior enlisted service members stay connected to the people and moments that matter most.
Purpose Through Service
Senior Airman Michael D. found purpose in serving others, volunteering more than 300 hours to bring hope to fellow service members. When orders took him thousands of miles from his daughter, Miles for Military helped bring him home to Alabama for meaningful time with family before a six-month deployment.
Miles for Military Flies Military Mom Home – Fox 32 Chicago
PO3 Rachel C., a U.S. Navy sailor originally from the Chicago area, is flying home with the help of Miles for Military to be with her daughter for her final reconstructive surgery following years of treatment for a cleft lip and palate.
