Our Navy Life

Military Spouses have much higher rates of under and unemployment than their civilian counterparts. Finding long-term, meaningful employment as a military spouse can be difficult, and sometimes disheartening, due to frequent relocations, difficulties with childcare, and sometimes even a lack of confidence. In this episode Leslie Coffey and Ashton Andrews of American Corporate Partners discuss their organization’s mission to assist vets and military spouses find meaningful, long-term careers through their personalized mentorship program and upcoming small business program. 

Show Links

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect:

Moving schools can be hard on both military children and their parents. In this episode, Naval Base Coronado School Liaison Mindy Hayes, discusses all the ways you can support your child academically and emotionally through PCSing, deployments, and more. From making sure your child adjusts to a new school, to navigating IEPs, to transferring school credits and preparing for post-secondary education, the School Liaison is an invaluable resource for Navy families. Listen to learn how your Naval School Liaison can help you connect to your school, community, and command. 

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect:

Naval Services FamilyLine is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to serving naval spouses around the world. Our network of experienced, trained volunteer spouses allows us to mentor, consult, and guide families in the Navy. FamilyLine’s programs include Compass, CORE, Naval Spouse Leadership Courses, and online and hardcopy publications all designed to equip Navy spouses with the resources they need to be educated, empowered, and supported throughout their Navy journey. 

Show Links:

Show Takeaways: 

Let’s Connect: 

Stories of Resilience: Maegan Jones

Maegan Jones is a proud Navy spouse of 14 years and mom to one daughter, age 8. Maegan is originally from Glenwood, Iowa, and Navy life has taken her to Hawaii, California, Tennessee, and most recently, Washington state. Maegan serves as the Secretary on the Naval Services FamilyLine Board of Directors and is also a COMPASS mentor. Additionally, Maegan is the ombudsman for her spouse's command.

Maegan earned a Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration in 2014 and has worked across a variety of industries. Maegan is currently employed by a government contractor and works in personnel security.

Outside of her career and volunteer commitments, Maegan enjoys reading, cooking/baking, exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family, and cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Dallas Cowboys.

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect:

Navigating TRICARE

Zelly Zim is a Health System Specialist in the Policy & Program Section for TRICARE Health Plan, Defense Health Agency. Her primary role is as the senior analyst for the TRICARE Select program. She serves as a subject matter expert, which involves the promulgation of federal statutes into Regulation and Policy for the Department of Defense’s 9.6 million healthcare beneficiaries.

Links from Zelly :

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Enroll/OpenSeason⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/QLE⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/FAQs/General/GEN_TOL_GENESIS⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/subscriptions⁠

⁠https://www.tricare.mil/publications⁠

⁠https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Mental⁠

⁠https://tricare.mil/bcacdcao

Episode Take-Aways:

● Despite its challenges, TRICARE is one of the premier health benefit networks in the nation -- it is an immeasurable benefit we receive as military families.

● What are the basic TRICARE terms and dates every military family should know?

● How does care/coverage change if you receive OCONUS orders?

● If a family is experiencing sub-par care, how can they advocate for themselves?

● What are the big takeaways Navy families should know with the transition to the Genesis

system that is taking place throughout the fleet?

Let’s Connect:

Stories of Resilience: Mrs. Annie Rae Payne

Annie Rae Payne is a Navy Veteran who previously worked for the state of Washington as the Education Coordinator at a state-funded early childhood education and assistance program.  She is the Life Skills and Family Advocacy Program Educator at the Fleet and Family Support Center at NAS Whidbey Island.  In addition to being the NASWI Ombudsman Coordinator, she has been an Ombudsman for 13 years and is presently appointed to the World Famous Rooks of VAQ-137.

She and her husband, Eric, are about to embark on their 15th deployment together.  Eric and Annie share three children, a son and daughter-in-law, two Grandchildren, and their German Shepherd Harley.  Annie enjoys reading, camping, game nights, and entertaining in her free time.   

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Ask yourself Annie's big question:

How can I help someone feel safe and seen?

Let’s Connect:

Stories of Resilience: Dr. Rosie Ortiz-Torres

Dr. Rosie Ortiz-Torres obtained her Doctoral degree while also living overseas the last 10 years, raising two teenagers, navigating deployments and volunteering with the military community as well. She’ll share her personal experience in leaving active duty and leveraging resources such as the Red Cross, Fleet and Family Support Centers and the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society.

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Ask yourself Dr. Rosie's big question--Why not?

● Spouses’ dreams and goals are important too

● Be gentle and respectful with yourself in meeting those goals and aspirations

● Use all of the Navy and military resources to your full advantage.

● Use volunteering to help clarify goals

Let’s Connect:

Stories of Resilience: Meg Graves

As a proud Navy military wife of 12 years, Meg is no stranger to the hardships of being married in the military. Their three children, two of whom are EFM, and her own EFM status as a Breast Cancer survivor have given her first-hand experience in advocating for their unique needs. Breast cancer has taught her that we all have our own version of hard. She has empowered, led, and encouraged other military families as their needs and families grow and change. Her role as a Navy ombudsman (& Air Force key spouse) at joint commands has given her insights into how EFMP differs between service branches.

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect:

Honoring Pride Month: Live Your Navy Life Authentically and With Pride!

In honor of Pride Month, today’s episode chats with Ashley and Julie Harper. Julie and Ashley are a same-sex couple married for 6 years, both from Jacksonville, FL. Julie serves on Active Duty in the Navy and Ashley works full time at the Naval Academy. They welcomed their first child, Avery, in April this year. Ashley and Julie’s journey as a gay Navy family is not unlike that of other Navy families. In this interview, we talk about how to be more inclusive of our LGBTQ+ Navy families, demonstrate allyship, and how we can encourage others to live their Navy life authentically.

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect:

Navigating the Exceptional Family Member Program: A Spouse’s Journey to Advocate for Her Daughter and Other Navy Families

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) can often be overwhelming and challenging to navigate. Join us for today’s episode as we chat with Michelle Norman, mother of a 19-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and 21 other disabilities.  After years of successfully advocating and winning multiple legal cases to ensure her daughter receives the minimum education required by law, she was contacted by military families across the country dealing with similar problems in public schools. Out of her passion for advocating, she launched Partners in PROMISE to ensure no other military family had to experience what they did so that their family could receive the support it needed.

Show Links:

Show Takeaways:

Let’s Connect: