Mission

The Council's mission is to provide structured connectivity with military spouses on a larger scale, furthering efforts to improve military family quality of life in Alabama.

It convenes a small group of military spouses, who are actively engaged in their local communities, to interact directly with the Alabama Military Family Liaison, expanding the State’s connectivity with local military spouses and its ability to receive valuable insights on a regular basis.

• We will identify areas where improvements can be made and work toward solutions in collaboration with military spouse groups, Installations, the Alabama Military Stability Foundation (ALMSF), and other stakeholders.

Jennifer Holliday and the [State] took the time to not only bring this idea to fruition, but also give me credit for the idea during our launch and invited me to serve on the first council.

This is how to properly collaborate.

This is how to create communities that are military-thriving.

• Heather Campbell, MS, RDN, Military Spouse and Guest Council Member

Members

The Council was created for military-connected spouses, by military-connected spouses. We represent an array of military life including Active, Guard, and Reserves, Veteran, and Retiree, and covering as many service branches and experience levels as possible. Our members are actively working and volunteering as advocates, mentors, and leaders in the military-connected community. They are invited to serve through one of three channels:

• Installation Designee (ID) - A member is invited to serve by the Installation Commander based on his/her direct access to the Command Team, ensuring that Installation information is as current and accurate as possible. Typically, the ID will be the Commander’s Spouse, the CSM/Chief’s Spouse, or a designee serving in a capacity such as Key Spouse Liaison or Ombudsman.
• Community Appointee (CA) - A member is invited to serve by the Council Chair based on his/her current community engagement and experience in leadership, advocacy, and/or subject matter expertise in one or more military-connected quality of life topics.
• Guest Member (GM) - A member is invited to serve by the Council Chair based on his/her current community engagement and experience in leadership, advocacy, and/or subject matter expertise in one or more military-connected quality of life topics at the national level, while only living in Alabama for 18 months or less.

Our current Inaugural Members of The Council are:

• Jennifer Holliday, Alabama Military Family Liaison and Council Chair, Army Retiree Spouse, Redstone Region/State
• Julie Cooley, CA and Council Secretary, Air Force and Active Reserves Spouse, River Region
• Julie Pritchett, ID, Alabama National Guard Senior Leader Spouse, River Region/State
• Brittney Rabens, ID, Air Force Spouse, Maxwell Air Force Base
• Genevieve Kruger, CA, Army Retiree Spouse, Redstone Region
• Mollie Miller, ID, Army Spouse, Fort Novosel
• Tammy Doerer, CA, Army Spouse, Wiregrass Region
• Heather Campbell, GM, Air Force Spouse, River Region

Additional Members will soon fill seats for Redstone Arsenal, Birmingham, Anniston Army Depot, Anniston/Calhoun County, Fort Moore, East Alabama Region, and the Mobile Region.

Access to the Meeting

The Council’s inaugural virtual meeting was recorded and archived exclusively within the Alabama Military Spouse Mentorship-HUB (AL-HUB). Future meetings will be virtual and held quarterly starting in January 2025 and stored in the AL-HUB. The Chair will attempt to visit a different defense community for each meeting.

Military-connected spouses living in and moving to Alabama can apply for AL-HUB membership. Upon approval, they will have access to the Inaugural Council Meeting and future meetings inside the AL-HUB.

Learn more about the AL-HUB here: https://www.heroeswelcome.alabama.gov/alabama-mentorship-hub.

If you are a military-connected spouse of a service member in any component and any service branch whether currently serving or a Veteran/Retiree, please join us in the AL-HUB today by clicking the Join Now button on the page above and submitting the application form. Once approved, please be sure to complete your profile and join the conversation!