The Council is a prime opportunity for the State to continue leading the Nation with a dynamic, repeatable, and unique statewide experience for our military spouse community leaders. It further affords an opportunity for military spouse quality of life subject matter experts to participate as guests on the Council, sharing their specific insights from the National and Department of Defense level while living in Alabama.

Mission and Purpose

Our mission is to offer structured connectivity with military spouses on a larger scale, furthering efforts to improve military family quality of life in Alabama.

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

The Council’s primary purpose is to expand the Military Family Liaison’s local presence across the State with more direct connectivity in each defense community on a more regular basis.

Structure

The Alabama Military Family Liaison chairs the Council. A community-engaged military spouse serves as Secretary for the Council and assists the Chair with administrative functions.

Council Members are Installation-level active duty command spouses (or equivalent designees) from each Alabama Defense Community. An actively engaged military spouse of a Veteran, Retiree, ALNG service member, or US Reserves service member will also be invited from each Defense Community. Guest Council Members are invited to participate as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in their fields while stationed in Alabama.

• Council Members serve a two-year term with the option to extend one year.
• Guest Council Members serve a one-year term with the option to extend up to one year.

The program will reach more military spouses across the State on a regular basis though community engagement by the Council members, who will encourage military spouse participation in the MSAN Alabama Mentorship-HUB (AL-HUB) and other events hosted by the Alabama Military Family Liaison and the Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN).

I am excited to scale our outreach and ability to support military-connected spouses as they move to or across Alabama, and during their time living here. The Council is another collaborative effort within the state that resulted from simple conversations about ways to elevate military-connected spouse voices and increase connectivity between spouses, their local communities, and the State of Alabama.

• Jennifer Holliday, Alabama Military Family Liaison

The Council will meet quarterly inside the AL-HUB, offering exclusive virtual events for its members. The Council will also consult with the Chair regularly and will submit quarterly engagement reports to the Chair and the Alabama Military Stability Foundation (ALMSF) Board.

Summary

Offering more direct and structured engagement for military spouses moving to and living in Alabama, will:

• Improve the overall Alabama experience for military spouses and families
• Increase the ALMSF and Military Family Liaison’s ability to fulfill the goal of improving quality of life for military families in Alabama
• Continue Alabama’s first-in-the-nation status on improving military family quality of life.
• Increase visibility of and engagement with the MSAN Alabama Mentorship-HUB

For questions and media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Holliday, Alabama Military Family Liaison, via email: [email protected].