Leading with Purpose in Every Chapter
April 21, 2026 | By Barbara Bratton
My journey as a military spouse has taken many twists and turns over the past 33 years. When my husband and I were first married, I was very shy and quiet around people I didn’t know well. I didn’t grow up in a military family and was unsure of the military culture and expectations, which made me even more nervous around other military spouses. I married my enlisted husband just a few weeks after graduation and, especially during those first few years, I was focused on finding my way and figuring out how to be a spouse, a mom, and a teacher.
I was first introduced to military spouse leadership in the 1990s, when my husband’s squadron took part in a pilot program designed to support and strengthen family readiness. That experience opened my eyes to the influence spouses can have within the military community. I started attending classes and events at the local Military Family
Readiness Center, which gave me a better understanding of our community resources and allowed me to learn more about supporting other spouses and our military community. Shortly after our first move to another state 9/11 happened. Suddenly, spouse leadership took on a whole new context as spouses came together to support each other and their military communities through some incredibly challenging times.
Over the past three-plus decades, what leadership has looked like for me has shifted with each season depending on whether I was teaching full-time or part-time, the needs of my family, where we were stationed, and the demands of my husband’s career. Some years I have been super involved in several activities and organizations, and some years I have focused on our family. I’ve been a Key Spouse, a Key Spouse Mentor, a volunteer youth group leader for our base chapel, an advisor for the local Air Force and Space Force spouses’ club, and a senior mentor for various command and spouse courses. I know I echo other senior Space Force spouses when I say it has been an honor to have these opportunities to support and mentor other military spouses.
One organization I am deeply proud to be involved with is Partners in PROMISE, which was founded in 2020 by Michelle Norman and three other military spouses who recognized a critical gap in support for military families with children who have disabilities and medical needs. Partners in PROMISE works to protect the educational rights of military-connected children in special education and to ensure that families have the tools, knowledge, and advocacy they need to navigate complex systems with confidence.I serve with Partners in PROMISE as a Parent Mentor and Subject Matter Expert in special education. In this role, I support families one-on-one as they navigate the IEP (individual education program), 504, and evaluation processes, contributing my professional expertise as a special education educator and certified academic language therapist. Together, our team serves military families across every service branch, in all 50 states, and various OCONUS locations, providing trusted resources, webinars, training for military leadership, and advocacy education for families.
This engagement strengthens communities and improves quality of life. So, I ask you: What are you passionate about? And how might your gifts help strengthen the military community where you are today?
There are so many ways that military spouses can demonstrate leadership and strengthen families and communities. One of the things that I would like our Space Force spouses to know is that spouse leadership looks different for everyone. The important thing is to find something that you feel strongly about or are passionate about and ENGAGE there. Account for the season of life you are in and the needs of your family when you make your choice. For some, leadership could be volunteering a few hours each month at your local food bank, on base, or within your local community. For others, it could mean starting a social group for military families in your neighborhood (e.g., a book club, a Bible study, a monthly potluck). Leadership could mean volunteering at the base thrift shop or at your local church. It could be peer mentoring military spouses or becoming a Key Spouse for your squadron or Delta. For you, leadership could be advocating for policy changes that impact military families in your state. It could mean using your skill set to provide services to military families or starting your own nonprofit.
No matter what you choose to do, do something. We need you. We need your wisdom, experience, enthusiasm, and insight to help our communities grow stronger. Your participation helps build connection, one of the core Guardian values (the 4 C’s). As we continue to build our service, I invite you to learn more about the United States Space Force, our mission, and our values. Download the Guardian One app and check out spaceforce.mil for more information about the USSF!
Thank you for all you do, and Semper Supra!
About the author: Barbara Bratton is an author, mother, teacher, advisor, Certified Academic Language Therapist, and military spouse. She is the Spouse of the Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO) for the United States Space Force, Gen. Shawn Bratton.
