Verenice is an amazing spouse who has implemented a strength for spouses program focusing on resiliency that is now being adopted at the Air Force level. She has strengthened the security forces key spouse program and has helped countless of families in the process. She is still able to raise an amazing family while going to school for a degree. Verenice is what the military spouse of the year is all about.

I nominate my wife, Mrs. Verenice Castillo to be Military Spouse of the Year in 2013.

When Verenice and I met in the fall of 1999, I knew almost instantly that I had my soul mate for life standing right in front of me. What did it for me was a genuine sense of kindness and warmth in her personality. As we got to know each other, I realized I had also met a brilliant woman who was determined to pursue an education but not to make her lot in life better. Rather, her goals were more meaningful and inspiring; she hoped that someday she would be able to use her education to help people in need.

 

Now here we are, 13 years and two boys later! Verenice’s hope of helping others in need has matured into action that has made Air Force families stronger and more resilient. As a Key Spouse Mentor she leads a team of 4 spouses in a Security Forces unit who provide care and support for more than 106 families while their Defenders serve deployed to the Middle East. Verenice is at the heart of the unit instilling awareness, providing resources, and she’s never more than a phone call away to respond to a call for assistance. Vere’s impact is also felt around the base and throughout the Air Force. Her commitment to supporting Air Force families and the Key Spouse program resulted in various pivotal achievements furthering the 42^nd Air Base Wing’s ability to build strong families. Verenice’s most notable work as Key Spouse mentor is in the area of resiliency for spouses. In the spring of this year, she developed a program known as “Strength for Spouses.” During the pre-deployment phase, Strength for Spouses fills the void between the Airmen and their families by delivering resiliency training and awareness of Air Force resources available to help spouses cope with deployment stressors. Strength for Spouses also helps spouses prepare for redeployment and the inherent complications caused by family reintegration, separation and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This program is currently in review by the Air Force A-1 community and has been lauded by key leaders and their spouses around the Air Force.

 

On top of it all, Verenice still makes it possible to be the most caring and giving wife and mother in our family. She takes time everyday to ensure our boys are prepared for school; she goes to their concerts, basketball games, awards ceremonies, and all those events they expect to see her at. She is a scholar, never losing sight of her goal to educate herself so she can help others. She drives me to be the successful man and commander that I am, never settling for “just enough.” And best of all, she is the friend I fell in love with 13 years ago – that has remained unchanged through all the challenge and sacrifice she has made as an Air Force wife.

 

Albert Einstein once said “only a life lived for others, is a life worthwhile."  Military spouses often silently live their life in the service of others whether it is their family, friends or neighbors.  Verenice Castillo is no exception to that rule.  When she arrived at Maxwell AFB in the summer of 2011, she arrived with her family and husband, Major Tony Castillo.  Major Castillo was assuming command of the 42d Security Forces Squadron.  Many of us know security forces are a tough career field; frequent deployments, long hours and often a thankless job. (They will always have my heart and admiration though, since I am married to a SFS member.)The Castillo’s were coming into a squadron that faced its share of challenges with the biggest one being unit morale.

How do you make your squadron work as a team and yet build the camaraderie that the military is known for; that is a formidable challenge to boost morale when budgets are cut, manning is low.  One would really have to get creative when doing more with less.  The Key Spouse program was still pretty new to the Air Force and in this squadron, I’ll be honest, it was almost non-existent.  Verenice took it upon herself to make this program change, not as the Commander’s spouse, but as a seasoned Security Forces spouse, who has faced the challenges that frequently pop up when our spouses are away.  She set a foundation to start with by enlisting two other spouses to work alongside her as key spouses.  With frequent meetings and socials, this dynamic team of Verenice as the Key Spouse Mentor, Shay Langdon and Angel Gandy ignited a spark of energy and TLC that the SFS was in need of.  Also adding to the mix, SMSgt Scott Bowermaster, the 42d SFS 1st sergeant; a very trustworthy, caring and understand SNCO who’s experience as a 1^st sergeant has given him the tools to perpetuate an era of confidence in senior leadership.  Verenice has demonstrated that no matter how we get involved, whether through our squadrons, as key spouses or through our schools, we can make a difference that will leave our military community better than when we have arrived here.  Her energy and enthusiam has inspired a new generation of military spouses to come forth and make a difference one day, one individual at a time. 

 

 

Albert Einstein once said “only a life lived for others, is a life worthwhile."  Military spouses often silently live their life in the service of others whether it is their family, friends or neighbors.  Verenice Castillo is no exception to that rule.  When she arrived at Maxwell AFB in the summer of 2011, she arrived with her family and husband, Major Tony Castillo.  Major Castillo was assuming command of the 42d Security Forces Squadron.  Many of us know security forces are a tough career field; frequent deployments, long hours and often a thankless job. (They will always have my heart and admiration though, since I am married to a SFS member.)The Castillo’s were coming into a squadron that faced its share of challenges with the biggest one being unit morale.

 

How do you make your squadron work as a team and yet build the camaraderie that the military is known for; that is a formidable challenge to boost morale when budgets are cut, manning is low.  One would really have to get creative when doing more with less.  The Key Spouse program was still pretty new to the Air Force and in this squadron, I’ll be honest, it was almost non-existent.  Verenice took it upon herself to make this program change, not as the Commander’s spouse, but as a seasoned Security Forces spouse, who has faced the challenges that frequently pop up when our spouses are away.  She set a foundation to start with by enlisting two other spouses to work alongside her as key spouses.  With frequent meetings and socials, this dynamic team of Verenice as the Key Spouse Mentor, Shay Langdon and Angel Gandy ignited a spark of energy and TLC that the SFS was in need of.  Also adding to the mix, SMSgt Scott Bowermaster, the 42d SFS 1st sergeant; a very trustworthy, caring and understand SNCO who’s experience as a 1^st sergeant has given him the tools to perpetuate an era of confidence in senior leadership.  Prior to Major Castillo assuming command of the 42^nd Security Forces Squadron, the unit Key Spouse program consisted of two Key Spouses and a loosely developed plan to care for Defenders and their families while deployed. The program, however, was inactive.  The first step taken to revitalize the program was to meet with the existing Key Spouses, the Commander, and the unit First Sergeant to make an initial assessment on the status of the program and develop a plan to provide support for deployed Defenders and their families.  Her energy, enthusiasm and dedication has inspired others to step up and be "wingmen" to our fellow spouses by way of the Key Spouse Program and the Strength for Spouses Program, which was created by Verenice, that features classes that train resiliency to military spouses, especially during deployments.  Verenice has inspired me and others, to make a difference one day, one person at a time.

 

Her dedication to help other families that have family members in the military. She has helped improve the security of the military spouse program. Verenice is determined to help others in need.