On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we’re proud to launch something that has been in the making for months—something born directly from the voices, experiences, and concerns of our own community: the SFI Resource Readiness Military Family Toolkit.
This isn’t just a collection of resources. It’s a reflection of our collective truth. It’s a tool built by and for military families to help us support one another through challenges that are growing heavier—and more often, unspoken.
A Toolkit Rooted in Listening
The journey to this toolkit began where all of our most meaningful work starts: with our community. At our 2025 SFI Symposium “The Impacts of War and Conflict on Military Families: Why It Should Matter,” we listened closely as families—in particular, families of color—spoke about the deep, personal impacts of military service in today’s political climate. These were not just stories; they were urgent calls to action.
We heard that political division is deepening isolation. We heard that the burden of war feels heavier for those whose identities mirror the populations most affected by U.S. conflicts abroad. We heard clearly that the language our leaders use when discussing war, people, and place matters. And above all, we heard this: families don’t feel ready for the kind of war deployments that may be on the horizon—and they feel like they’re facing that uncertainty alone.
From the Hill to the Homefront
Guided by the vision of our Organizing Director, our team took this feedback and brought it to the national stage. During our advocacy fly-in, we met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to share what we heard, what our families are facing, and why this moment requires action. We didn’t just bring statistics—we brought stories, voices, and a demand for policies grounded in truth, ethics, and justice.
We knew that advocacy on the Hill was only one part of the equation. What our families needed just as urgently was something tangible—a resource to hold onto. Something that said: we see you, we hear you, and we’ve built something for you.
What the Toolkit Offers
The SFI Resource Readiness Military Family Toolkit is our answer. It offers:
- Honest, compassionate language that reflects how military families actually talk and think about deployment, war, and readiness.
- Support for deployment preparation, especially for those facing it without traditional networks or clarity.
- Reflections from families of color, whose experiences are too often erased from the dominant narrative.
- Partnerships with organizations working directly in this space, so families can get connected, fast.
- A space to ask hard questions, to push back against silence, and to build a culture of care.
Why This Matters Now
As a nation looked to for leadership, the U.S. must lead by example. That means ensuring that the families who hold up our armed forces are treated with the dignity, respect, and clarity they deserve. It means holding our leaders to high ethical standards—not just in how they act, but in how they speak, frame, and justify the use of power.
Our toolkit is a statement of values. It’s about transparency. It’s about language. And it’s about love—because that’s what drives military families to serve. As the spouse of a USMC Combat Veteran, and granddaughter of a Medal of Honor recipient, I’ve lived through the lasting impact of war—its effects are generational, deeply personal, and often too difficult to put into words.
Let this be a place where it’s okay to talk about the hard stuff.
Let this be the beginning of something more.
Let’s engage decisionmakers to enact policy, speak our truths, and ensure no family faces these challenges alone. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
– Brandi Jones, SFI Organizing Director