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Chelsey Thomas
Spouses in the Fight
My husband's second deployment happened in the middle of the COVID lockdowns, shortly after a cross-country PCS—and we had a newborn at the time. That deployment felt entirely different. For the first time, we found ourselves actively searching for resources to help fill the gaps that military life can create.
Like many lonely spouses, I ended up spending a lot of time on social media. One day, I came across a post about Thrive Market offering free memberships to military families. It was a small thing, but it made a big impact. I felt seen and supported by the civilian community, and it really sparked my interest in what other resources might be out there—resources that often go unnoticed. 
Many of the best support systems for military families aren't run by the DoD, so we usually only hear about them through word of mouth or when organizations invest in marketing. I spent that entire deployment diving deep into every kind of resource I could find and sharing them with friends. They eventually encouraged me to start sharing online so more families could benefit.
I started by focusing on travel and recreation resources because those made the biggest difference for our family—and were the hardest to find. It’s understandable that issues like food insecurity and childcare get the most attention and funding, but I realized that families struggling with those challenges are likely missing out on the “fun stuff” too. And those joyful experiences can be incredibly healing.
Accessing those resources has helped us create lasting memories and live a fulfilling lifestyle—even while my husband continues to serve. We've been able to visit him during a deployment to Europe, join him on TDYs, visit family, and take a once-in-a-lifetime post-deployment trip—all for very little out of pocket. None of that would’ve been possible without the resources I found.
Today, I’m honored to share those tools and our journey with over 50,000 military families online through our Camouflage Perks webpage and on Instagram, helping them access the same opportunities. Partnering with organizations to amplify their impact has been such a meaningful way to contribute—just being one small piece of the puzzle working to strengthen our community.
