Have you noticed the ‘and spouses’ effect?
It’s something I’ve seen growth in over the last few years, and whilst I welcome that we’re being invited into the room, do we even want to be there if the programmes promising so much have actually not been created specifically for us?
What am I talking about?
Well, there are countless events, launches, courses and awards nights for the Armed Forces community –rightly so. We all know that service leavers need that extra bit of support, (and the cynic in me would also like to flag that there’s a lot of money to be made from them, too). But, over the last few years, there’s been the addition of ‘…and spouses’, always at the end and most often as a token effort – I like to call it the ‘and spouses’ effect.
Programmes and events that previously were only marketed to the Veteran community have this addition to make them more inclusive—but are they really?
The content, speaker list and marketing is all Veteran focused. So have we, the military spouses and partners of UK serving Personnel really been considered?
Military spouses, partners, family members, widows and widowers have unique challenges. Many of these involve the struggles of those currently serving – not just tours, deployments and detachments – (oh my!), but also the juggle of house moves, or week ending and being detached from the parent unit. And please, let’s not overlook the pressures on mental health when you’re preparing to send your most loved person to a war zone, or worse still if you find yourself widowed and suddenly out of the military community.
With regard to business support, these challenges can’t be overlooked.
Unlike the post-serving community, on the whole, Military spouses do not have funded training as standard, nor do we usually have a sum of money to invest in ourselves from our previous employer. And more often than not, we are the default parent whilst our partner is operational, which does add a load of challenges to the juggling.
Away from a support system to lean on our struggles when starting a business whilst living in a military world – be that on or off patch – are unique.
Equally, military spouses and partners who haven’t served have in their own right a whole host of valuable skills that our service partners or their Veteran friends don’t have.
Often, we are well educated, hugely independent and have generally worked in high-profile environments – we are so much more than the crying ‘wife’ at home counting down the days waiting for them that the general public seem to believe. And, the members at Milspo are running amazing businesses, only adding to our skill set.
Then there’s the cross-over with dual serving couples when one chooses to leave the Armed Forces, where you’ll find a hybrid of needs – one of a Veteran, and the other is a new Milspo with the still present pressures of operational life.
So why do we think its ok to simply add ‘and spouses’ – spoiler, it’s not!
Military spouses, partners, other halves, and those widowed need bespoke support.
Support that helps them in their modern military lives, not leaves them wondering why it’s all about Veterans.
There are some magnificent projects out there for Veterans, and they should be encouraged in every aspect and at all levels, but please don’t think we need a cookie-cutter version of the same content, but with a tweak on the title wording.
We have unique challenges and are superheroes in our own right, but we’re completely different to those who’ve served.
So, if you’re planning an event or course for the whole armed forces community, please don’t waste our time – we’re juggling A LOT.
But if you really do want to make it inclusive please try a little harder to add elements that will TRULY support us. It’s easy, and we promise it’ll make what you create truly special for the whole forces family.
In 2024 Milspo was awarded funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to create a bespoke and innovative business start-up course for military spouses, and partners of those still serving. This isn’t just another business course; it’s a community-driven, AI-powered launchpad designed by military spouses and partners for military spouses and partners.
Imagine this: You’re a military spouse or partner, with a great business idea, but the unique challenges of military life seem like roadblocks on your path to business success.
That’s where the FREE Milspo Business Launch Accelerator Course comes in.
Over eight transformative weeks, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and impressive mindset needed to turn your business dreams into reality. From crafting a rock-solid foundation to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, we’ll be by your side every step of the way.
And the help doesn’t end there. With six months of ongoing support and two years of access to our business directory, you’ll be equipped to build a sustainable, portable business that thrives amidst the demands of modern military life.
Designed to make the most of community, innovation, and your own entrepreneurial potential, your future as a successful business owner starts here!
