Photo provided by Brussels Spouse Sponsor-Newcomers Group.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day: The force behind the force in the Brussels community

BRUSSELS -- This year, Military Spouse Appreciation Day is May 10. Spouses are the “force behind the force” and support their service members through frequent permanent change of station moves, change of jobs and schools.

Ready and resilient, military spouses better their communities through their service and dedication to the mission and its people. In Brussels, a determined military spouse partnered with a dedicated Army professional in developing a Spouse Sponsor-Newcomers Group that welcomed newcomers and helped them with getting acclimated to their new duty station.

Teresa Christensen, a military spouse, and Cathy Blumenthal, relocation assistance program manager at Army Community Service, worked together, overcame obstacles and brought this idea to life in 2016. It was an act of service that reflects the heart and soul of spouses in the military community.

”We were determined to go ‘beyond the basics,’ to start a Brussels-tailored support program. The combined effort of the spouses group and Army Community Service resulted in a better product than if each group had been working separately,” said Blumenthal.

In the group, spouses sponsor fresh arrivals to their new duty station. Spouses use their knowledge and experience to help other spouses have an easier time adjusting to military life, deployments and everything that came with it.

The founders state that the group focused on the importance of small connections that could lead to lifelong friendships.

"You just need one friend to make each tour a good one," said Christensen.

Christensen and Blumenthal got the program off the ground. It has been up and running ever since through the efforts of other spouses equally determined to make life a little bit easier and more fun for spouses in Brussels.

Sharon Kitchener took the helm when Christensen said farewell last summer and is the current president of the group.

”It’s an honor to continue strengthening the relationships formed through the spirit of this group,” said Kitchener.

Story by Cyndi Juarez and Jessica Ryan, USAG Benelux Public Affairs