With every change of duty station comes the big reset of finding local groups in your area that will perfectly match your needs. These groups range in variety; they all serve a different purpose and are a must to keep you in sync with a new duty station.
The characteristics of social groups change depending on their purpose. Many can be formal or informal and can exist for in-person or virtual support. Depending on your personality and your end goal of joining one or all of them, finding a group that can be of assistance and meet your needs is something everyone should be part of.
The abundance of social media groups out there can be intimidating, more so when numerous groups have specific rules to follow and a large number of members. As a mighty milspouse yourself, you might already be part of many groups that have guided you and helped you with any questions where you are now or where you are soon going.
We all want to make the most of our duty stations, we truly want to find community, learn about the place we temporarily call home, be in the know and of course create friendships.
Here are some of the groups you should be part of at your duty station:
1. A base information page or command-specific group
This one is a must follow. Usually every base tends to have a website or social media account where all installation-specific information is found in one hub, including gate hours, notices of road closures, events on base, town hall meetings and more. There are also military spouse group pages by location and most of them share base information, flyers on upcoming changes and events which helps spouses and families stay informed. This could also be your FRG, Ombudsman, Key Spouse group. This page will help you keep in touch with other families within your service member’s command and will keep you posted on vital information while you tackle deployments, like social events to meet others within the command, meetings to learn information on deployment and more.
2. A parenting group
Finding a village of parents in your area who share your same values is always helpful. From setting up playdates, learning information on local daycares and questions on kid-friendly spots in the area, a group like this is full of amazing resources, lovely people, is a no-judgment zone and welcomes all parents and caregivers. A great example is the Momma Tribe on Oahu, Hawaii, which shares all sorts of parenting wins with both the military and civilian community. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/mommatribeoahu/). Be sure to include your male milspouses too.
3. A fitness group
Every season of this military lifestyle can cater to something different. Many military spouses find fitness groups to be life-savers during deployments. Parent-friendly running groups like Stroller Warriors (https://www.strollerwarriors.com/) have multiple chapters all over the world and groups like Fit4Mom (https://fit4mom.com/) help military and civilian mommas alike to reach their workout goals with different franchises at many locations. Another great group to tackle mental health and fitness is Team Red, White & Blue whose goal is to help veterans, service members and their families live healthier lives through different fitness events and programs. They also have different chapters you can join or log in through their free app to keep up with workouts and events. (https://teamrwb.org/)
4. An adventure group
If you absolutely love the outdoors or want to get in touch with nature around your new duty station, an adventure group will be the perfect addition to your collection of social clubs. Groups like the Sierra Club which is a grassroots environment organization offers meetups for people to explore, enjoy and most of all protect nature. They also offer military programs. You can find a meet up location near your zip code and be part of an outing that matches your capabilities. (https://www.sierraclub.org/get-outside) If you are looking for inclusivity, adventure and a virtual and in-person group then Military Wild is a great community to be part of. With different locations and adventure ambassadors from all walks of military spouse life finding a chapter that will help you connect to others and nature is key. Find a chapter near you (https://www.militarywild.com/find-your-chapter)
5. A volunteering group
Acts of selfless service through community volunteering are a great way to engage in social responsibility and give back to your military community. There are many amazing organizations that would love to have your help. Organizations like United Through Reading help with events and book recordings for our military. (https://unitedthroughreading.org/volunteer-opportunities/), the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society which offers on base services like Budget for Baby classes or running a thrift store is always looking for volunteers and can help you meet others in your community (https://www.nmcrs.org/get-involved/volunteer).
Being part of a group like the ones mentioned can help you build relationships, give purpose to the season you are in, can change your perspective on your duty station and the surrounding area and bring on personal growth. We hope you can find a group you can belong to and take on the adventure ahead wonderfully.