Advocacy in Action: Serving Military Families Then and Now
Advocacy has never been an abstract concept for the National Military Family Association. From the beginning, it has been rooted in listening closely to military families, learning from their lived experiences, and carrying those realities forward to the people with the power to create change. That commitment to families, and to long-term solutions rather than short-term reactions, is the throughline that connects NMFA’s earliest days to the advocacy work we do today.
In 1969, that work began around a kitchen table. A small group of military wives came together to form the Military Wives Association, driven by concern for their widowed friends who were navigating uncertainty with little protection or support. That small, determined group would become what is now the National Military Family Association. They saw firsthand the gaps facing surviving spouses and understood that without a collective voice, those gaps would remain invisible. What started as neighbors looking out for one another quickly became something larger: an organization built on the belief that military families deserved to be heard, represented, and protected.
That belief translated into action almost immediately. Just two years later, in 1972, early advocacy efforts helped lead to the Survivor Benefit Plan becoming law. It was a defining moment, not only because of the policy change itself, but because it established a pattern that would shape decades of advocacy to come. NMFA listened to families, identified a clear gap, and worked persistently to turn lived experience into meaningful change. Advocacy was not an add-on to the mission. It was the mission.
As the years went on, the needs of military families evolved, but the foundation of NMFA’s advocacy remained the same. At its core, the work has always centered on lived experience. As Eileen Huck, NMFA’s Director of Government Relations, explains, “While military families have evolved, our approach to advocacy has remained the same and is rooted in the philosophy that we are not just working for military families but also with them. Our priorities and goals are directly shaped by what we hear from military families.”
That philosophy continues to guide how NMFA shows up for families today. “Our focus has always been on making sure that families have the tools and resources they need to thrive in what can be a very challenging lifestyle,” Huck adds. Those experiences are not treated as anecdotes, but as evidence, informing advocacy that is grounded, credible, and responsive.
Equally important has been NMFA’s commitment to building relationships. Rather than engaging only during moments of crisis, the organization has focused on sustained engagement with policymakers, partners, and systems over time. This long-term approach has allowed NMFA to balance compassion with credibility, ensuring that advocacy is both deeply human and strategically effective. Trust, built slowly and deliberately, has been one of the organization’s most powerful tools.
Over time, NMFA’s advocacy evolved alongside the military families it serves. As family structures changed and the policy landscape grew more complex, the organization expanded its scope to reflect a broader understanding of who military families are and what they need. In 1983, this evolution was reflected formally when the organization became the National Military Family Association, signaling a commitment to representing families across all ranks, branches, and life circumstances.
This evolution did not mean abandoning NMFA’s roots. Instead, it meant applying the same people-centered approach to a wider range of issues. Advocacy shifted from addressing isolated challenges to engaging in sustained, strategic work across health care, education, survivor support, and quality of life. NMFA moved from reacting to problems as they arose to proactively shaping policy conversations before families were left behind.
Today, the kitchen-table beginnings of NMFA have grown into a national effort, but the heart of the work remains unchanged. Advocacy still starts with listening. It still focuses on translating what military families are experiencing into clear, actionable priorities. It emphasizes education and translation, helping families understand how policy decisions affect their daily lives, and ensuring decision-makers understand the real-world impact of their choices.
In practice, that work is both deliberate and disciplined. “Advocacy first requires an understanding of the community you are serving and the issues they face,” Huck explains. “That means regular conversations with military families, both in person and online, as well as through our survey data.” It also means deep engagement with the systems shaping military life. “There’s lots of reading of legislative text, policy manuals, and reports to better understand the issues and help develop workable solutions,” she says, before bringing those solutions to “people in a position to effect change, whether it’s Members of Congress or Pentagon officials.”
NMFA now serves as a bridge between military families, policymakers, and the systems that shape military life. Through coalition-building and long-term engagement, the organization works to ensure that family voices are present not just when headlines demand attention, but throughout the policy process. Advocacy is measured not only by outcomes, but by how it is done, with intention, consistency, and care.
That process also recognizes that change often takes time. “Military life can be challenging,” Huck notes. “Our job is to identify what challenges can be resolved through legislation or policy changes and then bring those solutions to leaders and policymakers.” She adds that progress is often incremental, which is why NMFA’s programs play such an important role, helping meet families’ needs in the present while longer-term policy work continues.
This approach matters now more than ever. Military families are navigating a period of significant change and uncertainty, shaped by shifting policies, evolving missions, and new pressures on family life. In moments like these, consistency and institutional memory matter. Families need advocates who understand both where the community has been and where it is going.
As Huck explains, “We rely on service members to protect our country, but few legislators or Congressional staffers are veterans or military family members. Our nation’s leaders need to hear military families’ stories and understand the challenges they’re facing in order to enact laws and policies to give them the support they need.” That responsibility, she emphasizes, is ongoing. “We will never stop being the voice for military families.”
In 2019, as NMFA marked its 50th anniversary, long-standing advocacy efforts helped lead to the repeal of the Widow’s Tax, a reminder that meaningful change often comes through persistence over time. It was a moment that reflected decades of listening, relationship-building, and unwavering commitment to families who refused to let critical issues fade into the background.
From a handful of spouses advocating for one another in 1969 to a national voice representing military families across generations, advocacy has always been a promise NMFA makes to the community it serves. That promise continues today through ongoing listening, adaptation, and leadership, ensuring military families are not only heard in moments of urgency but represented for the long term.
The story of NMFA’s advocacy is still being written, shaped by the families who trust us with their experiences and by the belief that lasting change begins with listening. As we look toward 2026, we continue to ask the same question that guided our founders more than five decades ago: what are military families experiencing right now, and what do they need to thrive? If there is something on your mind as you look ahead to the year to come, we invite you to share your story. Your experiences help inform our work and ensure that military family voices continue to shape the policies that affect their lives.
By: Olivia Brinsfield, Content Manager
