More Than A Spouse: Scholarship Recipient and Caregiver on a Mission to See More Families Thrive

Resilience and perseverance are common characteristics of our nation’s heroes. Military spouses are positioned to display those same characteristics, along with mental agility, optimism, and unwavering commitment to the family. For Army spouse and mother Kimberly Perez, these qualities became a driving force in reaching her goals—even when faced with financial and health hurdles.

Bleak Beginnings, Strong Outcomes

Kimberly married her Army soldier at 18, and having grown up in a dual military household, she knew a bit about what to expect. PCS moves, long periods of family separation due to missions—she was familiar with it. It wasn’t until her husband’s first deployment while pursuing her educational goals that it came to a halt, and she would have to learn (and quickly acclimate) to a new role—caregiver.

“My husband was medically retired after his first deployment, and it was difficult to understand his invisible wounds, and I often felt lonely because of his changed behaviors,” Kimberly recalled. “I questioned how I could afford to finish my degree without taking on student loans and how to balance it with caring for my husband and raising two young children.”

Many spouses in caregiving roles are navigating new territory while trying to remain financially secure and present for their families. Our Association frequently hears this reality, which has been a driving force for us to provide scholarships for the military spouse community. Kimberly came across our Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship program in 2020 and, as a recipient, turned her goals into a reality.

“I felt immense relief upon receiving the scholarship, as there aren’t many available,” she said. “I was able to go to college and become the first in my family to earn a bachelor's degree. I went from stocking shelves at Target while managing a full-time course load and being a caregiver to working remotely for an industry leader in transportation solutions and managing my caregiver role.”

Kimberly has continued to make strides in her personal and professional endeavors. A proclaimed lifelong learner, she has climbed the corporate ladder at her job, having started as a fellow and serving now as a product owner in sales and marketing.

She has been selected and recognized by national organizations for her caregiving story, her commitment to volunteerism, and her Salesforce certifications and expertise. Ultimately, for Kimberly, it was about her family and other military families that she could help.

“I wanted to show my kids that anything is possible and that it’s never too late to fulfill dreams,” Kimberly said. “And I look back fondly on coordinating over 300 military moves, drawing from my own experience and being a main point of contact, ensuring a seamless experience for military service members and their families.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of NMFA’s Joanne Holbrook Patton’s Military Spouse scholarship award.”

Mission to See Families Thrive

October marks the opening of NMFA’s scholarship year, during which military spouses can apply for a scholarship. Spouses can apply to put awards toward degrees, professional licensures, relicensing and fingerprinting costs, and even entrepreneurial expenses. We understand the military spouse journey is unique, and with a simple rolling application process—we’ve been able to reach more spouses who may be in the middle of a PCS move or navigating a new role like a caregiver.

“This year, I joined fellow military and veteran caregivers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the unique challenges our community faces daily,” Kimberly shared. “There are over 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers, many of whom face struggles like mine. I am genuinely excited to start my advocacy journey to support all hidden heroes.”

Kimberly’s story is a powerful testament to what’s possible with the right support. Together with passionate advocates like Kimberly, we will continue to share these stories. Share your ‘More Than A Spouse’ story with us. We want to hear it!

By: Angela Sablan Tenorio, Content Manager