Sea Service Spouses Share Experiences of Building Families While Married to Military

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Being flexible while raising families
in an ever-changing environment continues to be a high priority for military
spouses, the spouses of top sea service officials said May 7.

The panel of spouses at Sea-Air-Space 2019 discussed
their experiences in dealing with the challenging but rewarding life of being
married to members of the military.

“It’s an adventure,” said Dana Schultz, wife of Commandant
of the Coast Guard Adm. Karl L. Schultz. Throughout their military careers, the
Schultzes have moved 21 times — an enormous challenge when you have five children
to raise.

“Four out of five of our kids would recommend this
way of life,” Dana Schultz said. “So, I think we were pretty successful
overall showing them the positive in this crazy life of ours.”

Constantly moving to new places around the world still can
be tough for kids and spouses, but Ellyn Dunford, wife of the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, said she believes the
best solution to fighting those challenges is making the best of your
situation.

“Bloom where you are planted,” Ellyn Dunford
said. “If you want to be miserable in life, you will be miserable. … It’s all
what you make of it. Are you going to look for opportunities that will help
satisfy whatever need is not being answered by the problem you are facing right
now?”