Multi-faceted spouse finds home at each assignment

By Leah Lauterberg, Fort Sill CannoneerNovember 26, 2014

Marine wife
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Michelle Harrison helps her fourth grade students with their project creating a travel brochure for the story "Island of the Blue Dolphins." Harrison, the Fort Sill Marine Commandant's wife, teaches fourth grade at Geronimo Road Elementary. She also ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov. 27, 2014) -- Bloom where you are planted. A phrase that many have heard, that can be applied in many situations in many different lives. Yet, for this story, it seems most aptly fitting.

Military life is often hard. It is often chaotic. The ground beneath your feet may be home for a few months or a few years, but eventually that too changes. It can be difficult to find a niche, to find a small piece of sunlight in which to blossom time and time again.

For Michelle Harrison, wife of Col. Wade Harrison, Fort Sill Marine Artillery Detachment commandant, her ability to thrive in any situation is a vibrant blossom that demonstrates a military spouse's ability to find nourishment in any soil.

Harrison has been stationed at Fort Sill for one and a half years, halfway through their three year assignment.

"We have moved eight times in 22 years, the kids have done five with us," said Harrison. "They each have been my favorite, we love the beach so Tampa, Fla. was great even though he was deployed the whole time. I loved North Carolina, Jacksonville, and we were in San Diego, so we've been very fortunate. This is the first place we've been landlocked. But I love Oklahoma."

In each of these places, Harrison has made her home, raising three children, Mitchel, Grace, and Jackson. Harrison is also a teacher, volunteer and mentor. There are about 300 Marine families in the area and Harrison is here for each of them.

"My role covers many different aspects," she said. "We don't have FRGs in the Marine Corps, we have FROs (family readiness officers). I help the command sergeant major in an advisory role. We work together, we plan things for MARDET, and I plan things for the wives. Any issues with families, problems we have, births, deaths, we come together as family readiness."

Not only is she here for the Marine families, Harrison is here for military children at Geronimo Road Elementary School where she teaches fourth grade. Though managing her busy schedule with a full-time job can be a challenge, Harrison recalls a story from several years ago reminding her why she does all that she does.

"I taught in a Title 1 school and I had a little girl who couldn't read," said Harrison. "By the end of the year she was reading and so engrossed with books I couldn't get her to put her books down. On the last day of school, she brought me a book in as a gift. The book was 'Thank you Mr. Faulkner' one of my all-time favorite books. She signed it simply: 'Thank you for teaching me to read.' I have it in my room today, and on days when teaching gets frustrating with all the changes, testing, data and politics, I look at that book and remember why I love what I do so much."

Though teaching might take up most of her day, Harrison still finds time to be active across Fort Sill and works in many different capacities to help military spouses and their families.

"I help Colonel Waters (Fort Sill Garrison commander) a lot with issues, especially attached with MARDET anything that happens there I meet with him," she said. "I still teach spin, at Honeycutt gym, that's my other hobby. Fitness is a big thing for me, I've been doing that since we moved here."

She is also on the scholarship committee for the Patriot Spouses' Club, where she enjoys participating in club events throughout the year to raise money and give back to the community.

"It's nice to be able to give out that money to young kids who need it," she said.

Harrison is an active PTA member for all three of her children's schools and also helps to get the Marines active in volunteering at Central Middle school.

In addition to working full time and her volunteer duties, as the Marine commandant's wife, Harrison hosts families and functions at their home on Fort Sill.

"We live in a historic home so any VIPs who come through, we host at our house. Marine lieutenants visit once a month, and we now have Army lieutenants, too, because they heard how fun our get-togethers are. We are excited. We love having everyone there."

Twice a year the Harrisons host all of the Marine Detachment at their home.

"It's about 350 people, but it's fun. They fit in the backyard quite well with four port-a-potties."

This might seem overwhelming to most, but Harrison said the keys to doing it all are good time management and being an organized person.

"I think being a military spouse, you just learn how to divide your time," she said. "Between work, family and volunteering, I've been doing it for 20-22 years and I believe you just learn to adapt and adjust. Dealing with deployments, moving, you just sort of do it and learn to do it well."