KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Strong communities don't just happen … they take time, patience and a lot of work.
Strengthening the Rheinland-Pfalz community through her volunteerism is one reason why Melissa Kreitzer was named U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz's Military Spouse of the Year 2017 by Armed Forces Insurance through the monthly Military Spouse Magazine annual call for nominations each January.
When it comes to community, Kreitzer often uses the word synonymously with family.
"This is a family … this is my family. So it's natural to want to help," said the local volunteer and USAG RP deputy of the Directorate of Emergency Services.
As a military spouse, she and her family relocated numerous times, and each time she found a way to reinvent herself and become involved with the community following a "bloom where you are planted" motto. Perhaps that is what made her so well suited to assisting military families with sponsorship and their transitions through her volunteer work and her duties with the garrison.
"I work with emergency services and that allows me to have a lot of contact with people in the community -- often times on their worst day," she explained. "Many times you meet people in a raw situation, and then follow up by helping and supporting their families through whatever it is they went through. I try to get them to the other side, whether they continue along with their [military] service or they transition out of the military -- it's still up to us as a community to support them through whatever it is that they're doing."
Last year, Kreitzer worked at her job in hopes to make an impact at the policy and program level. She built up her network of contacts so when she saw someone in need of help, she was able to tell them exactly who to speak to in order to solve their issues.
"When you are dealing with families, some of the issues and concerns are really complex. I'm not a chaplain. I'm not a financial adviser, and I'm not a counselor," she said. "My job is to provide the resources and information to these families. I try and resource them, not rescue them."
Kreitzer also said it's important when she's helping others not to take on all the responsibilities of fixing their problems so she won't become overwhelmed and exhausted.
"Sometimes life can be messy and so we try and help out, but the best way to help is to get the appropriate resources for these folks," Kreitzer said. "It can make a world of a difference whether they feel lost or disconnected or helpless in a situation versus, 'Wow! My community really came to my assistance and they care.'"
One of the benefits of receiving the award is that her list of resources and contacts has grown. She is now able to speak to the hundreds of other spouse of the year recipients from around Installation Management Command-Europe to pose questions and gain insight on solving new issues and gaining new resources to give to those seeking help.
"Each base had some folks nominated and awarded as MSOY. All of these people collectively do great things in their community. I mean, there are some women who have started foundations that have raised tens of thousands of dollars. There are some people who actually went to school and trained because they saw a lack of behavioral healthcare in their military community. So they said, 'I see a hole and I'm going to fill it.' Fantastic spouses … Now we'll have that network of people who care … I think it will be invaluable," she said.
Kreitzer said she applied a philosophy of actively seeking problems in the community and working toward solutions all her life. In some way, that philosophy could be considered her family legacy. She said it was instilled in to her as she grew up in a family with a history of service, and she has passed it down to her two children when they volunteer as a family. Many times, her passion for helping others is noticed.
"After a few pleasantries, I noticed that Melissa introduced herself to the Soldiers that were present," said Asia Honeysuckle, a military spouse, regarding her first encounter with Kreitzer during her husband's change of responsibility ceremony.
"One Soldier was nearing retirement and ironically knew the Kreitzers from Germany. I watched and listened as Melissa spoke to this Soldier," Honeysuckle remarked. "She offered sound advice regarding the career transition that would soon take place for him."
Because of Kreitzer's dedication to helping others, she received numerous awards for her service to the community; however, this award stands out because of how she intends to use it -- not only as a way to increase contacts, but to promote working toward solutions.
Next month, Kreitzer will travel to Washington, D.C., for Military Spouse of the Year Week, where she will network with senior spouse leaders and voice her opinion on the unemployment rate with military spouses.
"Statistically, a lot of spouses decide that it's just too hard to maintain their own career and their own identity, as they're supporting their service member," she said. "I feel like it is possible. I think there are some things we can do or some things that can be changed to make that an easier transition and to support those spouses throughout their own careers while they're supporting their service members."
Kreitzer is passionate about this issue because she has had plenty of experience dealing with spousal employment during her many military moves. She served as a well-recognized and decorated MP, a forklift driver, secretary and a variety of other odd jobs.
But her ideals influenced more than just her own habits, Kreitzer has also assisted other spouses with résumé writing and career advice.
One of the best examples of Kreitzer's work is her experience at Fort Carson, Colo., where she was assigned to a transition battalion made up of the most severely ill and injured service members. Many of them could not continue in the capacity that they were employed previously in the Army because of their illnesses and injuries -- on rare occasions, they weren't able to work at all.
"We trained their spouses, who were in a supporting role, to be the breadwinner. I had to help them [through] résumé writing, training, education opportunities, scholarships, internships out in the community," she explained. "I assisted in that transition piece."
Later this year Kreitzer, will be leaving the Rheinland-Pfalz community when her husband graduates from the Sergeant Majors Academy. However, she will have had an influence on the community and will, as always, keep in touch with the individuals she has most affected.
"She continues to support me and my family even though we are miles apart!" said Enez Godsey, who is stationed with her husband at Fort Carson.
Kreitzer is looking forward to the move as she will be reunited with her husband after being separated for more than 14 months.
"I joke with my husband that I don't care if we get stationed on the moon, at least we'll be together."
The Kreitzers will be staying in country with a move to Grafenwoehr this summer.
Her husband has served as Kreitzers's main source of inspiration, and the two have worked together as a team to create a positive atmosphere wherever they go, she said.
"He cares for his Soldiers, and I care for their families," Kreitzer said. "He's happy to go to work every day, and he is proud of that he is an Army Soldier. So I'm proud to support him. He's my battle buddy."
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