FORT STEWART, Ga. - "….have never met a more dedicated, hard working, no-nonsense person…continually puts other family members first…there is no other military spouse who is more deserving than her!"
The accolades are there, whether she is working in her paid position as the Family Readiness Support Assistant for DHHB, 3rd ID, supporting her sons Justin and Kadence at their respective wrestling or football events, or lending a hand to her husband SFC Garry Kisko as he prepares for his 5th deployment in his 12 years of military service.
Christi Kisko is now in the competition from Military Spouse magazine for the 2013 Military Spouse of the Year, having been nominated and subsequently winning as the Fort Stewart Military Spouse of the Year.
Military Spouse magazine began the Military Spouse of the Year® (MSOY) award in 2008 to honor military spouses of all ranks and branches of service. The Military Spouse of the Year® award recognizes military spouses' important contributions and unwavering commitment to the military community and our country.
Should Kisko win, it will be the 2nd time an Army spouse has won the award since its inception.
No matter the recognition, Kisko remains so very humble in the limelight. "It is our job as military spouses to have each other's back, and to mentor and be there for one another," she said. "I have not done anymore than what we should be doing."
Kisko brings to her job as FRSA experience she has gained from the very beginning of her introduction to the military. Prior to her position in DHHB, she worked 4 years in 4IBCT, 3rd ID; Friedburg, Germany; and Texas in FRSA/FRG positions.
"This is a great achievement for her," said husband, SFC Garry Kisko. "But this is the way we were raised back in our hometown of Smethport, Pennsylvania. We were raised to help out with everything, whether it was due to illness or some other event. This is the way of life for us."
SFC Kisko recalled that when he was just a Private back in 2001, Christi was volunteering. And Christi remarked, "Volunteering trumps being a paid employee."
SFC Kisko added, "This is a great achievement for a small town girl. She won for Fort Stewart, which is a big installation."
MAJ Kris Howell, DHHB Rear Det. Bn. Commander works with Christi on a daily basis. "This recognition for her is awesome," said Howell. "I get a chance to see the other side of Christi. She is extremely engaged and cares for the development of other spouses."
Nominations for MSOY are collected and then organized at an installation level (district for the Coast Guard and state for the National Guard). Three rounds of voting occur: an installation vote, a branch vote, and a national vote. Installation winners advance to the branch round.
The branch level voting leads to the selection of six Spouses of the Year (SOYs): Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and National Guard.
The national winner is selected based on the highest combined score derived from both the popular vote and judges' panel
The outcome for the branch winner will be announced Feb. 21.
All the while, Christi wants people to help each other. "We are the same," said Christi. "This award does not make me any better than any other spouse on the installation. Our job is to inspire, encourage, and empower each other. This is not rocket science. When someone needs help, you help them."
Social Sharing