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Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Provided by the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management

What is it?

President Ronald Reagan issued the first Military Spouse Day proclamation, May 23, 1984. The proclamation recognized the profound importance of a military spouse’s commitment to the readiness and well-being of service members. The Secretary of Defense standardized the date by declaring the Friday before Mother’s Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In 1999, Congress officially made Military Spouse Appreciation Day a part of National Military Appreciation Month.

This year, the commemoration is celebrated, May 6, 2016, the theme is Army Spouses: The Spirit Behind Readiness.

What has the Army done?

Military Spouse Appreciation Day is promoted by the U.S. Army through a variety of programs and special events. Army Community Service and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program coordinators plan events such as luncheons, educational workshops, spouse employment fairs, socials, and garrison commander proclamation signings to celebrate military spouses. The Army recognize spouses through various communication channels, including social media, installation newspapers, speeches and special events to.

What continued efforts have been planned for the future?

The Army is steadfastly committed to taking care of Families. Strategic campaigns such as Total Army Strong, the Army Family Action Plan and the Soldier for Life program promote support to Families. The Army recognizes the value in providing high quality of life programming to Families, as it is crucial to building a strong, resilient and ready Total Force.

Why is this important to the Army?

People are the Army’s most valuable asset. Spouses are the backbone of Army Families and contribute directly to the strength, resilience and readiness of the Army and the nation. The Army realizes the importance of taking care of spouses and Families, as this will ensure that Soldiers can stay focused on their missions and remain ready to fight and win.

Resources:

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