Brianna Keilar

“Military families miss out on experiences that most civilian families do not: birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, funerals and even the births of their children.”

“This is the hardest part of military family life - being away from each other.”

“The Coast Guard evokes images of search and rescue operations, maybe during Hurricane Katrina, or guys jumping out of helicopters wearing snorkels and fins - and that's accurate, but only part of the picture.”

“Something has to give during a deployment and for me it's often punctuality.”

“The military is the most esteemed American institution.”

“One of the reasons my husband and I connect is our shared value of service. It's why he went off to West Point at age 17 and never looked back. It's why I got into journalism in college.”

“Negative public opinion of a conflict and the politicization of the military can negatively affect service members and contribute to PTSD.”

“I am, after all, a NASCAR fan.”

“On Veterans Day, the country honors those in uniform and the sacrifices they have made across the globe. But as a military spouse who reports on the issues facing military families, I've learned that one of the biggest challenges is when a service member transitions out of the armed forces and into the civilian workforce.”

“The United States Army is really messing with my plan to get pregnant.”

“We have to challenge lies. We have to challenge falsehoods and conspiracy theories. If you don't, they fester - unchecked and unchallenged.”

“On average, military spouses are significantly more educated than their civilian counterparts, but much more likely to be unemployed or underemployed.”

“I've spent most of my life like most Americans - without any immediate connection to active duty military.”

“Real leadership is calm. Real leadership is steady in moments of crisis. It is not hysterical. It is not exploitive. It is not dishonest.”

“Military families are increasingly living away from military bases, embedded in civilian neighborhoods. It gives military families and civilians the opportunity for greater exposure to one another, yet many feel lonely and isolated.”

“When I married into the military a few years ago, I was failing at navigating the realities of deployment alone. When I turned to the military family community, their tried and true coping skills changed my life.”

“Misinformation is a virus unto itself. And Fox News is the vector.”

“Most employers see breaks in employment as a blemish on a resume. In the case of military spouses, however, it's due to their frequent moves.”

“I'm honored to donate my time as an ambassador for Blue Star Families, the largest nonprofit organization serving active duty service members and their families through chapters in the U.S.”

“My dad served in the Australian Navy until I was a toddler.”