Honoring Our Military Spouses
As a part of National Military Appreciation Month, we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day to recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. We spoke with Shiloh Gealogo (she/her) and Katie Murphy (she/her) to learn about their experiences as military spouses.
Shiloh Gealogo
Senior Manager, Product Development
What do you want other military spouses to know about working at CDW?
Being a military spouse can be challenging with moves, deployments, travel, shifting schedules (that shift work am I right?) and the tension of the world that you live in. I have found that having a home base and stability with people that can empathize and understand can really help with that. The CDW culture is a place that is friendly and understanding, as well as welcoming to all layers of diversity.
What is the most challenging part of being a military spouse?
The thing that I have heard the most from my community is the employment challenges that come from being a military spouse. As military spouses, we do not always have control over where we live and when we move, making it incredibly difficult to have a career. I have been very lucky in working for places throughout my career that are supportive and allow remote work, but I am the exception to the rule. When someone moves with their family every 2-4 years, it means time off of work, gaps in knowledge, gaps in time on the resume, and difficulty finding another job when they move.
Do you have any advice for new military spouses?
Understand the resources that are available to you and be unafraid of advocating for yourself. There are many things outside of your control, but there are others that are. Do not fall into the trap of assuming that life is happening to you. You have more power than you know. If you have something that you are passionate about, a career, family, hobby, etc., go after it. Get your hustle on. Knock on doors and find people who have made it work the way you want. Advocate for yourself!
What are some of the resources that you have found helpful as a military spouse?
The first resource that I share with everyone is Military OneSource. Anything that you could possibly want to know about military life, resources, communities, who to talk to...it's all there. Other resources are really within my community, local groups to get to know the area if you are new, online communities for life, jobs and decorating those boring on base houses (White Walls on Facebook is great!). Finding your tribe is incredibly important, so I have even been so lucky that there are Business Resource Groups within CDW, like Military & Allies Resource Council (MARC), that have helped me.
Katie Murphy
Sales Manager
What do you want other military spouses to know about working at CDW?
CDW is a fantastic place to work for anyone, but as a military spouse, I have received a lot of support and understanding about the challenges military spouses face. CDW supported me during PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves and found the right role for me during transition periods. I received kind words of support and encouragement during an unexpected deployment from other military members/families and all coworkers who were aware of my circumstances. CDW’s MARC BRG is also great because they introduce all kinds of military resources that I was unaware of.
What is the most challenging part of being a military spouse?
HA! The list is long, but the most difficult challenge is uncertainty. There can be long periods of time with little to no communication, and Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) or deployments sprung on you just days before they need to leave. This makes planning dinner, weekends, and trips hard, knowing it can change quickly. But, with the uncertainty challenge, you learn to become resilient, agile, and good at adapting to change.
Do you have any advice for new military spouses?
Seek support from individuals who can relate with what you are going through. Talking or venting to nonmilitary friends and family about military challenges is hard because they can show sympathy, but sometimes you need genuine empathy!
What are some of the resources that you have found helpful as a military spouse?
I connect with other military spouses in the squadron before or immediately when showing up for an assignment! It makes it easier to ask for recommendations like where to live, doctors to see, and local spots to visit. I’ve also found social media pages on Facebook and Instagram that help connect military spouses in your local area.
Thank you to Shiloh, Katie and all military spouses who support our nation's service members. Learn more about how we support the military community at CDW.
As a part of National Military Appreciation Month, we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day to recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. We spoke with Shiloh Gealogo (she/her) and Katie Murphy (she/her) to learn about their experiences as military spouses.
Shiloh Gealogo
Senior Manager, Product Development
What do you want other military spouses to know about working at CDW?
Being a military spouse can be challenging with moves, deployments, travel, shifting schedules (that shift work am I right?) and the tension of the world that you live in. I have found that having a home base and stability with people that can empathize and understand can really help with that. The CDW culture is a place that is friendly and understanding, as well as welcoming to all layers of diversity.
What is the most challenging part of being a military spouse?
The thing that I have heard the most from my community is the employment challenges that come from being a military spouse. As military spouses, we do not always have control over where we live and when we move, making it incredibly difficult to have a career. I have been very lucky in working for places throughout my career that are supportive and allow remote work, but I am the exception to the rule. When someone moves with their family every 2-4 years, it means time off of work, gaps in knowledge, gaps in time on the resume, and difficulty finding another job when they move.
Do you have any advice for new military spouses?
Understand the resources that are available to you and be unafraid of advocating for yourself. There are many things outside of your control, but there are others that are. Do not fall into the trap of assuming that life is happening to you. You have more power than you know. If you have something that you are passionate about, a career, family, hobby, etc., go after it. Get your hustle on. Knock on doors and find people who have made it work the way you want. Advocate for yourself!
What are some of the resources that you have found helpful as a military spouse?
The first resource that I share with everyone is Military OneSource. Anything that you could possibly want to know about military life, resources, communities, who to talk to...it's all there. Other resources are really within my community, local groups to get to know the area if you are new, online communities for life, jobs and decorating those boring on base houses (White Walls on Facebook is great!). Finding your tribe is incredibly important, so I have even been so lucky that there are Business Resource Groups within CDW, like Military & Allies Resource Council (MARC), that have helped me.
Katie Murphy
Sales Manager
What do you want other military spouses to know about working at CDW?
CDW is a fantastic place to work for anyone, but as a military spouse, I have received a lot of support and understanding about the challenges military spouses face. CDW supported me during PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves and found the right role for me during transition periods. I received kind words of support and encouragement during an unexpected deployment from other military members/families and all coworkers who were aware of my circumstances. CDW’s MARC BRG is also great because they introduce all kinds of military resources that I was unaware of.
What is the most challenging part of being a military spouse?
HA! The list is long, but the most difficult challenge is uncertainty. There can be long periods of time with little to no communication, and Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) or deployments sprung on you just days before they need to leave. This makes planning dinner, weekends, and trips hard, knowing it can change quickly. But, with the uncertainty challenge, you learn to become resilient, agile, and good at adapting to change.
Do you have any advice for new military spouses?
Seek support from individuals who can relate with what you are going through. Talking or venting to nonmilitary friends and family about military challenges is hard because they can show sympathy, but sometimes you need genuine empathy!
What are some of the resources that you have found helpful as a military spouse?
I connect with other military spouses in the squadron before or immediately when showing up for an assignment! It makes it easier to ask for recommendations like where to live, doctors to see, and local spots to visit. I’ve also found social media pages on Facebook and Instagram that help connect military spouses in your local area.
Thank you to Shiloh, Katie and all military spouses who support our nation's service members. Learn more about how we support the military community at CDW.
