Q&A with Geri Lynn Maples
Scholar Devotes Career to Military Family Success and Resilience
SPRING 2019
Geri Lynn Maples is a military spouse and caregiver to her husband Robert. An expert in Military Culture, Geri has dedicated her career to assisting others in understanding the uniqueness of military life both during and after service. Nearly a decade ago while pursuing an undergraduate degree, Geri was awarded $6,000 in ThanksUSA scholarships, helping pave the way for her future. She went on to earn a Master’s in Human Service Counseling: Military Resilience. Today she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, focusing on the needs of military spouses, caregivers and dependent children. Currently a Career Consultant, Geri helps transitioning Veterans and their families. She also launched Operation Mission Insight, which develops support programs for organizations to meet the needs of military clientele. Q: What are some of the lesser known challenges you never expected to face as a National Guard military spouse? I have come to understand that I was a military spouse in two different eras, pre and post-9/11. My experiences over those initial years posed challenges that at the time seemed significant. I remember the first two-week annual training when I had to say good-bye. That period he was gone seemed like an eternity. Finally, the day arrived for me to pick him up. On the way to the armory, the clutch on the truck went out on me — with no cell phones at that time. I was alone on a country road and had to manage to coast the truck to a location for help. When I finally arrived to pick him up, Robert was alone at the armory seated upon his bags. As I look back, I am able to giggle about the expression on his face. The lesser challenges seem to be the moments we can chuckle at now! Q: Tell us about your current studies and future goals. I am preparing to defend my Doctoral Dissertation in Educational Studies with Union Institute & University. My dissertation is an autoethnography sharing my narrative as a military spouse: my experiences, struggles, and transition post Operation Iraqi Freedom. That narrative includes adjusting to the daily implications of my husband’s invisible wounds of war: post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and ongoing chronic pain and serious illnesses. Q: How did these experiences shape your education and career pursuits? These unique experiences, challenges and lessons learned over the years led to my own self-discovery. I discovered that I am able to pay it forward and become a mentor for new spouses. As I embarked on my academic journey, I connected my early assignments to those real-life experiences that I endured since the young age of 20. My experiences as a military spouse turned spouse-caregiver defined my professional career, and I began to understand that my destiny was to prevent future challenges for those who will come after me. Q: Tell us about the inspiration behind Operation Mission Insight. My first assignment as a doctoral student called upon me to write a scholarly personal narrative. That assignment led me to understand that my calling was to prevent transition misfortunes. As I sat down to write my story, I recalled many painful moments and shed a great deal of tears. It was at that moment I understood I was gaining the knowledge and voice to make a difference. Q: What does the ThanksUSA scholarship mean to you looking back now, and how did it help you on your journey? Looking back, I am thankful. I am grateful. Because of the two awards I received, I was able to complete my undergraduate degree in less than the traditional four years. Together, these two scholarships helped lay the foundation to my ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Q: What have you learned working with un/underemployed military spouses? I have discovered there is a dire need in two areas: education and military culture awareness on behalf of civilian employers. In regard to education, there is a need for more resources at federal, state and local levels to help alleviate the reliance on student loans. In addition, there is a need for more awareness and resources on college campuses. On the employment side, there is a need for understanding the uniqueness of military spouses and caregivers. Employers should view their unique circumstances as assets and not barriers as a result of their responsibility to their wounded warrior. |
Left-right: engagement photo; Geri and Robert with their children Shane and Emily; Geri pictured with ThanksUSA scholars and Chairman Bob Okun on Capitol Hill
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