Finding your footing in a new community often starts with knowing whom to turn to. For foreign-born military spouses, connecting with someone who understands both military life and the experience of building a home far from family and familiar surroundings can make all the difference.
The Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN) created its Ambassador Program to make those connections easier. Through outreach within their communities, ambassadors serve as a welcoming point of contact for spouses looking for information, resources, or simply someone who understands their experiences.
“I hope they feel some relief, a connection, or, at the very least, an open door” says Alexandra Tomaso, who designed and helped establish the program.
The idea grew out of outreach already taking place at a local military installation. While volunteering with FMSN, Alexandra regularly shared information about the organization whenever opportunities arose. During that time, Lydiah Owiti-Otienoh, FMSN’s founder, approached her about becoming an ambassador. That conversation eventually developed into a proposal for a more structured program, giving other volunteers the opportunity to make similar connections within their own communities.
What followed was about a year of planning and preparation. The program has now been running for about two months, with a dozen ambassadors already involved and a growing volunteer network.
“It was a team effort to get it launched, and it remains one to keep it going,” she says.
The need for a program like this reflects the unique circumstances foreign-born military spouses often navigate. Alongside frequent moves and deployments, many face immigration processes, additional expenses, and the challenges of maintaining close relationships with family and loved ones overseas. They are also learning to navigate a new country, helping their children adjust, and supporting their service members through the demands of military life.
Even in a welcoming military community, some of these experiences can be difficult to explain to others. Finding someone who understands without needing the full backstory can be a welcome relief. Having a connection with someone who shares similar experiences can make it easier to feel comfortable, understood, and less alone. It’s a reminder that belonging isn’t just about finding information or receiving assistance. It’s also about knowing there are people who understand where you’re coming from.
Through the Ambassador Program, spouses can connect with people who can help them find answers, identify resources, and navigate their next steps. Just as importantly, those conversations can build the trust and confidence that make it easier to reach out again when another challenge arises.
The program also recognizes that volunteers have responsibilities and commitments of their own. The ambassador role is designed to offer flexibility in how much time people contribute and how they participate, with training available for the different aspects of the role. Volunteers with a range of skills and language abilities are welcome, and there is room to bring their individual interests and creativity to the work.
“The role itself is designed to meet you where you are,” Alexandra explains.
That flexibility allows people to contribute in ways that work for their circumstances, rather than expecting everyone to have the same availability or experience. It also acknowledges the many responsibilities volunteers already manage, from employment and family life to commitments that may extend across borders.
Looking ahead, the program hopes to strengthen its relationships with other military organizations and increase awareness and recognition of foreign-born spouses within military installations. There is also an opportunity to create more spaces where families can celebrate the cultures they bring to their communities and ensure their perspectives are included in conversations and decisions that affect them.
For now, the program’s impact begins with something simple: one person reaching out to another. A spouse has a question. An ambassador takes the time to listen, offers guidance, and helps them find a way forward.
One conversation may not solve every challenge, but it can make an unfamiliar place feel a little less unfamiliar. And sometimes, knowing there is someone who understands and someone you can turn to is where a sense of belonging begins.