This session covered: Building Social & Cultural Connections: How volunteering can help you make friends, practice English, navigate American culture, and build a supportive community. Career Advancement & Skill Building: How to highlight volunteer experience on your U.S. resume, develop transferable skills, and expand your professional network. FMSN Volunteer Opportunities: Available volunteer roles, learn about the Ambassador Program, and discover ways to get involved. Live Q&A and Next Steps: Questions asked on how to take the next step toward volunteering with FBMS Network. This session provided practical insights into how volunteering can help you build a support network, strengthen your professional profile, and make a meaningful impact in the military spouse community.

In honor of Citizenship Day, FMSN partnered with Welcome.US and Combined Arms for a special webinar exploring pathways to U.S. citizenship for foreign-born military spouses, service members, veterans, and their families. Learn about available citizenship pathways, resources, and how military-connected communities can support one another throughout the citizenship journey.

During this session, Karyn Begin and Joshua Begin walked through important immigration topics including overseas consular processing, adjustment of status within the United States, differences between U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident spouse petitions, K-1 visa availability for military spouses, common bases for denial, and recent developments in U.S. immigration policy affecting military families. In this session, participants learned how to: Understand overseas consular processing Navigate adjustment of status in the U.S. Differentiate between U.S. citizen and Legal Permanent resident spouse Explore K-1 visa options for military families Identify common reasons applications may be denied Understand the latest developments in U.S. Immigration policy as applied to spouses of U.S. Military This session provided valuable guidance for military spouses and families seeking to better understand their immigration options and make informed decisions about their future in the United States.

During this session, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝗻𝗶𝗸-𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 shares insights on recognizing signs of stress, encouraging open communication to support healthy coping, and strengthening coping power tools for children and teens. Watch and gain practical strategies to better support emotional well-being at home, school, and within the community, and learn how to: ✔ Recognize signs of stress ✔ Open communication to support healthy coping ✔ Level up on coping power tools This session provides valuable guidance for parents, caregivers, educators, and community members seeking to support the mental and emotional well-being of children and teens.

In this powerful keynote, Lydia Owiti-Otienoh shares a deeply personal and insightful perspective on transition as an internal journey, not just external change. Drawing from her experiences as a military spouse, immigrant, and leader, she unpacks the difference between change and transition and why so many people feel lost during life shifts. Through her Grounded Transition Framework (Ground, Name, Integrate, Move), Lydia offers practical guidance for navigating career changes, relocation, identity shifts, and more with clarity and intention. She also highlights the importance of community, alignment, and self-awareness in building a meaningful and fulfilling path forward. If you’ve ever felt uncertain, stuck, or in-between seasons in life then this message is for you. ✨ You are not broken. You are becoming.

If you earned your degree abroad, understanding how your qualifications are recognized here can make all the difference in your career, your next role, or your path to licensure. Watch this free webinar with WES (World Education Services), where WES broke down exactly how credential evaluations work and how to make your education work for you in the U.S. job market. ✔️How the credential evaluation process works ✔️How credentials are recognized by employers, licensing bodies, and higher education institutions ✔️Practical resources to help you navigate your career and align with U.S. opportunities. Gain valuable insights, ask questions, and leave with a clearer understanding of how to move forward with your education and career goals.

Info session with Candorful—discover practical strategies to strengthen your interview skills and confidently tell your professional story. Looking for ways to strengthen your interview preparation and confidently communicate your professional story to employers? Join us for an engaging session with Pat Hubbell, Founder and Executive Director of Candorful, to learn practical strategies that can help job seekers approach interviews with confidence and clarity. During this session, Pat will share insights on how candidates can strengthen their interview mindset, effectively present their experience, and prepare for meaningful conversations with employers. Participants will also learn why practice and feedback are essential steps in becoming truly interview-ready. In this session, Pat covers: The Job Interview Mindset Telling Your Story Preparing for the Interview Advanced Interview Skills Networking – Step Into It Finishing Strong This session will provide helpful insights for job seekers who want to improve their interview approach and better prepare for career opportunities. #foreignbornmilitaryspousesnetwork #militaryspouse #interview

At the George Bush Institute’s Stand-To-Veterans Leadership Program, our Founder Lydiah Owiti courageously shared her story, and the reason 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻-𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗙𝗠𝗦𝗡) exists. Her message is clear: This is not just a family issue. It’s a 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲. FMSN is the first and only organization built at this intersection, weaving immigrant and military systems so no spouse has to walk this journey alone. In just months, this movement has grown into a 𝟲,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, supporting spouses across 100+ countries, and this is only the beginning.

Explore entrepreneurship with global executive-turned-coach Simona Pappalardo and learn how to lead and grow with confidence. Entrepreneurship can be a powerful path for foreign-born military spouses seeking flexibility, purpose, and financial independence in the middle of frequent moves and changing careers. This session is designed to help you understand what it really means to build a business, use your international background as a strength, and take confident first steps as an entrepreneur.​ Our speaker, Simona Pappalardo, is a global executive turned leadership coach, speaker, and international best-selling author who helps professionals and leaders navigate change with courage and cultural intelligence. Originally from Milan, she has lived and worked on three continents and built a career in the electronics and manufacturing industry before founding her own coaching practice, Coaching With Simona. She has spoken at TEDWomen and other global stages, and her book Authentically Yours focuses on authentic, cross-cultural leadership and growth.​ In this session, we will explore: What entrepreneurship can look like for foreign-born military spouses How to turn your skills, story, and cultural background into business strengths Mindset shifts needed to start and sustain a business through military life transitions Practical first steps and resources to move from idea to action This event is for you whether you already have a business idea, are running a small venture, or are simply curious about entrepreneurship and want to learn from an experienced, globally minded leader.​ Connect with Simona: Website: www.CoachingWithSimona.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonapappalardo/​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CoachingwithSimo