2019 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® Branch Winners Announced

LEAVENWORTH, KS (March 1, 2019) — The six branches of our United States military each serve to protect our nation on land, air and sea, both at home and abroad. But while our service members perform their duties, it is the more than 1 million military spouses who serve to watch over homes, families and the communities they live and work in. So it is with great pleasure that after more than 1,200 nominations and a record setting 96,000 national votes, that the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® Branch winners have been selected.

Now in its twelfth year the award program honors military spouses who are making a difference in their communities and throughout the country. Below are the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® Branch Winners:

• Army: Maria Mendez Reed
• Marine Corps: Holly Carter Vega
• Navy: Michelle D. Norman
• Air Force: Katelyn Tinsley
• Coast Guard: Jessica Manfre
• National Guard: Samantha Gomolka

This year's branch winners were recognized for their work to improve the lives of military families by developing creative programs to address issues surrounding military relocations, mental health, children's educational resources and overall military benefits and resources.

"Each year, I think we can't possibly top the last and although our 2018 branch winners were fantastic, this year's class exemplifies all that this award stands for and has been built upon," says Lori Simmons, vice president and chief marketing officer at Armed Forces Insurance. "As a military spouse, they serve in so many capacities as parents, advocates, watchdogs and caretakers, all while enacting change in the military community and beyond through the platform of their choosing. I am truly blown away and excited to see what big things this class will do in the future."

A national vote will open on March 7 at 12 pm CST and close the following day at 12 pm CST at msoy.afi.org. Additionally, the six finalists will be judged by a guest panel on five core criteria: overall involvement in military community, exhibition of leadership skills, community building capability, communication skills and overall personal story.

The overall winner will be named at an awards dinner on Thursday, May 9 at Fort Meyer in Arlington, VA in conjunction with National Military Spouse Appreciation Day which occurs on May 10.

The Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® Award was founded in 2008 by Chris Hale, CEO of veteran-owned Neptune Holdings, Military Spouse Magazine's parent company. In the Fall of 2018, Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) assumed all ownership over the Military Spouse of the Year® program after acting as the title sponsor for the last nine years.

To learn more about the award program, the 2019 branch winners or cast a vote, visit msoy.afi.org.

About Armed Forces Insurance:

Armed Forces Insurance was founded in 1887 by military leaders with a single mission: to protect the property of those who protect our nation. The company provides premium quality, competitively priced property and casualty insurance to military professionals throughout the United States and overseas. Armed Forces Insurance understands that its members have unique circumstances and insurance needs, enabling the company to offer a level of personalized service that's unequalled in the industry. For more information, visit the website at www.afi.org or call 800-495-8234, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.