More Than A Paycheck

Attending the Volunteer Ceremony

Leaving a career and life in Indianapolis was hard enough, but finding a job in a small town that could compete with my previous high-paced, exciting and profitable career....impossible.  When Cecil and I were planning our move to North Carolina, the goal was for me to find a job that would further my career in Mall Leasing and that would provide me with a sense of accomplishment and pride.  Oh and also a nice paycheck.  We had a plan, with both of our salaries, we would be financially set and able to save a ton of money prior to us starting a family.  The search for employment before our move proved not only to be challenging, but fruitless.  We figured, we would wait until I was able to hit the pavement in North Carolina before we started to feel the frustration.

Once we arrived in North Carolina and settled into our new life, I once again began the search for employment.  I pounded the proverbial pavement (the Internet) and investigated every avenue that the military provided spouses in their employment search.  I thought I would have a leg up on the competition as I did not need the classes that the military provided to assist in resume building, wardrobe selection and interviewing skills.  I knew I had that covered.  But again, after months of scouring military job boards and sites such as CareerBuilder and Monster.com, I was still unemployed.

It was around this time that Cecil took command of 2/508th PIR's Bravo Company and I was to take the reins of his Family Readiness Group (FRG).  I knew that my FRG responsibilities would be time consuming, I just did not know that they would be this rewarding.  At the beginning, I dove head first into my FRG role because I wanted something to fill my time.  Now I relish what I do for one reason, it is not only rewarding, but the sense of accomplishment I feel everyday is worth much more than a paycheck!

I will not lie, I was petrified at the prospect of not finding a job and contributing to the household of Wolberton, but Cecil made me realize that we are financially secure regardless and that what I am doing is work that not many could or want to do.  I am determined to become as involved in activities as I can at Fort Bragg.  I am so proud of the fact that I am an FRG leader, I am so proud of the fact that I support my husband and his soldiers with the efforts I put forth and I am so proud that at the end of the day, I can look at my life as a volunteer and smile.

I have volunteered in the past as a burn survivor for my hometown burn unit and for the People's Burn Foundation in Indianapolis and those experiences are the experiences that make me want to give all I can to supporting our military families.  These little experiences that I have everyday are adding up to be one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had.

Me and our leader Mrs. Debbie Jones

The military is so grateful for the small donations of time that any volunteer can offer.  Whether it is providing care packages to deployed soldiers, sending cards or letters to deployed soldiers, volunteering to help raise funds for FRG activities and events for the soldiers and their families or volunteering as a Key Caller to keep families updated and in touch.  They truly feel blessed to have the support that they do and are very active in showing their gratitude to families and volunteers.

Just this week, I was invited to attend a special ceremony to recognize a small group of the volunteers at Fort Bragg.  It was an opportunity for me to meet other volunteers that feel as passionate as I do about giving and helping our soldiers and their families.  I was so honored to be in their presence and very humbled by the words that were spoken to us from the commanders and leaders of the 82nd Airborne Division.

I truly feel that I am doing what I was destined to do in this life I have been given.  I am blessed to be able to give of myself and my time to an organization that is protecting the freedom of us all.  I challenge all of you to find an organization that you can give just a small piece of your time and effort, the pay off is more than you could imagine.