Making it in the MilLife

By Monique Rizer
Deputy Director, Spouse Programs

This morning Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden announced their Joining Forces initiative to bring the country together in support of military families.

We are proud to be a part of this effort.

On May 12 we will join with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring our Heroes career fair campaign with a Military Spouse Career Fair and Symposium. Learn more about the event here.

Meanwhile, catch the Joining Forces tour at these locations:

Wednesday, April 13^th, 9:30 AM –   Military Community Event at Camp Lejeune. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will begin the tour by speaking to 3,000 Marines, soldiers, sailors, and military family members from Camp Lejeune, one of the country’s largest Marine Corps bases.  They will be joined at this event by the 35^th Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos and Commanding General Marine Corps Installations East Major General Carl Jenson.  This event is OPEN press, please visit this link to RSVP by Monday, April 11^th at 5:00 PM EST.

Wednesday, April 13^th, 10:15 AM – Visit to Operation Shower at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. OPERATION SHOWER is a non-profit organization that honors the sacrifices military families make by hosting unit-wide baby showers for expecting military families in a deployment or high stress situation.  Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will join in the celebration hosted for 40 pregnant women whose husbands are service members.  They will bring gifts donated through a special White House Operation Shower donation drive.  Special guest Martha Stewart will join this shower and teach the art of preserving memories through scrapbooking for these military mothers. Due to space constraints, this event will be POOLED press.

Wednesday, April 13^th, 4:30 PM – Visit to the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will visit with service members and families and tour the facility, located steps away from the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and next to the Center for the Intrepid, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center.  Prior to the visit to the Center, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will meet privately with wounded warriors and families at BAMC. The Warrior and Family Support Center, built with private donations and run by volunteers from the surrounding community, helps care for family members over a long period of time while they care for a wounded warrior.  This Center is a shining example of how communities can step up for military members and their families.  Due to space constraints, this event will be POOLED press.

Wednesday, April 13^th, 7:50 PM – Military Families Event at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado Rockies and Coors Field will throw open their doors to military families from across Colorado for a special viewing of the Rockies vs. Mets game on jumbo screens and fun activities throughout the stadium. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will speak to the families and participate in activities with them.  Special guests include entertainer and long time military supporter Jessica Simpson who will perform for the families and the Air force Academy Baseball Team who will practice with the military children. This event is OPEN press, please visit this link to RSVP by Monday, April 11^th at 5:00 PM EST.

Thursday, April 14^th, 10:15 AM – Visit to the National Math and Science Competition in Colorado Springs. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden, in conjunction with the National Math and Science Initiative, will host a science competition where military parents will challenge the students at a school primarily serving military families.  This event will highlight the commitment to produce awareness about the unique challenges military children face and the need for advanced placement courses in math and science at schools serving military children.  Joining in this challenge of kids versus parents will be special guest participants from the Discovery Channel program MythBusters.  This event will be held at Fountain-Fort Carson High School where military children make up almost half of the student body. This event is OPEN press, please visit this link to RSVP by Tuesday, April 12^th at 5:00 PM EST.

Thursday, April 14^th, 4:45 PM – Employment event in Columbus, Ohio. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will join Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden for this event to highlight how several major businesses have made commitments as part of this nationwide initiative to ensure transferability to military members and their spouses – when soldiers are transferred, spouses can now more easily retain their jobs at a participating facility in their new community. This event is OPEN press, please visit this link to RSVP by Tuesday, April 12^th at 5:00 PM EST. Please note that this location will be made available on Tuesday, April 12^th.

Thursday, April 14^th, 6:15 PM – Community Event for Military Families in Columbus, Ohio. The USO and Sesame Street have collaborated with Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden to host this concert-style event honoring National Guard members and their families. Local organizations doing great work in their communities who need volunteers or donations to support military families will be recognized.  The event will feature a performance from singer/producer Nick Jonas of the multi-platinum selling Jonas Brothers and Sesame Street Muppets including Elmo. Special guests include Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Craig R. McKinley. This event located at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium is OPEN press, please visit this link to RSVP by Tuesday, April 12^th at 5:00 PM EST.

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