Being a military spouse can be lonely when your partner is deployed, often for months at a time. Add to the mix children, a full-time job and the knowledge that a move to another base may be around the corner and even the strongest person can be overwhelmed. Erica Tyree has walked in those shoes and has some advice for other military spouses on how she made it all work.
Erica was a military spouse who learned to successfully balance the demands of work, deployments and several relocations. During her husband Gabriel’s 22 years in the Navy, she has also advanced her career at Bank of America – rising from a teller position in 1998 to her current role as a client management executive with Bank of America Private Bank in the Dallas market.
Being with someone who served in the military means adjusting to frequent change and many moves. Since their marriage in 2007, Erica and Gabriel have lived near naval bases in Florida, California, Illinois and Texas. “Before I met Gabriel, I never understood what it meant to be married to someone in the service,” Erica revealed. “It can be really lonely. It’s hard to make friends and settle into a community when you know there is always a move ahead of you. But knowing there was a bank community made a real difference.”
Erica’s advice to military spouses
- Always be open and honest with your manager about your situation. “When one of my kids gets sick, I couldn’t call my husband to stay home with them if he was thousands of miles away on a deployment. I have found, no matter what city or role that I have been in, that managers and leaders will work with you if you need to make adjustments for your family, but it takes open and honest communication.”
- Take advantage of the bank’s benefits. “I can’t begin to say how grateful I am for the Bank’s back-up care program. Just knowing the resources are there to help me with my kids when their school is closed has really helped me.”
- Put your faith in other people. “This one took me awhile as I am a pretty independent person. One thing being a military spouse taught me is the power in leaning on others when you need help, and not being afraid to ask.”
Bank of America has proudly supported U.S. military families for 100 years. We value their leadership, dedication and adaptability. That’s why we are committed to helping them thrive in the workforce. Learn more about how we’re supporting service members, veterans and their families.
