Jewell Trazile is a Columbia, South Carolina, resident, veteran spouse, and licensed clinical marriage and family therapist whose passion for supporting military-connected communities is deeply rooted in lived experience. As the spouse of an Army service member who served active duty and now serves in the Army Reserve, Jewell understands firsthand the unique experiences, transitions, sacrifices, and strengths that come with military family life. She is also the daughter of a Vietnam-era veteran and the sibling of an OEF/OIF Marine Corps veteran, giving her a multigenerational connection to the military community.
Jewell’s motivation for being part of the Veteran Spouse Network comes first from her identity as a peer and her desire to cultivate an authentic community among veteran spouses. She believes that meaningful connection, encouragement, and shared understanding can help spouses feel less alone while navigating the many seasons of military and post-military life. Her hope is to create spaces where veteran spouses can show up as their whole selves, build genuine relationships, share experiences, and find both support and strength in one another.
Professionally, Jewell is a clinical marriage and family therapist licensed to practice in three states, with 16 years of experience working with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. She has been involved with the Veteran Spouse Network since 2019 and, shortly thereafter, completed training to become a Peer Leader. She currently facilitates an in-person Veteran Spouse Network group in Columbia, South Carolina, hosted at the Columbia Vet Center, where she brings together her professional knowledge and personal experience to support the community.
Outside of her professional and community work, Jewell enjoys hiking, shelling, reading, and spending meaningful time with her family. She approaches her work with warmth, authenticity, and a genuine belief in the resilience of military-connected families. Through her continued involvement with the Veteran Spouse Network, she hopes to help strengthen community, foster lasting connections, and contribute to richer, more supported life experiences for the spouses who participate. Above all, Jewell values creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, encouraged, and reminded that they do not have to navigate their journey alone.