Leadership Opportunities

A Network Rooted in Peer Leadership

At the Veteran Spouse Network, we believe in the value and benefit of strong supportive communities that offer peer-based guidance and understanding to help address the unique challenges of military and post-service family life. In line with that belief, all of our programs are facilitated by volunteer veteran spouse peer leaders, allowing participants to receive support through shared experience and understanding.  

If you are connected to the military or veteran community and are interested in providing peer support opportunities, we encourage you to consider volunteering with the VSN today! Learn more about the different peer leader opportunities within the VSN below. 

Become a Veteran Spouse Resiliency Group (V-SRG) Leader

As a V-SRG leader, you will facilitate curriculum-driven peer support groups for veteran spouses/partners, that provide participants with a space to come together, share their stories, challenges, and successes, and lean on one another for support and guidance. As a V-SRG leader, you have the opportunity to lead in-person or virtual groups, either in the traditional 12-week, mini-series, or solo-session format. V-SRG leaders complete training in group and online facilitation skills, as well as the V-SRG curriculum.  If interested in leading a traditional 12-week group, which must be led by a co-lead team, applicants are encouraged to apply with a co-lead in mind, or we can match you with a leader in your area. 

As a V-SRG Leader, you will…

V-SRG leader trainings are offered in virtual and in-person formats and contain about 30 hours of content spaced over several days, with a combination of self-paced pre-work, and live training days. Leaders must be able to commit to attending at least 70% of the live training days to become certified. Upcoming leader trainings are listed below.

Once certified as a leader, you are expected to lead your first group (12-week, mini-series, and/or solo session) within 6 months. You must also commit to leading at least 2 groups a year (in any of the aforementioned formats) to maintain your leader certification. 

In addition to facilitating the groups themselves, leaders are expected to spend the necessary time prepping for their session on their own, and with their co-lead, if applicable.

While VSN staff will do the heavy marketing lift, leaders are expected to support marketing and recruitment efforts for your group and help share out other VSN opportunities.

Leaders are expected to attend weekly online meetings with staff and other V-SRG leaders, to provide updates on group progress, troubleshoot any challenges, and receive program updates. In addition to attending leader calls, leaders are expected to complete monthly time and group attendance sheets and stay in regular communication with VSN staff regarding groups.

Your time commitment as a leader will depend on whether you plan to lead a 12-week group, mini-series, and/or solo sessions. The 12-week groups require a larger (and consistent) time commitment, while mini-series and solo sessions can be scheduled based on the leader's schedule and bandwidth.

Virtual Training

The virtual V-SRG Leader Training consists of a combination of self-paced pre-work course hours (approximately 6-10 hours) that are to be completed virtually prior to the live training dates, as well as three 8-hour live training days that are conducted via Zoom. Leaders must be able to attend at least 70% of the live training time, as well as complete the required self-paced pre-work in order to complete their certification. View the calendar below for a list of upcoming virtual training dates.

Upcoming Training Dates

Become a VSN Social Club Leader

As a Social Club leader, you will provide members of the military and veteran-connected community with social, supportive, and/or educational peer support opportunities. While leaders are supported by VSN Staff in the creation of session guides, managing the logistics for the group (including registration, marketing, communication, and Zoom use), Social Club leaders are encouraged to follow their passions, interests, and skillsets to determine the content, structure, and audience of their social clubs.

As a Social Club Leader, you will…

Training is scheduled one-on-one and can be completed at any time, based on the leader's schedules.

As leaders have an idea for a club, they are expected to communicate with VSN staff to provide details. Staff can help support the creation of content and session guides, and will always be responsible for creating the registration and marketing materials. Leaders are expected to help market their clubs, as well as put in the necessary time to prep for their session.

Leaders are expected to attend monthly online meetings with staff and other social club leaders, to provide updates on group progress, troubleshoot any challenges, and receive program updates. In addition to attending leader calls, leaders are expected to complete monthly time and group attendance sheets and stay in regular communication with VSN staff regarding groups.

Once leaders become trained to support the Social Club program, they are also trained to support the Veteran Family Transition program leading Spouses Transition Too (T2) Chats or serving on a #CivLife Peer Panel, if interested.

Leaders can lead groups as frequently or infrequently as their interests and bandwidth allow. We ask that social club leaders be prepared to commit approximately 2-4 hours per month to these duties at a minimum, but the time commitment is flexible.

Become a Veteran Family Transition (VFT) Leader

As a VFT leader, you will have the opportunity to serve in two roles, both offered virtually. Leaders can be trained to facilitate peer support groups for transitioning spouses, through the Spouses Transition Too (T2) Chats, or serve as #CivLife Peer Panelists, sharing tips and tricks related to navigating the transition from military to civilian life.

As a VFT Leader, you will…

Training is scheduled one-on-one and can be completed at any time, based on the leader's schedules.

Through these chats, you will be supporting transitioning spouses/partners as they address issues surrounding the transition from military to civilian life.

Once leaders become trained to support the Veteran Family Transition program, they are also trained to support the VSN Social Club program, planning and facilitating fun, supportive, and/or educational chats of their choosing, if interested.

Leaders within the VFT program must be veteran spouses/partners who have gone through the military to civilian transition with their veteran.

Meet Our Peer Leaders

VSN Leader Jill Evans

Jill Evans

Sanger, TX – Jill is a post-service spouse who married her disabled retired Marine in …
Marlie Parks

Marlie Parks

Colorado Springs, CO – Marlie is the spouse of a Post 9/11 disabled Army veteran …
Sarah Washburn

Sarah Washburn

Bertram, TX – Sarah is a navy brat with a post 9/11 Combat Marine Veteran …
Alise Ralston Headshot

Alise Ralston

Haltom City, TX – Alise met her husband through mutual friends in 2013. After four …
Jennifer Hobbs Headshot

Jennifer Hobbs

Sullivan, IL – Jennifer Hobbs is an Army Veteran and spouse whose compassion and humor reach …
Kat Stigers, VSN Leader

Kat Stigers

Montgomery, TX – Kat came to VSN as a Legacy VA Registered Caregiver for her …
Cassandra Garcia

Cassandra Garcia

Thornton, CO – Cassandra is the spouse of a Combat Marine Veteran and a Peer …
Andree' Long

Andree' Long

El Paso, TX – Andree' Long is an Army veteran wife of 24 years and …
Debbie Wilson - VSN Leader

Debbie Wilson

Spring, TX – Debbie Wilson is a Veteran Spouse born in Nederland, TX, and was …
Marsha Wars - VSN Leader

Marsha Tousha

Liberty, TX – Marsha Tousha is a proud United States Marine Corps veteran spouse. She is …

Apply to Be a Leader Today!

If you are a veteran spouse/partner who is interested in becoming a V-SRG Leader or VFT Leader or are a member of the larger military or veteran-connected community who is interested in becoming a Social Club Leader, please complete our VSN Leader Application today! For questions, contact us at vsn@austin.utexas.edu.