Kristen Thoennes

Marketing Coordinator for Stars and Stripes Europe

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 14 years

What has been your military spouse career/entrepreneur journey so far?

After living off unemployment for a year (thanks to the 2008/2009 recession), my husband chose to enlist in the USAF. Luckily, it was a decision we were able to make together. Through most of my time as a military spouse, I took whatever job I could get to stay busy and contribute to our household. At our first duty station I had the opportunity to work for base housing which was a great job for a new military spouse because it helped me learn the lingo and more about the ways of the Air Force. At our second duty station, I jumped into volunteering with our squadron spouses and eventually became a Key Spouse. At subsequent bases, I volunteered for spouses' jobs, joined the Military Spouse Advocacy Network's volunteer team and joined the AWAG Board of Governors. My volunteer work led me to my dream job at Stars and Stripes!

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Kristen Thoennes and I am passionate about volunteering in the military spouse community. I graduated from Winthrop University with a B.A. in Political Science. Through my time in spouses' clubs, I discovered a passion for marketing which has led to my current roles as the Marketing Coordinator for Stars and Stripes Europe, AWAG Public Relations Director and Marketing Manager for the Military Spouse Advocacy Network. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, traveling and spending time with my husband, Charles, and fur babies, Hobbes and Suzie.

Tell us about a "typical" day in your professional life.

One thing I love about my compensated job is that every day is different. As Marketing Coordinator for Stars and Stripes Europe, I have the opportunity to network in the community and support local events. Today, for example, I spent time creating social media posts for our social channels and then I spent the afternoon visiting Spangdahlem High School for a Month of the Military Child event where I got to chat with the PTA and USO.

If you've been stationed overseas, how did this affect your career and or business?

Our first overseas assignment, USAG Stuttgart, did not provide any great career opportunities. I ended up working at the base thrift shop because it was available and they needed the help. However, I was able to continue my volunteer work and, through my network, found the position I now hold at Stars and Stripes. I am very lucky to have found my dream job as a military spouse and especially while stationed overseas!

What has been your biggest military spouse career struggle and how did you overcome it?

For most of my time as a military spouse I honestly gave up on the idea of having a career that I was passionate about. Options were limited or I was held back because I was a military spouse. But eventually I was empowered to leverage my volunteer experience and go for something I wanted!

How does your career path differ from what you imagined for yourself?

I graduated college with a B.A. in political science. At the time I had dreams of doing something within the environmental politics realm or something with local government. However that never panned out. At the time, I wouldn't have even thought about marketing, let alone social media marketing!

How did military life (PCSing, deployments, trainings, etc) factor into your career decisions?

For the majority of my time as a military spouse I just took whatever I could get knowing that it was all temporary. When we were stationed in California, for example, I took a job at a mortgage company. I hated the commute and didn't love the job but knew I had to do something. This was the pattern for most of my decisions until I landed my current job.

Have you ever had to geo-bach due to your career/entrepreneurship?

My husband did a 365 (unaccompanied tour) in Korea. We could have chosen to do a two year assignment where I could come along. While my career was a minor part of the decision to live apart for a year, I did have a job I didn't hate that offered a flexible work schedule so it was easier to make the decision to stay behind.

What resources have you found to be useful in your career/entrepreneur journey?

AWAG has been a resource in empowering me to think beyond what I had come to expect for myself. The Military Spouse Advocacy Network has also been a helpful resource.

Final word: what are your top tips for other military spouses about navigating a career within the military lifestyle?

This advice might not be everyone's cup of tea, but after my experience I always promote volunteer work as a way to find your passion! I also advocate that people try out different jobs because you never know what you'll pick up from the experience. At each job I've held, from part-time to full-time, I have learned something. Working for base housing taught me more about the Air Force than anything else. Working at the mortgage company made me feel a little less intimidated when it came time to purchase our first home. Working at the thrift shop showed me how to properly donate and buy less. Each job taught me something about the type of manager, boss and leader I wanted to be when I was given the opportunity. My resume might seem all over the place, but each experience has given me something useful.

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