Name: Monika S. Fletcher

Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas!

What’s a short story around the biggest transition you’ve faced in life?
The biggest transition I have faced was moving to our first duty station in Okinawa, Japan. Not only did I move to a foreign country half-way around the world, away from family and friends, but I was a new military spouse. We arrived on the island, got sudo-settled and my husband quickly began traveling and was gone most of the time. I had to learn a foreign culture, to drive on the opposite side of the road, try to understand the Marine Corps, find a job and realized I had to build a support system for myself. I can honestly say, Okinawa was one of my favorite duty stations and most of the friends I made there are still my closest friends or people I can meet up with after years of no contact and pick right back up.I am grateful for the amazing tribe who have helped me choose to see the benefits and walk alongside me.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a younger you?
Look for the good in the uncomfortable. Life has challenges, when it throws you curve balls, take a deep breath, be still and look for the good. There is a lesson to be learned, something that will challenge you and make you grow. While dealing with these challenges, many times we experience great rewards and gain benefits we didn’t see beforehand. And if we aren’t afraid to share our stories, we just might help someone else.

Your Personal Why?
Although I think my personal why will forever be evolving, there has always been a continuous thread of wanting to be an advocate for others. Helping to empower themselves, our service members, our families, and our communities through education and knowledge. The sacrifices our military members and their families make are humbling. When I can help provide a bit of advice, connect someone with a service that will make things a bit easier, or help educate them so that they can be a bit more self-reliant, that becomes my true why.

How does your Why drive you to be a part of the THF Ecosystem?
I have watched my husband and many around him dedicate their lives to serving and it is ingrained in who they are. THF allows me to be an advocate and provide education, therefore making the process to begin a new journey a bit smoother. I am humbled to work alongside such dedicated professionals, having the opportunity to serve these men and women in this small way.

Military Connection or Why do you respect Special Operators?
I have been the proud wife of a United States Marine, serving in various communities to include SOF, for over 20 years. These men, women and their families have become our friends and neighbors who continuously inspire me to better myself.

Favorite THF Value, and why?
Although I can identify with all our values, my favorite, or one I feel most important is by far Exemplify Trust. Our community demands trust. Trust in each other, trust in a system, trust in information, and trust in ourselves. I have had to trust others at my weakest and in turn have had to be trusted at someone’s most vulnerable. Without it, none of us would be successful in fulfilling our mission or goal.

Area/Industry of expertise: Advocacy & Mentorship, Logistics & Organization, simplifying problems.

Contact Monika directly at monika@honor.org.