Every day, military spouses make incredible sacrifices to help their husbands and wives selflessly serve. On May 7, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we recognize their love and bravery. For Mary Wong, who recently joined our Veteran Internship Program as a Global Operations Program Manager Intern, this will be her first year marking the day as a military spouse.
“I’m really new at this military spouse experience,” laughs Mary. She retired from her own military service just four months ago – so she and her husband are no longer dual active duty spouses.
“A big part of me identified very strongly with being an active duty Soldier and Sponsor. I joined at 19 years old and enjoyed serving for over 21 years, so it was difficult for me to make that transition and face the challenges of becoming an Army spouse,” she confides.
A military marriage
Juggling career and family as a dual active duty couple meant working together to support each other’s ambitions. Now she’s hoping to find a new balance between supporting her husband as a military spouse and having her own career in tech.
“Being a dual military couple, we always needed to carefully plan which years each of us would take key developmental positions, as those years would require a lot of hard work and dedication,” she explains. “We’re raising three small kids, so one of us always had to take the back seat – and then we’d switch.”
By taking on life as a team, she and her husband developed successful careers and a powerful partnership – and her retirement hasn’t changed that. “The biggest difference now is that most of the pressure to succeed and advance is on my husband. Before, I think he took the back seat more often, as I was eligible to retire earlier than him. Now it’s my responsibility to give him my full support, so he can make it to his military retirement.”
Preparing to make a change
Before she retired from service, Mary wanted to do everything she could to prepare for a civilian career. Inspired by her interest in the tech industry, she participated in a SkillStorm fellowship and gained invaluable experience in the world of a Solutions Architect.
Armed with a new set of skills and searching for a remote position in tech, she discovered the Oracle Veteran Internship Program. “I’m in my fifth week now, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the wealth of knowledge and experience I’ve gained already,” she shares. “Everyone I’ve met cultivates an environment that is so welcoming, open, and supportive of diversity.”
The encouragement of our Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network (MAVEN) has helped Mary navigate her transition to civilian life. “Gerry and Alison, my MAVEN mentor, are amazing at sharing their wealth of tips and resources,” she tells us. “It’s easy to see how much Oracle promotes veteran opportunities. If I can stay long term, I’m hoping to give back to the next transitioning veteran.”
Sometimes, it’s hard
At the moment, Mary’s husband is serving in Korea for a year while she and their kids wait in St. Augustine, Florida. “He recently found out that he’ll be extending, and I get it, I know what it’s like, but it’s still hard having to wait,” she admits.
“I’ve always believed that being a military spouse is more challenging, at least for me. I’ve had to shift my focus to supporting the family, so I could end up sacrificing my career if we end up somewhere with minimal opportunities for me.”
Mary sees Military Spouse Appreciation Day as an opportunity to sincerely acknowledge the sacrifices military spouses make. “The patience, the burden of the unknown, not knowing whether your husband or wife will come home, the long lonely nights, and the toll of the many moves… It’s a day to say thank you to your military spouse for his or her service – because being a military spouse means you serve alongside your partner.”
A career of one’s own
Though she knows it’s not easy, Mary encourages other military spouses trying to build a career of their own not to give up. Between her own experience and her years as a Human Resource Manager in the Army, she has a few insights and tips to share.
Building a career in tech as a military spouse can come with unique challenges. With support from her family, career programs, and networks like MAVEN, Mary’s making it happen.
Are you a military spouse looking for a way to grow your career? Explore our Veteran Internship Program and create the future with us.
The editorial team is comprised of members of the Oracle Talent Advisory group, with a wide-range of employer branding responsibilities. They partner with employees across Oracle to capture stories that showcase our company, culture and career opportunities, and help candidates envision their #LifeAtOracle.
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