Employing Fellow Spouses
Lisa Bradley and fellow Army spouse Cameron Cruse started R. Riveter in 2011. In true Rosie spirit, the entrepreneurs and their team of 40 riveters — all military spouses — handcraft custom handbags using “upcycled” military blankets and uniforms.
Why are military spouses particularly suited to entrepreneurship? It’s very challenging to grow within a career field when you move every three to five years. Starting a small business can set the military spouse up for long-term success. Attributes that help spouses thrive in the military lifestyle also set them up to be a successful entrepreneur. The military lifestyle can throw some curveballs at you just like running a small business.
How do you come up with unique designs? Cameron is the brains behind our designs, but the whole team weighs in on new products. The handbags have classic design patterns made of leather and canvas that are durable and fashionable.
Besides employing 40 military spouses, in what ways do you give back to the military community? We are connected with a Montana-based charity, Warriors and Quiet Waters, providing products for the families they help. We’ve also partnered with Dogs on Deployment and donated to the Army Ranger Association.
Tell me about one particular handbag from the heirloom line that really inspired you. A deployed servicemember recently surprised his wife on her birthday with a custom bag made from his flight suit. He included this message: “The uniform that lines your handbag is a part of me that was worn on the streets of Baghdad, Iraq, and in the mountains of Afghanistan. Every moment I spend away from you, you were with me in my heart. Now when we are apart, something of mine will be with you.”
Why is MOAA membership important to you? The meaningful connections we make throughout this military journey are what make it all worthwhile. MOAA provides an opportunity to connect with many like-minded people across all parts of the armed services and the country. To learn more, visit www.rriveter.com.
— Molly Blake
Serving as an Arlington Lady
It doesn’t have to be Memorial Day for Barbara Klix to honor the sacrifice made by fallen servicemembers. In fact, this military widow shows her gratitude on a regular basis. As a volunteer for Arlington Ladies (www.bit.ly/2nKX0sn) — an organization that began in 1948 with the Air Force and works to ensure no member of the military is buried alone at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia* — Klix attends funerals to pay her respects to those who dedicated their lives to serving the country.
How long have you been involved with the Arlington Ladies? I have been an Air Force Arlington Lady for about 11 years. My husband, Col. Richard T. Klix [USAF], is at rest in the columbarium. The precision, beauty, and dignity of his service made a lasting impression upon me and my family. I offered my service, received training, and am proud to serve as an Air Force Arlington Lady.
Why are the Arlington Ladies important to you? I have spent most of my life in a military world. The men and women that we entrust to these hallowed grounds are all family. I consider it a privilege and an honor to offer a card of condolence to a family on behalf of the chief of staff of the Air Force and his wife, as well as a personal card from me, representing our Air Force family. Arlington Ladies give of their time to stand beside those in uniform, to honor each servicemember buried in the sacred ground of Arlington. I feel it is important that we continue to honor those who have served our country.
How does it feel to go to so many servicemembers’ funerals? Every member buried at Arlington deserves recognition by receiving a military funeral. I feel it is imperative to honor those who have dedicated their lives in the defense of our nation’s precious freedoms. I add a personal touch and do not consider attending funerals at Arlington to be stressful; rather, I consider it to be an act of ministry.
Why is MOAA membership important to you? MOAA allows me to continue to support the military, active duty, retirees, dependents, and widows by staying informed and letting my views be known to Congress. [Military Officer] magazine articles give me information and resources to help form my decisions and opinions — and to continue to work with and for our veterans and our families to ensure our flag continues to fly high.
— Kenya McCullum
Filling a Need
Grace Paik is a Korean-American mother of three, the spouse of an Air Force colonel, and the founder of Jaq Jaq Bird. Ever since she was a little girl, her dream was to have her own business.
Tell me a little bit about Jaq Jaq Bird and how it was created. I wanted to learn how to sew, with the hopes of making the perfect bib for our son. I asked my husband if I could buy a sewing machine. He kept saying no. When he went [on temporary duty], I had a garage sale at our home and sold all of his things (that I didn’t think he needed!). I made enough money to buy a sewing machine. I created and sold baby bibs to a handful of stores in Washington, D.C., where we were stationed at the time.
Simultaneously, we were renovating our home and unfortunately lost our entire life savings due to a general contractor who did not finish the job we hired him for. For one year, we didn’t have a functioning kitchen, so we ate out frequently. The kids would rip apart their children’s menus and throw crayons on the floor, so out of necessity, I created
the chalk mat. It is a place mat on one
side and has chalk fabric on the other side so the kids could draw while waiting for their food. This was how Jaq Jaq Bird was created.
As a military spouse, what are the biggest challenges of owning your own business? We move every one to three years in the Air Force. Instead of looking at PCSing as a challenge, I think of each move as an opportunity to do business differently, whether it is to find new manufacturing options or open new sales channels in other countries. Also, it is flexible enough for me to work anywhere and have an extra source of income.
What does it mean to your family to be a MOAA member? MOAA membership has been a great resource for us. We don’t feel like we are alone struggling through the challenges every military family faces. Instead, we enjoy reading about how other military families manage transitions [and] deployments while learning about earned benefits and ways to find support.
For more information on Jaq Jaq Bird, visit jaqjaqbird.com.
— C.C. Gallagher