We’re with Robin: A Military Spouse Who Found Strength During Deployments by Volunteering with the USO

By Gabriella Coyle

For Robin Mikel, becoming a military spouse opened the door to a community she now holds close to her heart. Her connection to military life began early, when her brother joined the U.S. Army when she was just five years old. That early sense of pride in – and familiarity with – the military stayed with her, and years later, it came full circle when her husband chose to serve in the same branch. As Robin and her family have navigated the ups and downs of military life, she has discovered a source of support: the USO.

When Robin was dating her now-husband, he decided to speak with a military recruiter after being laid off from his civilian job, and Robin was ready to stand by his side. They married before he officially enlisted in 2019, jumping headfirst into a new chapter of their lives filled with changes of duty stations, long deployments and unpredictability. It was this new reality that eventually introduced Robin to the USO.

Robin and her husband’s journey through military life led Robin to discover the USO — a steady source of support through every move and deployment. | Photo credit Courtesy Photo

Today, Robin finds purpose and fulfillment in the many roles she embraces, including military spouse, mom of two young boys and dedicated USO Volunteer. Through it all, she has become a powerful example of the resilience and strength that military spouses bring to the fabric of the Armed Forces.

“Being a military spouse is, emotionally, all over the place,” Robin shared. “I’m always proud of my hubby, but at the same time, I worry about how much time we have as a family before the next rotation.”

Through her husband’s military career, Robin has learned to value time in a new way.

“I used to always think we had more time to do things,” she said. “Now we take time to do family trips and make memories together.”

Robin is now intentional about capturing memories in the in-between moments, to hold onto joy even in times of uncertainty.

Together, Robin and her husband have been through two nine-month deployments so far, each one with its own set of challenges. But over time, they’ve built routines to stay connected.

So far, Robin and her husband have navigated two challenging deployments. | Photo credit Courtesy Photo

“We do a countdown until Daddy comes home and a lot of scheduled video calls,” she said.

For her children, these countdowns and video calls are more than just a fun routine, they are cherished moments that keep them connected to their father even from thousands of miles away.

But even the strongest among us need support, and Robin found hers through the USO.

Three years ago, while struggling with postpartum depression, Robin walked into a USO Center and found a lifeline.

“If it hadn’t been for the USO, I wouldn’t have friends,” Robin said.

What started as attending a few events at the USO Fort Hood Center soon turned into something more meaningful – a chance to build a community. When her husband deployed again, she chose to strengthen her support system by giving back to her own military community, this time as a USO Volunteer.

“Volunteering saved my sanity this last rotation,” Robin admitted. “Just knowing I wasn’t alone, that other spouses were going through the same stuff, it made all the difference.”

Now, Robin leads programs and events at the USO Center, such as the USO Reading Program and USO Coffee Connections, two programs that have become central to her family’s military journey. These programs are both designed specifically to support military family members just like Robin and her children.

“My kids have made friends at storytime and through Coffee Connections, I got to know several spouses. It helped my family so much.”

For Robin and so many others, the USO is more than just an organization – it is a community. A place where a military family can build friendships, find stability and hold on to joy, even when everything else feels like it’s constantly shifting.

Since living on the Army base, Robin and her family have enjoyed many family events at the USO.

“My boys and I went to the Purple Up Day event and we had a blast. At Christmas we did a breakfast with Santa! We love going for the fun time together – plus, it’s safe.”

This sense of safety in uncertain times is important to Robin. Safety and community have become central to Robin’s sense of well-being, and the USO has, in many ways, has become her anchor. When solo parenting during deployment, alone with their children, the USO is where Robin can connect with other adults. Here, she can find comfort in shared experiences with other military spouses, and learns about all of the resources offered to MilSpouses and families at the USO. While the USO supports service members who are carrying out their missions on the front lines, it is crucial to also support the military families holding down the fort back home.

“Being involved in the USO has helped me mentally so much,” she said. “It helps me feel like I’m not the only person going through this crazy military life.”

USO Center Operations Specialist Rose Ruiz shared that “Robin is the kind of volunteer our organization dreams of. She is dependable, powerful and excellent in all aspects of her work. She not only takes on the responsibility of planning, running and executing two separate programs for our Center with enthusiasm and precision, but she also does so while creating a fun, engaging atmosphere that draws people in. Robin’s energy, passion and unwavering dedication make a lasting impact on everyone around her and elevates the entire USO community here, and the Fort Hood community.”

Robin is more than a military spouse. She is a mother, a volunteer, a community builder and a source of strength for others navigating the shared challenges of military life. Every day, Robin is making a difference for others in her community. In lifting others through the USO, she has found her own strength. And in sharing her journey, Robin is lighting the path for other spouses to do the same.