Meet Hannah: A Military Spouse Committed to Community and Remaining Resilient

By Brittany Laursen

In the military community, military spouses are the quiet force holding everything together behind the scenes. They navigate deployments, constant moves, changing careers, long periods away from loved ones and the challenge of rebuilding their community again and again — all while continuing to support the mission and the people they love. Military Spouse Appreciation Day gives us a chance to recognize the resilience, sacrifice and strength of these incredible spouses whose support of their loved ones makes military life possible in ways both seen and unseen.

For Hannah Anhalt, military life has meant building a home far from where she and her husband Nathan first met as children.

For Hannah Anhalt, military life has meant building a home far from the small Wisconsin town where she and her husband Nathan first met. | Photo credit Courtesy Photo

“We met in the third grade and grew up together in a small town in Wisconsin and, well, the rest is history,” Hannah said.

The couple, along with their two dogs, Phoenix and Maverick, have spent nearly 12 years together through dating, marriage and multiple duty stations including Fort Stewart, Georgia, Fort Carson, Colorado, and now USAG Ansbach, Germany. Nathan has served in the U.S. Army for about nine years, and since arriving in Germany in 2024, Hannah has worked to build a sense of home and connection despite the distance from family and friends back in the U.S.

“Being away from home is never easy,” Hannah said. “Especially as parents grow older and the physical distance can be felt between siblings and close friends.”

Being stationed overseas has meant living far from family for Hannah, but building new friendships and a strong support system in Germany has helped create a sense of home. | Photo credit Courtesy Photo

Overseas duty stations can be challenging for military spouses. Aside from the struggle to continue their career while living in another country, being stationed overseas also means adjusting to a new house, new home, new culture, new way of life and – crucially – new friends. And with studies showing that social connections are crucial to the wellbeing of military family members, making friends at a new duty station is important. Forging connections became a priority for Hannah, and through new friendships and a growing support network in Germany, she says that she and her husband have built a community they now consider family.

Like other military spouses, Hannah has learned how important it is to stay connected to and involved with her community during her spouse’s deployments. While her husband is away, she keeps busy working and coaching volleyball for Child and Youth Services, spending time outdoors with her dogs and leaning on close friends for support.

“Life with a deployed spouse is exactly what you make of it,” she said. “I like to stay busy. I think it helps pass the time and keeps me moving.”

Hannah’s other way to pass the time has been to give back to her own military community. After arriving in Ansbach, Hannah began volunteering with the USO, which supports service members and military families in the area – an experience she says quickly became one of the most meaningful parts of her overseas experience. With her house only a short walk from the USO Center, she started volunteering just one month after moving to Germany as a way to meet people and get involved in the community while settling in.

Since then, the USO has become much more than its four walls – it has become a place to turn to for Hannah during a challenging overseas tour.

“The individuals that have worked at USO Ansbach over the last year and a half have offered so much more than a cold beverage and a place to recharge,” Hannah said. “One of the hardest parts of military life is moving every few years and starting over with jobs, friendships, local food spots — the list goes on — but the USO volunteers that I’ve had the pleasure of working with have honestly made it so much easier.”

Through USO programs and volunteer opportunities, Hannah found friendships, support and opportunities to share her own passions, including arts and crafts programs that connected with her background as an art teacher back home.

When asked what moment at the USO stood out to her most, Hannah spoke passionately about the strength of the USO community. She reflected on the way USO volunteers have come together to support military families during difficult times, especially throughout recent deployments throughout the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

“Some of the departures were short notice, early mornings and short-staffed, but the USO made it happen and made sure soldiers leaving Ansbach felt the support of this incredible community,” she said.

Recently recognized as the USAG Ansbach Civilian Volunteer of the Year, Hannah hopes other military spouses will take the leap to get involved and build connections wherever military life takes them.

“My best advice is to take the step to get out and make connections,” she said. “Go to the USO program events — even if you go alone. You’ll come away with a new friendship to take with you and lean on when you need it.”