JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Meet Kristin Mryssa Porras Coutin, spouse of Tech. Sgt. Luis Porras Vargas, training and development manager with the Air Force Services Center.
Kristin has been around the military for most of her life. Her parents met in Hanau, Germany, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and are Army veterans. Having spent so much time around the military, she said she knew from an early age that she was going to enlist too, joining right after her junior year of high school and serving for six years in the Air Force.
We asked her to share a little more about her life with the military.
What’s your first memory as the spouse of an Airman?
I met my husband at MacDill AFB, Florida, while he was working as the force support unit deployment manager and I worked in the military personnel ID card section. I was helping a close friend with her out-processing because of a short notice tasking and that was our first interaction! We started dating a few months later on April 3, 2015, got engaged on Feb. 4, 2017, got married on Oct. 13, 2017. We've been married for three years already and have two amazing sons!
What’s your best experience as the spouse of an Airman?
Being able to relate with people I meet in various ways. I can relate to those who are still active duty, fellow veterans and now military spouses. I like to share knowledge and my personal experiences in order to make life a tad bit easier for others.
What’s a challenge you and your spouse overcame as a team?
The decision to become a full-time, stay-at-home mom was relatively easy for the both of us, but the more challenging aspect of that transition was more about my identity. I was 18 years old when I joined (the military) and a lot of my personal development was during my time in the Air Force, so once I got out I’ve had an uphill journey trying to figure out what I want to accomplish for myself and something that I can work towards long term. Communication on a deeper level also plays a huge role and can make all the difference in nearly every interaction and decision that is made as a couple.
What your best advice for other AFIMSC spouses?
Find something that you can focus on and feel fulfilled doing! It is very easy to get lost in the monotonous tasks that being a mother and wife entails, but it is important to do something for yourself in the process. Lastly, time management has been very important and also ties into being able to find time to do something for myself. By having a reliable, semi-flexible schedule, it keeps things predictable and ensures that I get the time I need to do a few of my hobbies.
Do you have a mantra that you live by and how does it help?
I’m a mother to two toddler boys, the wife of an active-duty Airman, a full-time college student and I am also managing my own personal mental health struggles. My school advisor has asked me on several occasions, “How do you manage to do so well with school, given everything that’s been going on?” I basically told her that “I just do it and get it done.” I take my school grades very personally and as a reflection of my character, I try to be the best mom that I can be, and I try my best to be the most supportive military spouse for my husband. There are things that are non-negotiable but by digging deep, we can push our boundaries and surprise ourselves in the process!
What’s something you cherish from your time as a spouse and why?
I cherish our conversations because I know my husband isn’t the most talkative at times. But I really value the times when he opens up about work, personal things, personal goals or even things to accomplish as a family. I like the partnership feeling because I am here for the long haul and I want to see my husband succeed personally and professionally.