JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Meet Jenny Herrmann, spouse of Pete Herrmann with the Air Force Installation Contracting Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Jenny is our April spouse of the month.
She has been around the military from the moment the couple met 15 years ago. Pete had been in the military for about 4 years at the time they began dating.
We asked Jenny to tell us a little more about her time as an Air Force spouse.
What’s your first memory as the spouse of an Airman?
Realizing how early Pete would get up and go to work – the structure and discipline of the job and responsibilities. Early on when we were still dating, I was able to go and watch Pete get an F-16 incentive flight which was cool. I was able to go on the flightline and see him off.
What’s your best experience as the spouse of an Airman?
Seeing Pete commission as an officer after 9 years of enlisted time and seeing him get promoted on the civilian side after much hard work to get to where he’s currently at in his career.
What’s a challenge you and your spouse overcame as a team?
Pete being gone very frequently for training/Temporary duty when our son Jack was very young and would have to be hospitalized. Jack was born with a rare disease, CLOVES disease, and has been in and out of the hospital since birth almost 12 years ago.
What is your best advice for other AFIMSC spouses?
Especially to those couples (spouses) with a special needs child – support one another with grace and choose patience in communication.
Do you have a mantra that you live by and how does it help?
Laughter is the best medicine – in a life with so many things outside of our control, don’t underestimate a minute of belly laughs.
What’s something you cherish from your time as a spouse and why?
Pete, our two boys (Jack – 11, Ben – 8) and I were blessed with a week-long, all expenses paid trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, through an organization called Special Wish. This trip came at a perfect time! Last year Jack spent 74 days in the hospital due to his on-going CLOVES disease, while the pandemic limited the visitation and interaction with Pete and Ben. Pete stayed home with Ben, working and homeschooling during a pandemic while I stayed at the hospital with Jack. The Disney trip allowed our family to enjoy a week of fun in the sun, and visit Jack’s favorite Harry Potter World. The trip is something our family will never forget.