1. Tell us a little about yourself and why you are proud of military spouses and your own role as a military spouse.
My name is Linda Odierno. My husband is the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and I am very proud of him. We will be married 39 years in June. We are high school sweethearts and were born and raised in Rockaway, New Jersey. We have three Children and four Grandsons. We have a family dog named Tootsie. We have moved 23 times in 39 years and we have enjoyed each place we have been stationed because of the friendships and bonds that we made. We have always moved together as a family. We feel it is important to support each other.
We feel we can handle anything, as long as we are together as a Family.
I am proud of military spouses because they serve, too, and have a great love for their Service Member and their Country. They dedicate themselves to the Military Communities they live in and they dedicate themselves to the Service Members and Families within their Spouse's unit while taking care of their own Families. We have a special bond because of the life we lead in the military. Our Service Members deploy to dangerous places and we experience many separations, but we pull together and help each other and take advantage of the great resources that are offered to us at our installations. I have always felt that it is important to keep positive and have a positive attitude and surround your self with positive people.
Military Spouse Pride, Volunteerism, and Family:
An Interview with Mrs. Linda Odierno
Mrs. Linda Odierno, spouse to Chief of Staff, United States Army
During the past 39 years I have volunteered at the Thrift Shop, been an Advisor and Honorary President to Officer and Spouses Clubs, Advisor to Army Family Team Building, Advisor and volunteered with Army Family Action Plan, Santa’s Work Shop, The Fisher House, MCEC (Military Child Education Coalition), Army Community Service, and have sat on Boards with the USO, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), United Through Reading, Easter Seals, AER (Army Emergency Relief), and The Central Texas Workforce. I also sit on panels mentoring and speaking to Spouses and leading conferences.