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Star Henderson and Tara Crooks have more than 20 years' experience between them, and the two have teamed up to help other military wives through their Internet talk radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio.com.
“We want to pass that experience along to other Army wives,” said Henderson, 32, whose husband, David, is a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard. The Hendersons have a 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Army Wife Talk Radio.com covers a variety of topics, such as how to solve family challenges when a spouse is deployed and navigate the military’s healthcare system. The program has developed a core following of fans, said Crooks, 31, a veteran with 10 years of military experience. Crooks' husband, Kevin, is a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Crooks have a 5-year-old daughter.
“It became like a community thing, where I’ve got loyal listeners that are probably following my life, wondering what the heck is going to happen in the Crooks’ household today,” Crooks said. “And, then I’ve got people calling in and sharing their stories. It makes me feel that I’m not alone.”
There are “so many” services available to help military families, Crooks said there’s no cohesive program to promote them to family members. That’s where the radio show can really help, she said.
Henderson launched Army Wife Talk Radio.com a year and a half ago, and Crooks got involved about seven months ago when she began writing for the show's newsletter. Now they share responsibilities equally in the program.
A recorded show is made available on the site each Monday, but Henderson said they hope to be able to broadcast live in the near future.
In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the pair also interviews experts to provide advice on and get information about different subjects.
About seven months ago, they interviewed Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, for the show. Their radio show is preparing to become a sponsor of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program.
“I think it’s an amazing program,” Crooks said of the ASY program. “Just to see all those organizations coming together to support military members and their families is wonderful.”
ASY highlights support from individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations for U.S. military men and women. ASY, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart joined forces to sponsor Operation Christmas here and at five other locations across the country to bring cheer to military families.
Crooks and Henderson attended yesterday’s Operation Christmas event for military families here. During the event, they discussed their shows and shared some of their views on military family life.
Juggling husbands and children and military life can be challenging, the women said, but military wives are a strong lot who instinctively bond together to help one another, discuss pressing issues and propose solutions.
According to Crooks' husband, Army Wife Talk Radio.com is "absolutely great," and his wife is eminently qualified to help other military wives.
“She is definitely the ‘rock,’” Crooks said. “She holds together the family when I am gone [on deployment], she pays the bills. It’s really unbelievable what she puts in.”