When Jennifer Ferrell and Kirstin Navaroli, better known as Jen and Kirst, met at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, neither could have imagined the community they would one day create together. Both were navigating the early stages of military spouse life—Jen newly married and Kirst not yet engaged—when they connected through their husbands’ shared background at the Air Force Academy. What began as a cautious friendship blossomed during their first deployments, ultimately evolving into a deep bond and a shared mission.
Today, they are the co-founders of Wives of the Armed Forces (WAF), a growing online community that empowers military spouses across all service branches. With a following in the thousands, WAF offers resources, inspiration and solidarity for those navigating the unpredictable journey of military life.
“Everything we came across painted military life as doom and gloom,” said Kirst. “It felt isolating and disheartening, and we knew there had to be a better way.” Instead of accepting the narrative, the duo set out to create the community they were searching for.
Founded in 2018, WAF began as a blog targeting Air Force spouses, but quickly evolved into something bigger. Messages poured in from spouses in other branches, all seeking the same thing: a sense of belonging. “At first, that scared us—we didn’t know how to speak to the experiences of milspouses from other branches,” Jen admitted. “But it felt like a calling.”
The decision to expand WAF’s reach proved to be the right one. What began as a two-woman operation is now supported by a paid team of military spouses and dedicated volunteers who help capture and share a wide range of experiences. “We lean into each other’s strengths,” said Jen. “There’s a lot of mutual trust and flexibility. We’re not afraid to pivot or say, ‘I need help.’”
Kirstin Navaroli (left) and Jennifer Ferrell. Photo credit: JACY OVERSTREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Through their journey, the co-founders have faced the emotional toll of constant moves, lengthy deployments and the invisible labor of military spousehood. “There were moments of isolation, uncertainty and feeling like we didn’t quite belong,” Kirst shared. “Those raw experiences shaped everything we do with WAF. They’ve helped us understand what others might be going through.”
At its core, WAF is about reframing the military spouse narrative from one of passive endurance to empowered engagement. “We refused to fall into the victim mindset of letting milso life happen to us,” said Jen. “We didn’t want to sit around wishing someone else would create the kind of community we were looking for. We built it.”
Now, the WAF team is preparing to take that community offline. “One of our biggest hopes is to bring WAF into the real world and host in-person events,” Kirst said. “Nothing beats real-life connection, and we want to create spaces where military spouses can gather and support one another face-to-face.”
For new military spouses who feel overwhelmed, the pair offer heartfelt advice: “Give yourself grace. You don’t have to have it all figured out,” said Jen. Kirst added, “Be bold. Even just saying ‘Hi, I’m new here’ can start something incredible.”
The Wives of the Armed Forces continue to stand as a testament to what’s possible when you combine friendship, initiative and the belief that community can be a catalyst for change.
As Kirst put it simply, “Every message we receive is a reminder that we’re all in this together.”
Read more articles for the Veteran Community here
