Fadoua Harrabi, Marine Corps Spouse

Becoming a military spouse was never part of my plan. But I fell in love with my USMC husband, said "I do," and with that, I agreed to uproot my life in beautiful Tunisia. I left behind my thriving career, my supportive friends and family, and boarded a plane to begin a new life on a military base.

I believed that my extensive professional experience, my graduate degree from an American university, and my language skills would make it easy to find meaningful work. But I underestimated the complexity of not only immigrating to a new country, but also adapting to military life.

The reality hit hard: my husband’s long and unpredictable hours, the emotional toll of deployments, the overwhelming sense of isolation, and the endless paperwork just to work, drive, or open a bank account. I didn’t understand the military lingo. I had no friends, no support system. I was navigating a new world—alone. At one point, I almost gave in to depression, self-doubt, and despair.

But I knew I couldn’t just sit and wait for opportunities to knock on my door. I leaned on the very skills I had built over my career—research, communication, diplomacy, outreach, negotiation. I realized that if I was going to find my place, I had to strap on my boots and build it myself.

I started on base at Camp Pendleton and was fortunate to meet kind, supportive people at MCCS. They connected me to Hiring Our Heroes, where fellow military spouses encouraged me, helped me tailor my resume, and showed me how to spotlight my unique skills. I found a network of fellow foreign-born spouses and began to feel a sense of belonging.

I also reached out to our command spouse, who introduced me to leadership initiatives and a circle of strong, experienced, like-minded spouses. I took on entry-level jobs, I volunteered, I kept showing up—and slowly, I pivoted. I found a new purpose: advocacy.

Advocacy for military families. For spouses. For foreign-born spouses like me.

I may not have the six-figure career I once envisioned, but I’m on a meaningful journey—one centered on service, connection, and community. I have embraced my new role: a military spouse who lends her voice to uplift and advocate for others. I am proud to be Ambassador to MSAN, Community Representative for Five & Thrive and Outreach Coordinator for the FMSN.