Andrea Tembreull named Minot Spouse of the Year by Military Spouse Magazine Published March 2, 2016 By Marissa Howard Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Andrea Tembreull, spouse of 91st Security Forces Group Commander Col. Raymund Tembreull, was named Minot Spouse of the Year by Military Spouse Magazine. Tembreull, an active member of Information Delivery System, Military Spouse Advocacy Network, Keep Your Promise Network, Professional Association of Diving Instructors and a Key Spouse mentor, grew up with the military close to her heart. Her father is a retired Navy captain and though she calls Virginia Beach her home, Tembreull moved often. In 2002, she met her husband in Guam and became a military spouse. "The only preconceived notions I had of what being a military spouse would be like came from my beautiful mother who recently passed away," said Tembreull. "She was a wonderful woman who always encouraged me to follow my heart, do what I thought was right and try to always treat people with respect and grace." Tembreull was a business owner at the time she married her husband, and shortly after they left Guam she became a stepmother to two children. In the 11 years since then, they have been stationed in six different places and Tembreull's perspective has changed to fit her own experiences, skills acquired and lessons learned. "Since Ray has worked in three squadrons and now a group, I've learned how important spouses are and the incredible support they can offer each other and their military member," Tembreull said. "I have learned that spouses who don't connect with others can feel isolated." Tembreull highlighted one of her primary goals, which is to help alleviate the loneliness a spouse can feel by establishing informal networks that facilitate interconnectedness--something that is key to long-term stability for military families. Also just as important, she explained, is to establish links with other people and organizations that will expand these networks and carry on when she and her husband leave Minot AFB. One of the ways Tembreull strives to accomplish these goals is by holding coffee meet-and-greets for spouses a few times each month. Everyone is welcome and wanted for the encouragement, pieces of advice, friendship and interconnectedness that the coffees bring--a little bit of warmth in the midst of the cold. "I was in Virginia helping my father when I learned I had won this honor and was humbled," said Tembreull. "There are many other spouses here at Minot who should have been nominated and voted above me. Even though I've facilitated bringing spouses together and have tried to make the folks in my group and my friends feel like they are part of a huge family, I've had support and assistance from multiple sources that have made my endeavors possible." If anything, Tembreull said, she hopes this award will provide a stronger platform from which to advocate for, and encourage people to participate in, bringing spouses together as a collective group that spans both wings and all ranks. Because at the end of the day, they all have spouses fighting for the same cause, side by side. "My life has been touched in such positive ways because of my association with the military," Tembreull said. "I have been granted the privilege and honor of meeting and getting to know some of the most incredible and dedicated people--both active duty and dependents--that I never would have had the chance to meet if it wasn't for being a military spouse." Tembreull said some of the driving advice behind her passion for bringing spouses together comes from the statements 'Go for it!,' 'Don't let people get you down,' and 'Don't ever suffer in silence.' And most importantly, she explained, remember that you are stronger than you think. "There are spouses out there who can help you in nearly every situation so your military member can continue to do their job working for and defending our country."