Military Special Needs Network
Proudly Supporting all Military Families with a Special Needs Dependent
May 28, 2012: Honoring Robyn Iuliano – Military Spouse of the Day!
Today, while celebrating Memorial Day, we want to honor Master Sargent Robyn Iuliano, who is not only a spouse to a retired Airman, but she is active duty, too. Her family is stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. She and her husband have been married for six years.
Robyn’s favorite part of being a military spouse is the ability to proactively select their assignments and the three-to-four year “vacations”. She says, “With children, you really need to make it exciting for them so when you say we are on a three-year “vacation” and we will be exploring the miles around the new duty station, it is very exciting.”
Robyn says, “Since I am active duty, I understand the commitment that is needed for a member to serve – the late hours, weekend hours, deployments, TDYs – these are all part of that commitment.” However, if she could go back and give herself one piece of advice before becoming a military spouse, Robyn says that she would have liked to have better understood the TRICARE handbooks in order to understand programs like ECHO, the 2nd-opinion options, coverage for vitamins, and the knowledge to know that you do not have to use your MTF for all your special medical needs.
Robyn is an unbelievable advocate for dependents with special needs within the military. She says, “I became an advocate as soon as my children became stable both educationally and medically. I remember the feelings of isolation when the doctor said “take your child home – we cannot help his uncontrollable seizures”. She spent many hours on the phone with agencies that were designed to help her family, but disastrous results happened over and over. Robyn decided that she needed to make a difference, and it would start with her own family.
Robyn’s inspiration comes from her favorite quote: “You ALWAYS have time for what you put first.” They became involved with the Exceptional Family Member Family Program (EFMP), and are very familiar with single parenting, childcare, youth services, Military Treatment Facilities (MTF), housing, PCSing, TRICARE, ECHO, Medicaid, public schools, and private schools. Robyn is also on the Board of Specialized Training of Military Parents/Professionals (STOMP). She stays involved with her state’s PTI and is a volunteer with other agencies.
The Military Special Needs Network honors and salutes Robyn Iuliano as the Military Spouse of the Day on Memorial Day 2012! We thank you for being such a wonderful Airman, military spouse, mom, and an amazing advocate for special needs!
Military Special Needs Network 