The military spouse who sat across the table from retired Lt. Col. Kathryn “Kitty” Meyers, USAF (Ret), at a Burger King at Joint Base San Antonio was not unlike many she’d met before. For 20 years, the woman had moved from one military installation to another every time her husband received a new assignment, leaving little opportunity to establish a career of her own. She didn’t know where to start, and she said she’d never really done anything.

'Sometimes, you don’t know where to make the connection ... or see beyond where you are.'

As they talked, Meyers realized that wasn’t true at all. The woman had kept books for churches for years. Though the spouse didn’t have computer skills, Meyers said that was no problem and took her to a nearby military resources center, where the spouse signed up for a computer class.

As president and transition liaison of the Alamo (Texas) Chapter of MOAA, Meyers guides active duty, veterans, retirees, and military spouses through the transition process by connecting resources, employers, and other nonprofits — and asking the right questions.

She also works with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone. These communities around the nation address local military spouse unemployment and underemployment.

“Sometimes, you don’t know where to make the connection ... or see beyond where you are,” Meyers said. “But [everyone] has a wealth of experiences. It’s showing people how they can capitalize on these experiences. It’s a matter of listening, probing, listening some more, and planting seeds.”

Meyers joined the Air Force in 1973 after graduating from college. She was among the first women to integrate Officer Training School. She retired as the individual mobilization augmentee to the director of Air Force Mortuary Affairs in 1997 and went to work as a human resources director for two major hotel chains.

“Folks are coming out of the military with no clue what’s on the other side of the fence,” Meyers said. Helping people navigate that — and find their passions — is fulfilling.

“You’re meeting people, you’re helping people. Never stop serving. That’s my focus.”