Douberly family is finalist for Military Family of the Year

Published June 1, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Heather Heiney
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AFB, Miss. -- Military families are expected to pick up their lives at a moment's notice and completely start over somewhere else, and usually on more than one occasion. They have to wait patiently for phone calls and Skype dates at strange hours that have a high likelihood of
being disconnected right in the middle of the conversation. They care for children and pets, pay bills, maintain the household, go to school, have jobs and possibly serve in the military themselves.

Those families sacrifice just as much as their combat-boot and dog tag-wearing loved ones, but often their service goes unrecognized and unappreciated.

However, one Keesler military family is being recognized. The Douberly family is a finalist for the National Military Family Association Military Family of the Year award.

The Douberly family includes Tech. Sgt. Dustin Douberly, 81st Training Support Squadron curriculum developer; his wife Shannon; and their children Henry, 8; Jeffrey, 6; Jenna, 4; and Kelsey, 20 months.

According to the association, the award "recognizes strong military families who embrace their service to the Nation, are role models in their community, and understand
that together they are stronger."

The association also said that finalists consist of one family from each branch of service including the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Finalists receive a trip to Washington for the award ceremony and the grand prize winner receives $1,000.

The family came to Keesler for the first time in 2001 when Sergeant Douberly trained into the communications career field here and returned here last August.

"We had really enjoyed our time here, and when Dustin saw an opportunity to move back, he jumped on it," Mrs. Douberly said.

Mrs. Douberly said that her family makes it through difficult times by maintaining a positive attitude. On one deployment, her husband left her with four children, the youngest only 5 weeks old, during a Montana winter.

"I could have gone into it thinking about how hard my life was going to be," she said, "Yes, we visited the ER four times. Yes, a main story toilet overflowed and soaked our basement storage room. Yes, it snowed and snowed and snowed. Still, we tried to look on the bright side and it worked."

The Douberly family plays an active role on base and in the community. Sergeant Douberly is a Cub Scout leader, men's church group leader, base intramural tennis director and recently traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to help with tornado relief efforts.

Mrs. Douberly is part of the Keesler Key Spouses program, a children's music director, a youth camp director and the vice president of the 81st TRSS spouses club.

"We also make a special effort to get to know our neighbors and help develop a sense of unity in our own neighborhood," Mrs. Douberly said.

She also said that the best part of being a military family is having the opportunity to serve her country.

"We take great pride in doing our part to protect this country and its people," Mrs. Douberly said. "Being a military family is who we are."