Ep. 66 How Operation Deploy Your Dress is Changing Military Life

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi sit down with Yvonne Coombes, CEO, and co-founder of Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD), to discover the inspiring journey of how a simple dress swap at Fort Bliss turned into a national movement providing over 25,000 free formal gowns to military families. Learn about their 15th store opening at Fort Leavenworth, overcoming challenges of lacking permanent locations, and the dedication of volunteers. Yvonne shares insights on the role of community support, and the morale-boosting impact on military families.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes the military community who they are.

Ep. 66 – How Operation Deploy Your Dress is Changing Military Life

The seeds of Operation Deploy Your Dress were sown in December 2015 at Fort Bliss, Texas. What began as a casual conversation among military spouses quickly evolved into a transformative project. Initially planned as a two-day dress swap for unit spouses attending military balls, the initiative gathered unexpected momentum. The community's overwhelming support exceeded expectations, with a modest goal of 200 dresses rapidly expanding to a staggering 3,000.

Yvonne recalls the serendipitous moment when the Garrison Commander offered a vacated gift shop as a space to house the growing collection of dresses. This pivotal moment set the foundation for what would become a global movement, highlighting the community's eagerness to support military families.

Beyond Dresses: Building Military Community and Skills

Operation Deploy Your Dress is more than just about dresses; it’s about fostering military community and empowerment. From its inception, ODYD has worked to eliminate the stigma of receiving a free dress. The organization prides itself on inclusivity, offering formal attire to everyone from E1 spouses to four-star general spouses, with no rank restrictions.

Moreover, ODYD provides military spouses with invaluable skills through volunteering. Running a dress shop demands inventory management, team leadership, and organizational skills, all of which are transferable to other professional opportunities. Many volunteers have leveraged their experience to secure employment, demonstrating the initiative's broader impact beyond the distribution of dresses.

Military Installation Locations and Expansion

As ODYD expands its reach, it navigates various challenges, from securing financial resources to navigating compliance in multiple states. Despite these hurdles, the organization perseveres, continually seeking new partners and exploring prospects to extend their support to additional military installations, including those of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.

The joy of witnessing lives transform keeps the ODYD team motivated. Yvonne shares a touching story of a new military spouse who, unable to afford a dress, stumbled upon an ODYD event and found a gown. The experience was a turning point, fostering connections and a sense of belonging within the military community.

Looking Ahead

With eyes set on future expansions, Yvonne remains tight-lipped about potential new sites (much to Tom's curiosity). However, the call for support is clear. The organization continuously invites more people to join the mission, whether through financial contributions, volunteering, or simply spreading the word.

Do you have formal wear hanging in your closet, just waiting for a second life? Consider donating to Operation Deploy Your Dress! Visit their website at OperationDeployYourDress.org to learn how you can contribute, either by sending dresses directly or by getting involved in other meaningful ways.

Military Minute

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

● Last episode’s Military Minute: What is the name of the structure that was built in the Pennsylvania field to commemorate the passengers on Flight 93?

● Answer: Tower of Voices

● This week’s Military Minute question: In what year did the military ball originate?

● Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.

● Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

● After a winning selection, Military Minute participants are eligible for another selection after 12 months.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

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