In 2015, my family was stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany. Stateside, I had been a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse for six years. In Germany, I served as a home visiting nurse with the Army’s New Parent Support Program and obtained a lactation credential as a certified lactation counselor (CLC). Prior to the birth of my daughter, I made the decision to focus on family as a stay at home parent, but didn’t want to abandon my commitment to supporting new parents. I began volunteering with Mom2Mom Global’s chapter in Kaiserslautern and committed to helping other military families achieve their lactation goals.
In 2020, our family PCSed to the United Kingdom. Between its remote location and pandemic-related lockdown restrictions, it was clear that military families needed more assistance and community support related to lactation. There, I established the Tribase UK chapter of Mom2Mom Global. The chapter hosted online virtual events and Facebook Lives on relevant lactation topics, provided evidence-based education and resources, answered questions, and allowed opportunities for parental socialization. Within a year of creation, the group had more than 200 members and began meeting monthly for in-person lactation support with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
The impact of developing this new chapter made me realize the value in delivering high-quality, evidence-based lactation support to military communities with unique needs. With my time in the UK abruptly ending, I did not want to abandon the mission of Mom2Mom and made a commitment to serve on the global organization’s Board of Directors as Co-Director of Education.
Transforming an Organizational Vision
As a member of the organization’s Board of Directors, it has been exciting to be part of its recent rebranding initiative; changing its name to Global Military Lactation Community (Global MilCom). The new name reinforces our commitment to inclusive lactation peer support, education, and advocacy for military families. Global MilCom remains dedicated to assisting families achieve their unique feeding goals, a core component of the organization since it was established as a peer support group in 1999 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), Germany. Through its individual and group lactation support programs, Global MilCom has helped countless service members and their families thrive in their feeding journeys.
Global MilCom’s work extends beyond its central lactation support program. Over the years, the organization has grown and so has its mission. Today, Global MilCom actively engages in lactation advocacy, information dissemination, and educational programs for parents serving on Active Duty, in the National Guard, and in the Reserves. Through its website and social media platforms, it connects service members with regulations and resources to help them navigate policy related to pregnancy, leave, workplace lactation support, and more. It has also established the affordable Military Lactation Counselor credentialing program, designed to develop lactation specialists capable of delivering equitable and culturally appropriate assistance to address the specific lactation needs of military families. By ensuring access to reliable resources, Global MilCom empowers families to prioritize the health and well-being of their children.
How Global MilCom Supports Military Communities Worldwide
1. Global MilCom Chapters
Our chapters provide local support networks, something so important to military families who often face unique challenges due to being stationed away from family or even their home country. Virtual and in-person lactation cafes are held monthly at chapters around the world. These meetups are for both current and expecting parents, providing respectful, judgment-free zones where all parents are welcomed. Peer support and lactation education are also provided in private Facebook groups that are monitored to ensure evidence-based information is being shared. Live Q&A sessions are held to cover frequently requested topics. Click here to see if there’s a chapter near you!
2. Global MilCom’s Website
Our website www.globalmilcom.org serves as a central resource for all of our programs and services. We maintain policy information for all service branches to help service members navigate their rights related to lactation, paternal leave, EEO, workplace lactation support, and more. Additionally, the website hosts a series of info sheets that cover topics that range from shipping human milk to pumping in the field. We also provide guidance on how to obtain TRICARE-covered breast pumps.
3. Global MilCom on Facebook and Instagram
Our social media channels are continually providing content about current best practices related to lactation, emerging advocacy issues, changes in military policy, and infant and young child feeding in emergencies. Our social media channels also offer opportunities for visitors to ask questions about lactation concerns and military policies.
4. Military Lactation Counselors
Our Military Lactation Counselor (MLC) course is a credentialing program that focuses on the basics of lactation and how to best support the unique needs of U.S. service members and their families. Currently, there are more than 250 MLC alumni/students serving military communities worldwide. MLCs serve as leaders in Global MilCom chapters and work closely with their local military treatment facilities to provide community lactation support. Personnel within other military support programs, including the New Parent Support Program, have sought MLC credentialing to increase their ability to provide evidence-based lactation support in areas where care is limited.
The Military Lactation Counselor program also offers the foundational education to support employment in the lactation field, offering portable careers for military spouses who often face employment challenges.The web-based program has been designed to be flexible enough to work within the demanding schedules of military families, offering extended learning timelines to accommodate deployments and permanent changes of station.
5. Education
Our primary education class “MilFam Guide to Successful Lactation and Feeding” is offered quarterly and, through a laid back approach, introduces the basics of lactation and what to expect in a baby’s first days. This class takes about 2.5 hours and encourages questions from parents in attendance. Additional webinars are being developed to address common concerns and questions related to lactation and military life. Click here to attend.
How can I bring Global MilCom to my military community?
- If you think your local military installation and community could benefit from a Global MilCom chapter, we’d love to hear from you! Please email us at [email protected].
- If you’re interested in supporting your community through certification as a Military Lactation Counselor, you can read more about the program here where we address frequently asked questions or email us at [email protected].
- To learn more about our history, team, programs, resources, and advocacy efforts, please visit www.GlobalMilCom.org.
Meet Julie
Julie is a U.S. Air Force spouse, Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and proud mother of three children. Prior to having children, she worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse and as a Nurse Home Visitor for the Army New Parent Support Program. She earned her Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Penn State, her alma mater. Julie is a third culture kid having grown up all over the globe – Indonesia, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland. Her family motto is “the adventure continues” and she continues to love the wonderful life and challenges this military adventure has afforded her.
