A Capitol Hill staffer for eight years, Chastine Bobbitt spent April 9 on the other side of the meeting table – joining with fellow participants in MOAA’s annual Advocacy in Action campaign to bring the group’s key priorities to the attention of hundreds of lawmakers’ offices.

She made the trip from Washington state despite her Army-officer husband being on deployment, mobilizing family members to help with child care so she could return to the city “I loved since I was in college,” she told MOAA.

“I remember when you all would come to our office – I wanted to be in that meeting,” said Bobbitt, who worked for multiple lawmakers during her time on the Hill and now serves as a member of MOAA’s Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council. “I remember thinking, ‘You guys are definitely a force.’”

[RELATED: Advocacy in Action 2025]

Youth Movement

Not all of MOAA’s office visits included a meeting with a lawmaker – staff representation ranged from top policy positions to military and/or veteran liaisons to junior members in roles similar to where Bobbitt began her legislative service.

Visits from groups like MOAA “can make young staffers … actually understand the issues, and what’s going on,” she said, turning them into powerful in-office advocates for MOAA’s top priorities. “A lot of them, they never served, so it’s powerful to have a one-star, a retired general, or someone else in their office discussing these issues … nicely dressed, knowing exactly what they’re talking about.”

A D.C. homecoming was part of Bobbitt’s decision to make the cross-country trek, but she relished the chance to bring several key issues to the Hill. Her husband’s 18-year career included time spent deployed to the Middle East, so the notion of improved care and benefits for those exposed to toxins in service rang true for her family.

And as a professional military spouse with regular involvement in spouses’ clubs at multiple installations, “I can tell you so many stories” of employment challenges,” Bobbitt said.

“But I will say it is getting better,” she added. “There have been huge strides in the past 10 years, and it’s because of organizations like this.”

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support Adding Military Spouses to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit]

Sending a Message

“Lawmakers need to hear from people like Chastine – not because of her legislative experience, but because she’s had a front-row seat to many of MOAA’s core issues affecting servicemembers and families,” said Jen Goodale, MOAA’s director of government relations for military family and survivor policy.

“She understands what our military families face. The more lawmakers who understand these challenges, the more we can get on board to make meaningful change on behalf of the total force.”

Keep up with all of MOAA's ongoing advocacy efforts via our advocacy news page.