Every time her husband deployed, Teresa Shick knew there was a chance he might not come home. Her husband Jerry served as a Navy SEAL through years of war and repeated deployments. Teresa raised their family while carrying that uncertainty every day. She also became an ombudsman for SEAL families and stood beside other wives during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Teresa shares what life was like inside the tight-knit SEAL family. She talks about casualty notifications and helping families after a service member was killed. She also explains the constant fear that came with every deployment. Even a government vehicle parked near her home could make her wonder if the knock on the door was finally coming for her. Through it all, the wives became their own kind of team.

After Jerry retired, Teresa discovered another problem. Military spouses often spend decades holding their families together and then lose their own sense of purpose when the service ends. Teresa created the Pillar Foundation to help those women through that transition. The organization connects Special Operations spouses with other women who understand their lives and helps families build a new community after military service. Watch now to hear Teresa’s story and the story of the women who stand behind some of America’s most elite warriors. Like and subscribe for more East Texas stories.