Homefront Heroes: Honoring the Spouses of Those Who Serve

Elizabeth sought help not only for her husband, but for herself and their children. “At the VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), it’s only the veteran who gets help. I had to look outside for counseling and support,” emphasized Elizabeth. She found strength in nonprofit organizations and in connecting with other spouses who understood the emotional toll. “We all felt that anxiousness. But we leaned on each other,” she said.

Elizabeth hopes more people understand the full scope of military service. “People don’t always see what goes on behind the scenes. The veteran struggles—but so do the kids, the spouse, the whole home. We need more awareness and more support,” she emphasized.

Jana Diaz and her husband, Shawn Diaz, began their relationship overseas, but their journey as a family unfolded across states, stages of life, and seasons of change. From military service in England to building a home in Iowa, their story is one of resilience, commitment, and redefining what it means to be together.

Jana and Shawn met while living in England, where Shawn was stationed at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath with the United States (U.S.) Air Force. After the wedding, the couple relocated to the United States—but not together. Jana returned to Iowa with her daughters to stay close to her support system, while Shawn continued his service, eventually being stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Their marriage began across states and time zones. For two years, they navigated long-distance challenges while Jana parented her daughters and welcomed a new baby boy. “We started our marriage with me single-parenting my two older kids and our infant son arriving during this time while we were living apart,” Jana recalled. “You just go into automatic mode and do what needs to be done.”

Jana remained in Iowa to preserve stability for her children. “I didn’t want to move my older children, and he was going to be getting out of the service. My kids were in middle school and high school, and we were done moving,” she said.

When their son was four months old, Shawn moved to Iowa to join the family. His arrival came at a critical time—the baby had recently been hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). “It was good having Shawn back,” Jana said. “We were finally together, but it was also a new kind of transition.”

As Shawn left military service, the couple faced the challenge of adjusting to life together after years apart. They worked through parenting dynamics, career decisions, and the emotional shift of redefining their roles. “It was a different transition for the kids, having two parents there and not just one,” Jana said.

Shawn enrolled in a degree program in IT security forensics in Omaha, adding a school commute to their already full schedule. Jana and Shawn balanced education, work, and family life while helping their children adapt to the new rhythm of having both parents at home.

“It turned out well,” Jana reflected. “We had to learn how to be a family in the same place, and that took time—but it was worth it.”

Jana said Shawn’s military values—adaptability, structure, and open communication—continue to shape his leadership at Nelnet. “He’s a very good listener,” said Jana. “Even if it’s something he doesn’t want to hear, he’d rather hear it than not,” she added.

Shawn’s first role as Help Desk Manager required on-call work every third week, and Jana said he could get one or multiple calls. She said he’s flourishing in his new role as IT Administrator, and it’s been a good transition from his previous job. “There’s still some on-call work with this role, but there’s open, honest communication. He loves Nelnet and thinks it has great opportunities,” said Jana.

Shawn has mentioned to Jana that he appreciates the fact that Nelnet has T-shirts honoring veterans around Veterans Day. The organization also has invited associates who are veterans or servicemembers to bring in objects to share from their military experience and talk about what they’ve accomplished. “Being recognized for his service has been a really good thing for Shawn,” said Jana.

She also noted that Shawn participates in Coffee With the Crew, a monthly conversation sponsored by NelVets members. “Reaching out to others who have served has been nice for him—sharing stories and finding out about different benefits you can get as a veteran,” Jana said.

Jana reminds us that military service is a family commitment. From deployments to transitions, from emotional resilience to logistical juggling, spouses carry a heavy but often invisible load. “People understand what members of the military do,” Jana said, “but it’s the spouses who get left behind with the kids, figuring everything out.”

Though their journeys were different, both Elizabeth Valles and Jana Diaz embody the quiet strength and resilience that define military spouses. Elizabeth faced the emotional toll of deployment and reintegration, supporting her husband through PTSD and helping her children understand the complexities of service. Jana navigated long-distance marriage, single parenting, and the transition to civilian life—all while building a blended family and supporting her husband’s evolving career.

Their stories remind us that military service is never a solo endeavor. Behind every uniform is a network of loved ones who sacrifice, adapt, and persevere. Whether it’s helping a spouse re-enter civilian life, managing a household alone, or celebrating Veterans Day with pride and gratitude, these women show us what it means to serve from the homefront.

On Veterans Day—and every day—we thank not only those who serve, but also those who support them while and after they serve.

At Nelnet, we’re proud to support veterans and their families through NelVets and a culture of recognition. Their stories remind us that service extends far beyond the battlefield—and we’re honored to walk alongside those who serve from the homefront.