“Watching my girls face their fears and cheering me on when I needed it is something I’ll never forget. We laughed, screamed, cried, and absolutely crushed it,” said military spouse Leslie Jones, reflecting on her experience navigating the rugged Texas terrain in a Bronco during the Ford Proud to Honor: Bronco Off-Roadeo.
What started as a partnership between Blue Star Families and Ford Motor Company grew into something much bigger — more than just an off-road experience for service members, veterans, and their families. It became a profound moment of connection and community-building. These moments made it worth it: active-duty moms and dads spending rare, quality time with their kids; survivor families finding solace in shared experiences. It was about military families, nonprofits, and Ford — a true American icon — joining forces to create a network of support that can be counted on in both good times and bad.
Why is this important? While the sacrifices of service members are often front and center, military families like ours are the ones holding everything together behind the scenes. We understand the unique challenges of this life — but do our civilian neighbors really grasp what it takes? Many don’t. But we can change that by sharing our stories and inviting them into our world. We can share the reasons behind the missed holidays and birthdays, the constant moves, and explain why connecting us to job opportunities, creating spaces for us to bond with other spouses, or advocating for policies that make life smoother for military kids — every action, big or small, matters. The Bronco Off-Roadeo gave us a platform to do just that — to unite and call on our fellow Americans to stand with us.
Here’s a hard truth: military spouses like Ashley Saville—a combat veteran who grew up in a military family—love this life, but when she thinks about her little boys possibly serving, she hesitates to encourage it.
And she’s not alone. A recent study shows that fewer military families are encouraging the next generation to serve. It’s something many of us wrestle with. But as military families, we’re always preparing for what’s next — because there’s always something on the horizon. And since this isn’t our first rodeo (wink), we know our strength comes from our community. So when Blue Star Families asked Ford, “Will you do your part?” they didn’t just say yes—they took action.
By hosting the Bronco Off-Roadeo in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, Ford welcomed spouses like Ashley, Leslie, and 150 others from organizations like TAPS, the Travis Manion Foundation, and Guitars for Vets.
Photo: Courtesy of Ford
Ford created a space where military families and civilian neighbors could connect, share their stories, and access critical resources from organizations like the VA. As a military community, we’ve always supported one another. But when we see outsiders stepping up to help, we realize how much more can be accomplished with a village behind us. Leslie summed it up best: “Just like climbing those boulders in the Bronco, we can’t conquer our challenges alone. We need people outside the military community to stand with us and do their part, too.”
For too long, we’ve carried the burden of “I’ve got this” on our own. But it’s time to ask for help. And as Blue Star Families has learned, America wants to help — we just need to show them how. Together, we can blaze a new trail by guiding them toward the systems and resources our families need to thrive. A trail that drives meaningful change and ensures support for the families who keep our nation strong and mission-ready.