Hundreds of military spouses from across the country gathered for an incredible display of appreciation and support as Instant Teams hosted the “Battle of the Military Spouses,” an epic paintball event that brought together the community for a day of camaraderie, excitement, and well-deserved recognition. This groundbreaking event, which took place on May 2, 2024 at BlackOps Paintball just outside Fort Liberty, NC military installation, was the largest of its kind ever organized, setting a new standard for celebrating and uplifting the military spouse community.
The “Battle of the Military Spouses” was filled with incredible energy as participants, led by Team Captains from Instant Teams, Twelve Million Plus, R.Riveter, RHF, Team RWB, Spouse-ly, Moore and Co, and Lexi Coppinger, had the opportunity to connect with each other, form new bonds, and take a well-deserved break from the stresses of military life. Spouses traveled from all over North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and more just to take part in this one-of-a-kind event. Special guests, including players from the WNXL, were present to coach spouses on the paintball field. Empire Paintball‘s expertise was instrumental in ensuring an unforgettable experience for all participants, making this event possible.
“Today was so much fun! Hopefully military spouses will continue to play paintball and continue to bring more spouses out to play paintball with them,” said Alex Del Mar of the New Jersey High Rollers WNXL team.
In addition to the paintball activities, the event featured a variety of military spouse-owned vendors, showcasing their unique products and services. This provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to support and connect with fellow military spouse entrepreneurs.
History in the Making
In a historic first, Operation Gratitude, known for sending millions of care packages to service members, was on site to donate hundreds of bags to military spouses. This marks the first time Operation Gratitude has extended their support to the military spouse community in this way.
“I have been a spouse for a long time. This was the first time I have ever felt seen,” shared military spouse Lexi C. about her experience at the event.
The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including BMW, National Van Lines, TarHeels Communications, Everything Pines Real Estate – Kristen Morraco, NC4ME, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Columbia Southern University, East Coast Insurance, BlackOps Paintball, Instant Teams, Empire Paintball, Texas Roadhouse, Sam’s Club and more.
“So many of the spouses walked in unsure of what exactly they were getting into, many coming alone who didn’t know anyone, but took a chance on our event,” said Jen Martin, Digital Marketing Strategist at Instant Teams. “By the end of the day, spouses were walking out with arms around each others’ necks, laughing and exchanging numbers. It was an incredible sight to see.”
“Hearing the responses of participants about how much they loved meeting others, felt seen and celebrated while also having some serious fun together – this is why we do what we do. Supporting military spouses is our mission. From community building, resources and employment opportunities, we will continue this mission for all Twelve Million military spouses! We are better together and just getting started,” said Kate Williams, Community Initiatives Program Manager at Instant Teams.
Making an Impact
Founded by two military spouses, Instant Teams is a leading Customer Experience (CX) talent marketplace dedicated to the financial well-being of military families. Through their suite of talent solutions and extensive pool of pre-vetted talent, they have significantly improved the financial well-being of military families, generating over $40 million in economic impact.
In addition to workforce solutions, Instant Teams’ verified military spouse network, Twelve Million Plus (12M+), provides digital connection and resources through its app and hosts a free co-working and community space for events at its headquarters in Southern Pines, NC.
The “Battle of the Military Spouses” event exemplifies Instant Teams’ unwavering dedication to supporting and uplifting the military spouse community. To learn more about Instant Teams and future events, visit instantteams.com.
Photo credit: Bandits Photo by Andrea Gorman