Nominations Open for 2011 Military Spouse of the Year Award

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Military Spouse magazine announces that it is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Military Spouse of the Year (MSOY) award at www.milspouse.com/2011msoy. The Military Spouse of the Year honoree represents the "force behind the force" -- the more than 1 million military spouses who are unsung heroes maintaining the home front, giving back selflessly to their communities, and providing support to our nation's troops. Often, these spouses also have full-time jobs and raise families.

In recognition of their countless contributions, Military Spouse magazine will select one winner from each service branch and ultimately select one overall winner. The 2011 MSOY will be announced in the June issue of Military Spouse magazine and honored at the fourth annual MSOY awards lunch in May 2011 in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with national Military Spouse Appreciation Week. The MSOY will make public and media appearances, write a monthly column in Military Spouse magazine, and maintain a blog on milspouse.com during her/his reign, which will last for one year.

Nominees must be the spouse of a current member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Criteria for selecting the recipient include: impact on community change, volunteerism, personal sacrifice, education and career pursuits, and other military spouse-related efforts. Last year's award generated hundreds of nominations from across the country, culminating in the selection of Air Force wife Lori Bell as 2010 MSOY.  Since her selection this past May, Mrs. Bell has proudly represented her community with appearances on Good Morning America, Fox & Friends and CNN.

To submit a nomination, go to www.milspouse.com/2011msoy.  Self nominees are encouraged.  The nomination period runs through Oct. 6, 2010.  The MSOY Advisory Panel will review all submissions and select ten finalists from each military service branch.  Reader voting will help determine branch winners and ultimately the overall winner.

"This award is our opportunity to thank all military spouses for their invaluable contributions to our military families and to our national security," said Babette Maxwell, Military Spouse magazine co-founder and executive editor.

About Military Spouse

Military Spouse magazine and www.milspouse.com is the leading national magazine and online destination for the nation's 1.1 million current and 20 million former military spouses.

SOURCE Military Spouse magazine