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Esra Mills

@esramills

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⭐️Executive Director | 🇺🇸Army Family | ❤️Mom Life 🪖Military Higher Ed
🎓 BA, MHR
✈️ Life between duty stations & cultures 📍🇩🇪
(This isn’t LinkedIn!)

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Adding Panelist to my Bio 🙌

Very grateful to be part of Assoc. of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs® (@amseagency )’s fireside chat panel at the Building it Bold Summit.

Thank you @monijefferson for giving me a platform to speak about my passion: Higher Education, (foreign born) MilSpo Education and Career Development, my career - and how I have used my lived experience and social media influence to help others.

If you have your own business or are in the early stages, you want to connect with this amazing group of ladies.
And if you’re a foreign born military spouse like me, managing more than just military move transitions but also cultural differences, language barriers, and career issues - I’m your person! Let’s chat!

#milspouse #militarycommunity #militaryspouseemoloyment #highereducation #ausgewandert taken in Dallas, Texas by @esramills

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8 days ago

New role - same mission ✈️🌎🎓🪖

I’m honored to step into the role of Executive Director, Europe Operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - and honestly, I’m still pinching myself 😄

But more than the title, what moves me is what this moment represents for me as a military spouse and mother: a seat at a table that women have had to fight hard to reach. In academia. In leadership. Pushing through moments of self-doubt, when you feel your life is taking a back seat, wondering if you can make it all work while raising kids and building a life each new duty station at a time.

I didn’t get here alone. I got here because of a support system of family, colleagues, friends and mentors who believed in me before I believed in myself, and because of leadership before me who pushed the door open a little wider 🙏

So if you’re early in your journey (or in the middle of it) and wondering if there’s space for you, even as a military spouse, I want you to know: There is! Keep going. The sky is quite literally not the limit here 🌍

Did the last four days at @awagleadership maybe also lead to me creating this post? 100% YES - because when you surround yourself with women who empower women, you leave with a new sense of purpose and commitment to your community.

#WomenInLeadership #NewChapter #militaryspouse #highereducation #career taken in Germany by @esramills

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6 months ago

I’m honored to share that I’ve been nominated the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Spouse of the Year.

(Ok this feels SO unreal, but here is my LinkedIn post, 100% copy/ paste 😅 because otherwise y’all get the sappy Esra here on IG👇)

I am beyond grateful for every single one of you that shared my nomination and voted for me!
[As a foreign born MilSpo… y’all don’t even understand 😭❤️]

Whether it was Military Higher Ed across several duty stations for over a decade or now as an Operations Manager with a Federal Contractor where I get to support military spouse employment and manage teams across installations in Europe … I feel blessed that I had (and still have!) amazing mentors, inspiring leaders, and that my career has allowed me to do good within our community. It’s what drives me every day!

I also feel humbled to be a part of this amazing 2026 cohort consisting of powerhouses within themselves who strengthen our military families around the globe 🙏

Having people who believe in you and then paying it forward is what it’s all about! That is why I will continue to advocate for military spouse employment and continuing education.
_______________

Ok, I have to add a little sappy note (because this is not LinkedIn)…. You guys!!! 🤯

After the challenges of moving back here and the ups and downs we went through last year I feel like 2026 couldn’t be off to a better start! When I tell you growth happens outside your comfort zone… 💯 😮‍💨

#MilSpo #armyfamily #grateful
#2026MSOY #afimsoy2026 taken in Kaiserslautern, Germany by @esramills

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8 months ago

There’s no Drive-Thru Starbucks in Germany. Not a big deal… but I do miss the convenience. On a positive note I probably saved hundreds of 💵 by bringing my own coffee to the office!

Drive-Thru Coffee Shops, Pharmacies and even frozen margaritas (was that just a Texas thing? 😄)… the European mind cannot comprehend.

#coffeeislife #ausgewandert #germanamerican #oconuslife #stationedingermany taken in Dallas, Texas by @esramills

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2 days ago

… and you don’t even think twice about returning your empty bottles and bringing bags and boxes when you get groceries on a Saturday morning 😄

Nobody bags your groceries for you. Shopping bags cost extra. You seperate your old bottles, and return them to get money back, and you better don’t forget to throw the Altglas (old glass bottles) away on Saturdays because if you do it on a Sunday you can get fined because Sonntag ist Ruhetag.

More than 2 years after moving back these things are normal to me again but it took my brain a while (a long while) to get settled here again 😄

#oconus #armyfamily #lifeingermany #ausgewandert #pcstogermany by @esramills

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2 days ago

You can have the big life, the kids and the career. You just have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Become comfortable with being misunderstood or misinterpreted. Become comfortable with a smaller circle because it equals less distractions. Focus on you, your potential, and mute all the negative voices that try to keep your dreams and your aspirations small.

When I left Germany in 2013 and moved to the U.S., I knew people talked behind my back. I knew they thought I was not going to make it, come back a year later or “just” have kids (not my words - theirs). Little did they know that their doubts became my fuel and their gossip became my motivation. When you leave everything behind and start a new life in a new country because you follow your heart - you DON’T know what you’re getting yourself into. You just have some heart shaped pink glasses on and know that the universe will work it out for you. But guess what - the universe doesn’t do its tricks if you are not willing to put in the work! So instead it sitting at a window one day thinking “what if” - go do the thing that scares you the most. Because that’s where the magic will happen for you! That’s how you create YOUR BIG LIFE. And I think there’s nothing more attractive than a person who is following their goals. 🧿✨❤️

#workingmom #militaryspouse #militaryfamily #ausgewandert #deutscheindenusa by @esramills

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7 days ago

So excited and honored to speak at the upcoming @awagleadership Rheinland Pfalz Seminar.

If you’re in the KMC area, you should absolutely join this event for personal and professional development as well as for networking.

I attended my first area seminar last fall and was immediately impressed by the spirit of our community, the topics and presentations, and the mission behind @awagleadership.

Whether you’re active duty, civilian, a family member or military spouse - this event is for you! Open for all ID Card holders.

Hope to see you there! 🤩

#militarycommunity #stationedingermany #kmc #militaryspouse #leadership

AWAG OCONUS NETWORKING COMMUNITY by @esramills

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12 days ago

… but what if it will? ✨do not be afraid✨

#trusttheuniverse #faith #ausgewandert #everythinghappensforareason #workingmom by @esramills

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4 days ago

… if that’s you and you’re thinking “I’m not even done, yet” - then read this:

Stop shrinking yourself to fit into places that make you doubt your goals and motivation. If you can’t share your vision because you fear the reaction or they reply with doubt - know it’s a reflection of their insecurities.

You know you got it in you. Otherwise the Universe wouldn’t have given you these dreams! ✨

Find your people. Build your tribe.

That’s why I’m here. I’m so excited for tomorrow’s MORE THAN A MILSPOUSE SUMMIT by @amseagency & @monijefferson - together with @laurasearly / @wiseadviseteam, @the_real_marahlago/ @milconcareers and @lemonstolegacies / @getgriefymagazine / @milsposocialco

You gotta believe in yourself. And then you find the people that believe in you, too.
…
I left our speaker social this evening feeling so excited for this weekend!

🌟 Build bold
🌟 Connect deep
🌟 Thrive together

#milspo #dallas #skyline #leadership #goals taken in Downtown Dallas, Texas by @esramills

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10 days ago

A whole Pivot Princess 👑 💁🏼‍♀️🤍

#militaryspouse #workingmom #careerdevelopment #armyfamily careergoals by @esramills

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5 days ago

Yesterday filled my cup and made my heart so happy ❤️🌟🤠🇺🇸

I went on a trip down memory lane, back to Fort Hood.… a different kind of homecoming ❤️ we called this place home for more than three years and it was my favorite duty station out of all. I’ve been lucky to never feel homesick for Germany in all of my years in the U.S., but when we left Texas and got stationed in Germany, I missed this place so much. The people, the sun, wide open spaces… but it’s always the community that makes a place feel like home.

I’ve been blessed with with the best when it comes to friends and mentors and so I just had to go see my former boss Tonda (my inspiration) and my @miamore4485 at the Army Education Center.

Obligatory Starbucks Drive Thru experience included (gosh I missed this 😄).

I also went to see our old home. Weird… because I honestly thought I’d feel more but it was just there. Still the same house. Once our first purchased home, now someone else’s blessing (hopefully), but a place that still holds so many memories.

And as we continue to move, to grow, to call other places home, there is this realization that this military life certainly comes with its challenges - but also with its blessings! You will leave pieces of your heart in many many places. And how blessed are we to have this mosaic of memories ❤️

#armylife #militaryfamily #ausgewandert #milspo #texas taken in Killeen, Texas by @esramills

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11 days ago

Tbh with you, if one year ago you would have told me that this Fall I’m going to have 3 public speaking opportunities, I would have not believed you!

But this is how I feel after Day 1 of ✨More than a Military Spouse✨ Summit 😄 especially being back here in Texas with a purpose, a plan, and on a panel! (Pics will follow!)

Thank you @monijefferson for reeling me in and for the opportunity to speak about what I’m passionate about!

@amseagency

#militaryspouse #amse #leadership #worktrip #meanttobe taken in Dallas, Texas by @esramills

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9 days ago