Denise Cullum of 7th Marines Headquarters Regiment was the very first family readiness officer aboard the Combat Center. "I saw this as a way to give back," Denise said, adding, "I've been a military spouse for over 28 years."
Eleven of those years were spent stationed in Twentynine Palms, where her husband is now retired from the Marine Corps. Military life must have fit her family well. One of Denise's three children serves in the Navy, while another is medically retired from the Marine Corps.
Denise's FRO philosophy involves keeping her finger on the pulse of the families and the community offerings. "I really try to get spouses involved," she said. "There's no sense in reinventing the wheel. MCCS has a lot of activities for the families and I encourage my families to get involved. It's easier for families and spouses to get involved when they know someone." Being a FRO requires you to be on the job 24/7. It's all about the families and their needs.
During her "free" time, Denise enjoys spending time with her husband & grandchildren, working at their restaurant, decorating, sipping coffee from Jasmine's Espresso Cafe and attending MCCS bunko and bingo nights. |
