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Amanda (HawkinsFlight) from River Oaks, TX
Marine
and
Amanda Hawkins currently hails from Fort Worth, Texas, with a beautiful view of the
Naval Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and its flightline. She is a ’93 graduate of the
University of Oklahoma in Elementary Education. A year later, she married her college-
sweetheart and love of her life, Mark- a United States Marine Corp Aviator and NROTC
OU grad- and their family adventures began.
Growing up, Amanda had moved 8 times, within three states, between kindergarten and
her
senior year. Now, the Marine Corps would move them an additional 8 times within 5
states throughout Mark’s 20 years of service.
As a Marine wife, Amanda was very involved with the Key Volunteer Network, the
Family Readiness Program (both were programs for the immediate families of active
duty Marines), and Christian Women’s Fellowship.
Over the years, Amanda has worn many teaching hats: public, private cooperatives, and
student tutor. She was also a group fitness instructor for the YMCA for 17 years.
But she is most proud of the Hawkins’ three fabulous adult children (boy-girl-boy), who
she had the privilege of homeschooling, PreK-12. Their youngest son was married last
May, and they are expecting their first baby.
As of 2019, a new adventure began…being the mother of Marines. Amanda
candidly says it is absolutely NOT the same as being married to a Marine!
The Hawkins’ two sons are following in their dad’s footsteps, having been awarded
aviation contracts in their respective commissioning programs-
Officer Candidate Course and Platoon Leaders Class.
The first time Amanda was introduced to MarineParents, her oldest son had enlisted
and was being shipped to MCRD San Diego. She often perused the website for
informative tidbits, helpful timelines, etc. It was a lifeline to all things USMC, often
finding herself getting lost down the “rabbit holes” of time. Two years into his enlistment,
he decided to complete his college degree and “put in a package” to become an officer.
So, upon completing his enlistment, he separated from the Marine Corps, submitted his
commissioning package and was selected for the OCC program.
In the meantime, his younger brother had applied and was accepted into the PLC
program, beating his big brother to Officer Candidates School.
When little brother was leaving for OCS in 2024, Amanda re-discovered MarineParents.
Thank goodness, because she found herself anxiously jumping online to see how
families were feeling, where they were chiming in from, what thoughts were shared or
questions were being asked. And let’s face it, were there any NEW PICTURES?? Not
only
was MarineParents encouraging to her personally, she found herself saying, “Hey, I
know the answer to that question! I would love to be able to help encourage other
families going through these shared experiences.” Now, here she is!
Having lived this Marine Corps life for over 30 years, Amanda’s best advice: put your
expectations aside- remember there are no such things as weekends and holidays- and
SEMPER GUMBY! Blessed are the flexible, for they are not easily bent out of shape-
said someone really smart!
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