Jared Sorensen knows what it means to dedicate his life to his country. The accomplished Major in the Utah National Guard has served faithfully in various capacities since he first joined the military at the age of 18. But he doesn’t do it alone. His wife, Patricia, and their three children: Meg (18), Cali (15), and Jovie (8) offer invaluable support and a reminder that military service is a family affair.
When people talk about the military, they typically focus on active service members who are deserving of the utmost respect and appreciation. That being said, it’s easy to forget the wives, children, and other family members who stay behind and quietly serve without recognition. Military family members may not spend time on the battlefield, but they know how tough it can be to miss and worry about a loved one while they faithfully tend to things at home.
Patricia has learned how to run the household and lead the family while her husband is away. When she and Jared first married, they both thought his military service would only last seven years, but he decided at the end of those seven years that he wasn’t ready to leave quite yet.
Now, just over 20 years later, Jared is still serving and Patricia is still standing right by his side. The couple and their children currently live in Santaquin, Utah. Jared serves as a Major in the Utah National Guard. His position is the Bilateral Affairs Officer (BAO) in the Utah National Guard State Partnership Program with Morocco.
“Every state in the United States has a ‘sister country’ that is part of the partnership,” Patricia explained. “The National Guard goes over (to Morocco) and has a relationship with the military in those countries. A lot of times, those countries are smaller and don’t have the training or equipment they need, so each state in the United States has a ‘sister country’ to help.”
Jared’s responsibilities as a BAO include developing and strengthening military relationships with Morocco, providing military training, and doing strategic planning. His position naturally requires him to spend significant time in Morocco. This month, his family will pack up their lives here in South Utah County and join him. They’ll call Morocco their home for two to three years before moving back. It’s just one of many sacrifices they have made together so far.
Being a military family isn’t easy. Patricia describes how difficult it can be to celebrate special occasions like holidays, dances, recitals, and concerts without having Jared there. When he is home, he’s a devoted family man and makes his loved ones his top priority, and Patricia said she is very grateful for that.
It’s not just the big celebrations that can be hard to experience without Jared, though. Patricia jokingly said that she’s probably done more repairs around the house than Jared has ever done. She’s learned over the years how to take care of things herself because her family relies on her to figure it out.
Fortunately, military family life isn’t all hard work and no play. Thanks to programs uniquely available to military families, the Sorensen girls have had opportunities they probably never would have enjoyed otherwise. From serving on a youth council for military families to participating in a Moroccan youth exchange program, the girls have done things most young people don’t ever get a chance to do. Through these opportunities, they have developed attributes like leadership, resilience, and the value of hard work. They also have a healthy sense of patriotism and appreciation for service members.
Despite the challenges of raising her kids alone some of the time, Patricia feels like she doesn’t sacrifice that much.
“I know there are families that have sacrificed a lot more,” she said. “You hear of dads that are deployed when their babies are being born, and things like that. I’ve never experienced that, but I think my family can empathize with the struggles other military families go through.”
Patricia also sees the way her husband’s dedicated service has improved him as a person. She passionately describes how she enjoys watching him grow, serve, and make life better for other people. She recognizes that military life hasn’t been easy for him either, but she’s grateful that he’s excited and happy about his job the majority of the time. Patricia says she recognizes a divine hand in all the choices her family has made up to this point.
Regarding her kids, Patricia sees firsthand how being in a military family has changed them for the better.
“My kids, just by hearing my husband’s stories and seeing some of the things he’s gone through, are a little more patriotic than most kids.” she said. “They would never hesitate to put their hand on their heart or take off their hat or sing the National Anthem just because they understand what it represents.”
Patricia said that while her children have been taught to show respect and love for the United States, she recognizes that there are those who may not. She said that when she helps with youth groups at Camp Williams, young people will sometimes ask her how she feels about athletes taking a knee during the National Anthem.
“You know what’s so cool? When they are choosing to be disrespectful to that flag, it’s kind of ironic because it shows exactly what that flag represents,” she said. “We live in a land where they get to choose to act like that. In some countries, you don’t get to choose.”
With the United States celebrating the Fourth of July, Paticial expressed her excitement for the holiday and the chance to celebrate freedom.
“You know, the Fourth of July is unlike anything anywhere else,” she said. “The things that we have – the stars and stripes, our military, our fireworks, all of it – that is what freedom is all about.”
This July, take a moment to think about and appreciate the sacrifices our soldiers make, while also remembering that behind nearly every soldier are families supporting and making sacrifices for the country they love. `
