Aisha Malik
Just call her Google: Deployment and Military Outreach Coordinator Profile
Deployment and Military Outreach Coordinator Aisha Malik knows a little about everything. Whether she’s checking in with the spouse of a deployed member, presenting to the parents of a new recruit, or updating a unit on the services available to them through the Mainland BC MFRC, Aisha has to be in-the-know in order to direct families to the appropriate resources.
And if she doesn’t know the answer right away? She knows where to find it.
In typical Capricorn style, Aisha excels at research, but she takes it a step further. “At our MFRC, we have a saying that we have to better than Google. If we’re just giving people information they could find on Google, that’s not good enough. I always try to add a personal touch so families know I’m responding to their unique needs.”
“Bring a Little Joy into Families’ Lives”
Her empathy for military families stems from watching her mother cope with her former husband’s hectic navy schedule that included frequent deployments.
“I would see what my mom would go through and the resiliency and strength that comes from being a part of that type of family unit. There’s someone who’s away and someone at home, managing everything else. So it was nice for me to see that there is an organization to support military families (and my own mother).”
In her role at the Mainland BC MFRC, Aisha supports both military members and their families as they transition into the military and when they deploy. One of the ways she does this is by increasing their awareness of resources and services that pertain to their specific situations.
And she does so with personal flare.
"We’re not here in our business suits….we’re here to be a friend and support to our families. We want [our families] to feel that there is a warm presence here…that we have the knowledge and information and resources that can guide them. We don’t hold their hand, but we’re behind them. We want to establish that resilience and reinforce the message that we’re here should they need us. And that there are ways we can support them proactively and reactively.”
Aisha will often speak with parents of young, newly enlisted CAF members, who express concern over their child’s safety and wellbeing.
“I reassure them that their kids are supported, the military has supports. Then, I switch the focus to them. I ask, ‘What can we do to make you feel better?’ And if that just means a chat a couple of times a month, that’s what I’m here for.”
Knowledge is Power but Connection is Key
Not surprisingly, Aisha has extended her love of learning beyond her work. Whether she’s studying Astrology, learning about tarot cards and crystals, reading a self-improvement book, or visiting an art gallery, Aisha simply loves to learn. And it is this love that fuels her work.
“I’m always looking for something to keep me on my footing, looking ahead. I like to connect deeply within myself and my environment…Because I’m such a knowledge seeker, I want other people to have all the information they need.”
As part of her Outreach duties, Aisha conducts regular briefing at the various units, but meeting new members and/or their families is only the start of the connection for Aisha, as she makes it a priority to stay in touch, checking in on the families from time to time.
During the early days of COVID, for example, Mainland BC MFRC staff called all of their clients, individually, to see how they were doing. There were hundreds of calls, but Aisha reinforces that maintaining a connection with the families is critical, no matter the distance.
“Because our families are already situated so far from us, we have to make sure that we have an open connection with them. With COVID, it was so important that we reach out right away and ask how our clients were doing…we did that for the first several months of the shutdown.”
One of the things Aisha has learned through her work with BC Mainland MFRC, where she’s worked for over eight years, is how important it is to speak the same language as the person with whom you communicate. And by that she means ensuring there is common ground. For example, Aisha takes great care not to overwhelm a new military family with military jargon or industry-specific vocabulary; however, to create a connection with a military member, she may rely on that same vocabulary.
With all her clients, Aisha is a reassuring voice amidst what could otherwise be a confusing or unknown situation…something Google hasn’t yet been able to offer.
