Month of the Military Kid 2023: Q&A with Briley Rossiter

Briley Rossiter
Briley posing for a headshot for her campus job as a Peer Wellness Coach, Summer 2023.

In recognition of Month of the Military Kid, we’d like to introduce some of our exceptional military kids. Meet Briley Rossiter!

Briley is a fourth-year student at UW-Madison studying psychology and French. After she graduates this May, she hopes to work as a Teaching Assistant in France for a year before returning to the States to pursue a master’s in social work to become a mental health counselor. In her free time, Briley enjoys running, writing, and volunteering.

Q: What brought you to UW-Madison?
A: After spending most of my life in Virginia Beach, I was ready to spread my wings a little and go out of state for college. Thanks to the Yellow Ribbon Program and my dad’s Post 9/11 GI Bill®, I had the incredible opportunity to come to UW-Madison. Originally, I was pursuing geology, then switched to psychology after my sophomore year. I love Madison, and I’m so happy with my decision!

Briley and her Dad
Briley and her dad, Major (Retired) Kim “Rooster” Rossiter, following his retirement ceremony in Fall 2018.

Q: To be a military kid means to have a direct family connection to someone who has served or is currently serving, often a parent or guardian. Can you share more about who the service member is in your life? 
A: My dad, Major (Retired) Kim “Rooster” Rossiter, served 25 years as an intelligence specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is also a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a former instructor at Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA. Since retiring in 2018, my dad has worked full-time as founder and president of Ainsley’s Angels; a national non-profit that facilitates inclusion for people with disabilities through adaptive endurance running. He is also a Spartan leader with the Travis Manion Foundation where he engages in local service and character building with other military-connected people.

Q: How do you describe your military connection to others?
A: I proudly tell people that my dad is a Marine Corps veteran. Also, my younger brother, Kamden, will serve in the U.S Coast Guard after he graduates high school this year.

Q: What have you learned from being a military kid?
A: I admire my dad more than anyone I’ve ever met. Seeing his discipline, dedication, and generosity in the Marine Corps has made me into the strong and resilient person I am today. From an early age, being a military kid opened my eyes to the great sacrifices and hardships that many people face. This perspective has shaped my worldview and instilled in me a huge sense of gratitude and pride for the life I live.

The Rossiter family
Pictured (L-R) Lori, Kamden, Ainsley, Kim, and Briley following Kim “Rooster” Rossiter’s promotion to Major in October 2011.

Q: Depending on your personal experiences, growing up as a military kid may or may not be a large part of your identity. Would you say your experiences as a military kid are unique? If so, can you share why?
A: Unlike many military kids, I did not move around much when I was young. My family has lived in Virginia Beach, VA since 2008, which afforded me the unique opportunity to attend the same school from grades 1-12. My dad was stationed permanently in Virginia Beach per the Exceptional Family Member program because my younger sister, Ainsley, had a terminal illness and needed stable care.

Q: What do you wish more people knew about being a military kid?
A: As I’ve grown older and moved away from home, I’ve grown to appreciate the vast number of military-connected people who live around the world. In Madison I’ve been fortunate to connect with many of these people, both through University Veterans Services and through Team Red, White & Blue (RWB). This community has reminded me of home in the best ways and given me a sense of security and connection that I am hugely grateful for. I wish more people knew about the life-long, positive impacts that being a military kid can have – from the values it instills, to the opportunities and connections it opens up.