Oh… Military Life! This is likely what brought you to Mission: Milspouse in the first place. It is what binds the military community together with its wildly unique lifestyle.
Whether you are here to learn how to better live in this military life, how to support a loved one who is living the military lifestyle, or to see if this lifestyle is something you may like to be a part of, you have come to the right place.
Here at Mission: Milispouse the military lifestyle is what inspires us, drives our home lives, our moves, and our service member’s career, and gives us a camaraderie like no other. So welcome friend, take a seat and read more about all things that make us who we are and make the military lifestyle a life like no other!
The week before a deployment.
When I look back, I barely remember that week. By that time, we had done all the chores we needed to do to prepare.
We had our paperwork in order.
His stuff was packed.
We had our new phone plan set up…
We had done it all.
Months and months of brainstorming and planning every way possible to prepare ourselves, and we had finished.
It took a joyous, fast-paced (COVID-style) courthouse wedding to open my eyes to the importance of knowing what season of life you are in.
If military life had a season cycle, it would start in spring with the first duty station, followed by the career building frenzy of summer. All that experience and education would be put to good use in the fall and finally end in winter with the last duty station, and eventually . . . retirement.
The perfect sunny day hits after two rainy weekends and a string of tropical storms. He wakes up happy because it’s day two of golf plans with friends. She wakes up happy because she thinks they’re having a day date full of sunshine and tea.
Disconnected, much? I’d say so.
Many of you might be wondering why I’m wearing my wedding dress on a seemingly random Thursday. Well, two reasons: life is short (so why not?) and today, as you might have gathered, I am talking all about military marriage—specifically the lessons I’ve learned since saying “I do” to my infantryman 10 years ago.
I joke that military marriage years are like “dog years,” so really we are somewhere between 50 and 70 years together based on all of the life experiences we’ve had in the last decade.
I’m not sure where you are, but here at Fort Drum, fall starts early. It comes without much warning-—one day I’m in cotton shorts and a t-shirt, and the next, I need jeans and an oversized sweatshirt.
Some of you may find that frustrating.
Not enough time to switch the summer clothes out for the chilly weather wardrobe.
Not enough time spent splashing in the pool (But let’s be honest, there hasn’t been a ton of that this summer).
But it doesn’t have to be frustrating. Instead of seeing fall as an inconvenience, you could see it as an opportunity.
If you are looking for the American pioneering spirit, you can find it all around you as a military spouse.
During a recent luncheon with my community and spouses’ club, I had the pleasure of meeting two new Army spouses. These two ladies were a perfect blend of similar and differing Army experiences. Martha was at her second duty station, like myself, and Amanda had moved many times.
All three of us have children, and the discussion turned to the unique experiences our children have while one or both of their parents serve in the Armed Forces.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904