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!
Author’s note: I am not a representative of Dogs on Deployment and information listed in this post is solely my opinion.
We lost our beloved 90-pound lap dog last August, just one week after learning we’d be PCSing. We were crushed by the unexpected turn of events in his health that led us to have to make a very difficult decision. Our son was heartbroken. We were leaving the only home he has known, along with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…and now our dog, too.
We didn’t have an option to bring a car with us to our new OCONUS location, unless of course we wanted to pay to ship it and have it brought up to Japanese emissions standards and drivability requirements on our own dime.
So, no option, really.
We are currently transitioning at my parents’ home in Kentucky between PCS moves from Michigan to South Carolina. All six of us (husband, four boys, and I) packed what we needed for a four-week stint between moves as we await our household goods delivery the first week of July.
We have been here for almost three weeks to date and have had the luxury of spending time with family and neighbors since the day we drove up the long gravel driveway.
Fort Carson is in one of the fastest growing areas of Colorado and is one of the most highly sought-after duty stations. While isn’t as easy on the wallet as, let’s say, Fort Sill, it still has a better cost of living than San Diego, and yet it’s just as easy on the eyes. The sunsets are gorgeous, the night skies are breathtaking, and the weather isn’t too shabby either. While they can still have snowstorms in May, it isn’t the frequency of Fort Drum, and the presence of snow isn’t anywhere near the consistency of Alaska.
When you marry a service member, your life often becomes more about them than you. Where you live is dependent on your service member.
You must know your service member’s social security number to make medical appointments and, eventually, you rattle it off without a second thought. When someone asks for your social, it seems harder to remember.
Your service member’s name is on your ID card along with your own. For a period of time, their social also appeared on your ID card.
You can’t take charge of your move or your house without a power of attorney specifically stating that you can. That can extend to financial aspects, too.
You quit jobs because following your service member is more important to you than your career. You frequently choose love over career progression.
All of these situations can make you feel extremely dependent on your spouse. It can spark the question, “What about me?”
Have you ever wondered if other milspouses struggle with the same experiences as you? How do your concerns compare to the concerns of other families? When using military or civilian services, have you caught yourself wishing they understood you better?
Here’s your chance. Help Blue Star Families by taking their survey here. The survey deadline is June 21.
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