Military Spouse Community (Lucky to be a Milspouse)    

I see it play out in my life, time and time again. Military spouses are there for each other.

Military spouses are the ones I can turn to who understand what I am going through, who cheer me on, and who want to see me thrive more than anyone else.

We show up during the hard things and the good things. We make our own little community wherever we go. 

It has been especially true for some of us who are on the older side of this “military spouse life”.

When Dustin enlisted in the late 90s, I remember the community showing up for one another being a lot more prevalent than I see today, but it is still there.

Finding it can be elusive, but for those of us who find it, we feel the presence of genuine care and support. 

I was talking to a young spouse recently, whose spouse has only been enlisted for a few years.

They felt disconnected from the military community.

They suggested if events were happening in the military spouse community, one must be “in the know” to know how to access that information.

That got me thinking.

How are we communicating about events?

Does the military still offer educational classes to new military spouses?

Earlier in my husband’s career, we often had “welcome to the base” classes that hooked us up with all the resources we needed to thrive at that base location.

Does this exist today?

Bases should prioritize integrating spouses into their new duty stations so that they have easier access to the community necessary to care for themselves and their families. 

Spouse clubs were very popular in the past. They need to make a comeback, especially by offering groups that young people can relate to and join for social interaction.

Today’s younger spouses do not use Facebook as much as we older folk do, and I think that maybe we need to offer brochures again even though we live in a digital age.

Making them available to new people in our units to help advertise what is available to new spouses who just want to be a part of what is going on at their new base. 

I make it a point to try to connect with spouses as I get acquainted with my new duty stations.

This can be difficult with everyone having different schedules. I go for coffee, lunch, or dinner with different spouses and try to attend local events that fit into my schedule.

I also do not do everything there is to do. I am a total homebody when I want to be.

Having a spouse assigned to the Pentagon has been a different experience because we do not live in our little base community, instead, everyone is spread out across the DMV.

The cool part is having so many friends who are spouses of different branches, but the hard part has been feeling less connected to my Space Force community. 

My life is forever intertwined with other military spouses and this community.

Forever impacted by the good that milspouses do for one another. There is a general sense of, “we are in this together” that is life-changing and impactful.

Outside of this community, I am not sure this attitude exists except in families. 

I am very grateful for the life experience and community that this life has given me.

I am lucky to be a Milspouse! 

Editor’s Note: We want to hear how LUCKY you are to be a Milspouse! Head over to our website, or submit your entry to our “Lucky To Be  A Milspouse ” Blog Contest. All entries can be sent to kathleen@missionmilspouse.org