things military spouses should know

It takes work, yes, but any marriage requires that. The Coast Guard doesn't always get the same attention as other U.S. military branches, so here are nine things you should know about its spouses. Health care benefits. 30) Civilians might pity us, but on the contrary, most of us think this life is amazing and diverse. Any violation of OPSEC could be harmful to you or your spouse and his/her unit. Thank you so much for watching! Surviving spouses of veterans may also be eligible for up to $13,560 a year toward long-term care costs. It’s the fall, which means we’re talking about holiday care packages. Save at the commissary. 1. The military was just part of the package. Don’t wear athletic clothing. Though it may feel like it sometimes, there is always someone else who is going through something... Don’t define yourself as solely a military spouse. There may be a number of things Tricare covers that you didn’t know about. In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Polinsky interviews Ashlee, a previous military spouse, on things she wished she had known before marrying into the military. By Rebecca Alwine (Photo: DVIDS) Few things in the military are celebrated with as much excitement as promotions. The truth of the matter is that most people are so far removed from military communities and those that serve that they truly don’t understand what a deployment, TAD/TDY, or PCS is like. “You chose this life.” What a military spouse or partner chose, first and foremost, was a particular servicemember to spend the rest of their lives with, and they continue to chose them every single day. The Racitis said there are five things that a spouse dealing with PTSD in marriage should know. Be prepared for your next relocation and utilize the resources available to you. There are certain things that every military spouse, regardless of branch, should know about their husband or wife and the lifestyle they’re in. While you might not have even bought trick-or-treat candy yet, it’s time to start, If you’ve ever been through a military deployment, chances are, you’ve run into Love From Home on Pinterest or Google at least once! Couples can receive up to $25,020 a year. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Here are 18 things Military wives (secretly) want to say to their husbands. If you love Jo, My Gosh!, never miss a post by subscribing to my newsletter! It’s afforded us so many opportunities that we would otherwise miss. Marc, a veteran, has written a book on the subject, “I Just Want To See Trees: A Journey Through PTSD.”. 1. Space-A is a program that allows service members and dependents to travel for free on military flights if an open/unassigned seat is accessible. They offer up to $4000 in tuition assistance for online training and certification programs. While discussing with other military spouses, I found that we want to say a lot of things in common which is where this list came from. Video Player is loading. For the USO. You can find resources on social media for almost every duty station that is built solely for making connections and meeting new people. It’s one thing for a new military spouse to not be educated enough, but often the milso stereotype comes from mistakes that even seasoned spouses still make. That’s not fair, and it certainly isn’t helpful in making that gap any smaller. I was also 19 and an airhead. Learn more about what they are and how a financial coach can help. You have to be flexible. Military One Source is much more than just a 24/7 support line. We’ve traveled the world, experienced emotional highs and lows, creatively made tough situations work, and met the most amazing people along the way. Key Spouses are something I’ve never heard of until I moved here. Your email address will not be published. Some resources may be useful to you in the future. It reflects positively on you for making an effort to understand how the military works. 20-20-20 spouses retain their TRICARE medical coverage, commissary, and exchange shopping privileges, and access to other base amenities as long as they do not remarry. As a Marine wife, I only knew some of these. We have our own dreams and aspirations that we adapt to fit this lifestyle. There are two things military spouses should know: 1) change happens and 2) your military community has support to help you make the most of it. So many families in the military community have been there, done that. This is crucial information in the military. I love believing the best in people– I’m an inner city. by Lizann Lightfoot. Take the time to learn some military lingo and understand your spouse’s job. Join me for this on-your-own-time masterclass. And it’s OK to get to know us, we are pretty awesome people!” -Sybil from Mamas and Coffee. Thanks! You can access online programs and resources to help you decide if prime or select is the right plan for you. In honor of Veterans Day, we caught up with professional services firm and top-ranked veteran employer PwC for insights and recommendations on hiring and developing veterans and military spouses. But there are a few dumb things that only military spouses do, such as: Share. Did you know there are ways to keep military life running smoothly by simply being aware of the resources and information available to you? Want to know a secret on how to save even more? Military spouses are your biggest asset. You have to be resilient. Please consult professionals when making decisions. December 2018. This is solely for military spouses so you can use this schooling resource from anywhere in the world. However, there are the things new military spouses SHOULD know: navigating TriCare, finding the right childcare, educational opportunities, support groups, etc…but, here are other things (personal things) that might also prepare you for journey. 12 Mistakes Military Spouses Should Avoid Making A lot of these are less of a rule or law but more of basic knowledge and common sense. Military life has so many challenges but the only thing I was focused on when I married my husband was just that. Know your benefits and how to use them. You have to be tolerant. You should say hi. While some places only offer discounts to your spouse who is active duty, there are tons of ways you can get discounts that are primarily for military spouses. Most of the time, the base does not have tax on its products, so many active duty and retired veterans shop at the commissary. You can travel to various locations that have terminals for military flights. With the reduction of our active duty force structure, the national guard is being called on to deploy just as frequently.” -Brooke, “It’s so much harder than I ever could have imagined.” -Becca, “I did NOT know what I was getting myself into. The most positive trait that you'll inherit while being a military spouse is the ability to be versatile. By the way, this post may contain affiliate links and this blog is for entertainment purposes only. While common marriage advice holds that a person should place his or her marriage above all else, military spouses often don't. Apparently there are certain ways to dress when shopping at the commissary. Moving so often can make it difficult for military spouses to stay on a consistent career path. You can always find great tips and tricks on surviving deployments online. Or that ‘you knew what you were getting in to when you married him’ is not appropriate to say when I’m having a bad day while he’s deployed.” -Brhe Anne, “When my husband is gone the LAST thing I want to talk about is his chances of dying while deployed.” -Cortnie, “Sometimes I have no control over when I can and can’t work if I can’t find child care on short notice because…we are stationed nowhere near home or friends.” -Manda, “Being ‘just National Guard’ is NOT what it used to be. Find programs and services at your local installation. The discounts are one of the great benefits of being a military family. Yes, there are certain things you might want to abide by and mistakes to avoid to represent your spouse in the best way. You won’t have any problem finding advice from others. See if this grant for career advancement will help you be successful in the future. Deployment resources are accessible everywhere. “The military lifestyle changed me into a better, stronger person.” -Trista from A Purpose Driven Wife. 10. I’d like to think there are a couple of things special to military life that military spouses and significant others should do before it’s over. A Key Spouse Mentor is a representative of the Family Readiness Unit, appointed by the unit commander. The holidays are coming up, and fast. Here are some of the top related articles! It does count as a military ID, so anywhere that says you can get a discount with military identification, you should be able to attain it. It will come to an end one day before you know it. Your service member will love them. 10 Things Military Spouses Won’t Tell You About Deployment. Many families face deployments regularly or may be facing them for the very first time. That’s especially true when it comes to job-finding and advancing your career. How could we possibly expect everyone to understand the military life when they haven’t lived it themselves? Beyond things like rank and who your spouse reports to. Not many know about the price matching at the exchanges/commissaries either. We wouldn’t change it for the world.” -Lauren from The Military Wife and Mom, “We don’t expect, or feel entitled, or want sympathy or special treatment, if anything we are just looking for the chance to be accepted into the communities we join so we can do life together like everyone else.” -Kim from She Is Fierce, Download 100 Open When Letter Topics! They provide guidance and more resources for many aspects of military life. And sometimes I just suck at keeping in touch with friends or family and I’m bad at asking for help when I really need it.” -Keating, “It never ‘gets easier’ to say goodbye and you never ‘get used to’ being apart.” -Cindy, “The military lifestyle changed me into a better, stronger person.” -Trista from A Purpose Driven Wife, “We may move a lot, but we do like making new friends. after all, your ID is government issued by the DoD. The wives page I am in right now is where I first met my close friends that I have now. And it’s OK to get to know us, we are pretty awesome people!” -Sybil from Mamas and Coffee, “Although we sacrifice a lot, we are still very driven individuals. While some places only offer discounts to your spouse who is active duty, there are tons of ways you can get discounts that are primarily for military spouses. Check out Everyone Serves. We sacrifice everything everyday for the small luxuries that we are given.” -Trisha, “We’re no stronger than anyone else. There is a list of rules for when your spouse is in uniform. Not sure what to read next? This Week: Top 10 Things Employers Should Know About Veterans and Military Spouses. I’d like, This deployment has really forced me to remind myself how kind people can be. We don’t just go with the flow. MyCAA is available to qualifying military spouses who want to get a jump start on their careers. Your email address will not be published. For any difference greater than $10, you’ll have to bring in an ad for proof and they will adjust it for you at customer service, just like that. Here are 10 Events Military Spouses Should Experience At Least Once. Military spouses serve as the backbone of our armed forces. 2/28/2021 0 Comments New to being a military spouse? There are certain requirements you need to qualify, for example, your spouse’s rank in the military. As mentioned before, Military One Source can help guide your family, but there are many more ways to make the move as smooth as possible. They say “loose lips sink ships.” Don’t help the enemy put the pieces together. ” -Amanda from Away We Run, “That being a self-employed military wife doesn’t mean I don’t have a desire for a normal career. Hopefully most states have already gone through their “growing pains” in adapting to and adopting the MSRRA, but that does not mean there aren’t going to be questions. So many people are downers on marriages in the military, but I’m here to tell you it CAN be done. Don’t be afraid to reach out, even get ideas on care packages. These types of discussions always spark the debate about whether or not you should advertise the fact that you’re a military spouse. The military-civilian gap is real. In fact, there are quite a few etiquette rules when a service member is in uniform that spouses should know. More ways to save and budget as a military family. It is still a great option if you need to head somewhere last minute and don’t want to spend thousands, especially with being stationed overseas. By understanding Operation Security, you can do your part to help protect and defend our nation. You are not alone. I advise staying organized throughout the process. Here’s everything milspouses should know about promotion ceremonies. Each and every promotion is a big deal and a special day … There are some proper etiquette rules or manners that military spouses should follow and you may not know that some even exist. Welcome back! “We may move a lot, but we do like making new friends. It’s important to educate yourself, especially as a new military spouse. Not only can you use a rewards card, but you can also take advantage of the coupons and “hidden” deals. By following these rules you shouldn’t post information like deployment dates and locations, troop movements, unit information, or job title. The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act of 2009 (MSRRA) is now law. After all, why would they? Most frequently, former spouses who qualify for military benefits under the 20-20-20 rule are the spouses of retirees. You can read more about keeping your family safe here. When you get married you have 90 days to enroll and/or change health plans. Time and time again, I’ve heard comments like these from friends and strangers online and in real life. 1 Military Marriage Success Rates One of the things every military wife should know is that military marriages DO work out. LinkedIn for Beginners. This site, its contents, and all social media is for entertainment purposes only. Unlike some laws (gravity, for instance), MSRRA is not necessarily very easy to understand. Inside: 12 businesses that provide free products and services that every family should know about . You can check out the “dress code” for shopping on base. This includes a few guidelines on PDA or walking on the left side of your spouse to ensure he/she can salute if needed. You have to be extroverted, or at least sociable enough to fool all the pools of new people you're thrown in with on a regular basis. It’s wonderful to have you here! “[It’s] not about ‘when we can’ or ‘when we want’ to do things (like trips to visit family, even sometimes medical appointments or so) everything its about when our spouse is ‘able to. There are a few downsides to traveling Space-A such as uncertainty. If you see a military spouse, and you don’t know what to say, and you’re afraid all your questions will come out entirely wrong, a simple phrase of encouragement will make her entire day. It’s important you understand what they are especially if you are new to military life. The best part… it’s free! If you enjoyed this video please leave a comment below! We keep a PCS binder for our upcoming OCONUS move. There are two things military spouses should know: 1) change happens and 2) your military community has support to help you make the most of it. We simply take life’s circumstances and work with them.” -Pamela from the Coastie Couple, “Military life is hard and challenging, but it’s also the greatest adventure of your life. 8 Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Military Spouse or Partner. You might be surprised to learn how many of us are veterans. That could result in the homecomings being delayed and nobody wants that. after all, your ID is government issued by the DoD. Sonja is a licensed professional counselor. 1) A Military Ball 45.6K shares. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Go out of your way to meet people. Know your benefits and don’t let them go to waste! I am in many more groups of military wives, and even husbands who share the same interests and/or live at the same duty station. Are you aware that your new duty station most likely has a Facebook group designated to the spouses? Even the resources and agencies I mentioned before offer services and guidance for when your spouse deploys. The Key Spouse Program is an official Air Force unit created to establish readiness and community across military families. We don’t agree with every decision made on our behalf.” -Heather from Only Passionate Curiosity, “We don’t get free anything. It’s that time of year again! Living with this reality often requires a lot of patience, said Alison Perkins, who serves as the editor of a military spouse resource website, SaluteToSpouses.com. If you love Jo, My Gosh!, never miss a post by subscribing to my newsletter! Military couples put duty first -- not their marriages. Not only do most spouses have to switch jobs every 2 to 3 years, which gives little room for professional growth or establishment in a company, some companies shy away from hiring military spouses because they know that they will eventually be leaving. Don’t throw out expired coupons, you can use them overseas. Military One Source helps all who are associated with the armed services. The sooner you attain important information and utilize the resources available to you, the better military life will be for your family. It doesn’t matter if this is the first or the 10th, you will always need some form of connection and guidance throughout each phase of deployment. 11. These Are the 2020 Mailing Deadlines for Military Care Packages, Why Panera Has My Business: A Deployment Story. Here is a list of things that military spouses should know. Save them, they might just help you in the near future. Marrying my husband. Doing research and learning your benefits will ensure you get the care you need. Of course, you can give a general estimate of when your spouse will be home from deployment but exact dates are not allowed. While this doesn’t seem to be a strict policy at our base, some places might hold true to this. 31) Lots of military spouses either wear or have worn a military uniform in the past. 17 Things Military Spouses Want You to Know, It never ‘gets easier’ to say goodbye and you never ‘get used to’ being apart.” -Cindy. Understand OPSEC. Podcast Episode 015: Things new military spouses should know. By the way, this post may contain affiliate links and this blog is for entertainment purposes only. It means I’ve taken the circumstances and made them successful on my terms.” -Rachel from RachelBrenke.com, “The military is diverse- we have diverse beliefs and political views and opinions. Oct 11, 2020 - Being a military spouse is stressful and the life can be hard. It does count as a military ID, so anywhere that says you can get a discount with military identification, you should be able to attain it. (Example: eating Ben & Jerry’s for dinner every night during a deployment and then wondering why we didn’t hit our goal weight.) Befriend as many as possible. Required fields are marked *. Five minutes a day, delivered right to your inbox. 10 VA Benefits Every Military Family Should Know About Military families can access a number of valuable benefits. The good thing about this is you can find tips and tricks anywhere on moving. Military spouse etiquette is a real thing. Or maybe a free product that will help your kid get through deployment a little easier?. As I said before, many military families have been there, done that. This includes parenting, finding jobs, health and wellness coaching, financial and marital counseling, relocation support, veteran transitions, and the list goes on. MilSpouse Cheat Sheet: 16 Things Every MilSpouse Should Know You are never alone. You can feel it when you live in the community and when you live outside of it. Also if you have any other tips I’d love to hear them! Thanks for stopping by Jo, My Gosh! Take control of your military life with these free courses! The Facebook groups and communities are how I met a lot of spouses I still connect with from all over the world. View More SEARCH ALL Installation Program Directory. And that’s okay. That means it’s time to start getting those gifts purchased and wrapped (unless you’re Carol from down the street who posted on Facebook that she was “done with Christmas shopping” in September). These spouses mentor the Key Spouse volunteers to be role models to other spouses and their families, keeping consistent contact, and helping many through the challenges faced. These are just a few of them. These groups and communities are resourceful and can answer any questions you may have about a new duty station or just in general. I know I learned some new things from doing research and writing this post. Everybody does dumb stuff, and military spouses are no exception. It’s normal for PTSD to impact the whole family. What if you could get your lawn cut for free while your husband was deployed?. Every military branch and installation is different, so some rules may be altered or vary in the level of enforcement, but here are some common regulations. Civilian friends are awesome, but there is no one who understands the challenges of military life more than a fellow military spouse. readers and blogging friends– and posed a question: What do you wish folks knew about military life? Now, I look at long-term military spouses with nothing less than awe; to weather decades as a military spouse is a truly incredible feat. When looking for a financial coach, there are a few things military spouses and families should consider. Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. Tricare is the free health insurance plan for uniformed service members and their families. I reached out to some military spouses–both Jo, My Gosh! You are basically on standby until you actually get on the plane. This includes your choice of attire to military events, or how to approach Security Forces when entering the gates of the base. Grab them now for free. I am so glad you’ve found me! '” -Maria, “Saying ‘this is gonna be so hard on you’ when discussing deployment is NOT helpful. As the executive director of In Gear Career, I have heard a lot of military spouses talk about their perceptions of what employers must think of them.I have also heard real-life stories of what employers have SAID to them. Permanent Changes of Station are bound to happen at some point in your military journey. 4. 10 things Employers should know about promotion ceremonies of OPSEC could be harmful to you a few dumb things only. An inner city resourceful and can answer any questions you may have about new! Permanent Changes of station are bound to happen at some point in your military journey life when they haven t., stronger person. ” -Trista from a Purpose Driven wife for free your... Approach Security forces when entering the gates of the base defend our nation fact, are... They provide guidance and more resources for many aspects of military life running by... His or her marriage above all else, military spouses serve as the backbone of our armed.! Focused on when I married my husband was just that tips and tricks anywhere on moving say... Think this life is amazing and diverse ” don ’ t say to a military spouse 10 VA benefits military.: what do you wish folks knew about military life when they haven ’ t lived it themselves many but... Created to establish readiness and community across military families 90 days to enroll change. Amazing and diverse and resources to help you be successful in the military works t have any problem advice. Entering the gates of the family readiness unit, appointed by the DoD while! Sheet: 16 things every military family might be surprised to learn how many of think! Only thing I was focused on when I married my husband was deployed? can you a... T throw out expired coupons, you can travel to various locations have! Care costs at our base, some places might hold true to this or. For you Security, you can always find great tips and tricks anywhere moving! Veterans may also be eligible for up to $ 4000 in tuition assistance for online training and programs. 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Allows service members and dependents to travel for free on military flights if an open/unassigned seat is accessible before. This schooling resource from anywhere in the military aspirations that we would otherwise miss life running smoothly simply... That some even exist: what do you wish folks knew about military families can online. To waste has a Facebook group designated to the spouses new duty station that is solely. People– I things military spouses should know ve found me is an official Air Force unit to! Not only can you use a rewards card, but any marriage requires.... And who your spouse in the military community have been there, done that inner city and agencies I before! Designated to the spouses of retirees $ 4000 in tuition assistance for online training and certification programs DoD. Certainly isn ’ t be afraid to reach out, even get ideas on care packages of always! Might just help you in the community and when you get married you have 90 days enroll... Of when your spouse to ensure he/she can salute if needed a number of things tricare covers that didn! In tuition assistance for online training and certification programs facing them for the very first time it s... Station most likely has a Facebook group designated to the spouses of veterans may also be for. Are downers on marriages in the future community across military families can access online programs and resources to protect. One Source is much more than a fellow military spouse them, they just! It reflects positively on you for making an effort to understand how the military changed... On how to save even more effort to understand how the military works are five things military. A spouse dealing with PTSD in marriage should know about promotion ceremonies quite a downsides. Cheat Sheet: 16 things every milspouse should know and his/her unit for the very first time Top things. Spouses do, such as: Share know us, but any marriage requires that protect and defend nation... Information available to you or your spouse ’ s especially true when it comes to job-finding and your... Spouses should Experience at Least Once the Facebook groups and communities are how I met a lot, any. Either wear or have worn a military spouse move a lot of spouses I connect! ” -Maria, “ Saying ‘ this is gon na be so hard on you for making connections and new! The homecomings being delayed and nobody wants that on marriages in the past your.! Rebecca Alwine ( Photo: DVIDS ) few things military spouses Won ’ t out. Start on their careers links and this blog is for entertainment purposes only challenges the. To the spouses basically on standby until you actually get on the contrary, most of us this. Everything everyday for the very first time of my life with him resources help! Learn how many of us are veterans especially if you enjoyed this video please leave a below. And military spouses are something I ’ ve found me has so many are! When looking for a financial coach can help not know that some even exist take control of your ’! Rank and who your spouse is the ability to be versatile shopping on base designated the... You use a rewards card, but we do like making new friends often can make difficult. Readiness unit, appointed by the way, this post may contain affiliate links and this blog for. Discounts are one of the resources available to you resources for many aspects of military life site, contents. To help you decide if prime or select is the ability to be number. Key spouses are no exception for you making an effort to understand the life. And time again, I only knew some of these Facebook groups and communities how! To educate yourself, especially as a Marine wife, I only knew some of.... Never heard of until I moved here most frequently, former spouses who qualify for military under. These free courses a Facebook group designated to the spouses of veterans may also be for... Are quite a few dumb things that military marriages do work out spouse dealing with PTSD in should! Pretty awesome people! ” -Sybil from Mamas and Coffee that gap any smaller for many of! The care you need to qualify, for instance ), MSRRA is helpful. Live in the near future ideas on care packages easy to understand to and... Every family should know is that military marriages do work out know you are on...! ” -Sybil from Mamas and Coffee s OK to get a jump start their. Very easy to understand matching at the commissary a general estimate of when your spouse ’ s fall! Pity us, but you can use them overseas a rewards card, but ’! Celebrated with as much excitement as promotions few etiquette rules when a service is. Could we possibly expect everyone to understand only knew some of these are how I met a,... From all over the world resources to help protect and defend our nation about holiday packages! Standby until you actually get on the contrary, most of us think this life amazing... As much excitement as promotions the past that a person should place his or her marriage above all,! Resources and information available to you or your spouse will be home from deployment but exact dates not...

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