Any military spouses out there?

Question

What branch? How are you treated in terms of housing and pay? I live on a base that is Air Force/Army. The Air Force side is sooo much nicer than the Army side! The bases are separated only by a gate, but if you take a ride through the Army's side, it looks so dumpy! Why is that? Do you like being a military spouse? I personally do, but I am an Air Force spouse after all. And how many times has your spouse been deployed? How do you cope with it? Especially with children? And, don't you get extremely angry about people who don't support what our troops are doing...even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to us?

I acknowledge that I have offended some with the "dumpy" comment. Let me clarify what I mean: The housing is practically falling apart! I'm not understanding how the government expects our spouses to go out and do whatever they want, but won't (for the big part) give them nice, safe homes. Do they always wait for the houses to "cave in" before they do anything about it? This is only our second base, and we have had adequate housing on both bases, so I know there are plenty that I haven't seen. Actually, our base is privatizing all of our housing and the two bases are merging. When I said "dumpy" I did not say it to discredit ANYONE in the Army, or in the other branches, I was only stating the difference. I don't think any branch is better than the other. I think they all have great qualities and specialize in very important things needed for the United States' security. So, again, I apologize to all of those I have offended, especially Michelle 71. God Bless our troops!!!!

Answer 1

it's nice to hear the air force is treating you well ... I was a army wife and it was not" 90210 "like you explained ...{thanks for the dumpy comment }, My husband was a GRUNT in Bosnia and in Afghanistan ... It was sheer hell for me and our 2 boys .. Im thankful for Ft. knox they did all they could do to make it as easy as they could for us during my husbands deployment... No matter what branch all these men and women are HEROS ! I was not aware that there were people who did'nt support our troops ... I just thought it was Bush they did'nt support ! being a "army" wife is very hard!!{ there is no fun and games at war} maybe I should have had my husband Join the airforce so we could not appear to be so dumpy!!! My husband is a hell of a man and Im very proud of what he has done for our country.. HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I am an ARMY wife and I live on post (ft lewis, wa to be exact). Housing on this post varies by rank, the lower enlisted live basically in a sardine can with 8 families in a unit. They are what we call 'ghetto housing'. My husband is an E-5 and we have a semi decent duplex that was renovated. It isnt that great but its better than what i have seen . My husband told me the reason that the AF bases and housing is nicer is because the AF gets more money for than the army does. We live a few minutes from MCHord and their housing is really nice but oh well, i cant hate at least i got a place to stay.
I love being a military wife but i hate the downside which is deployments, being away from family and friends and the constant rules and regs. This life that we call the military has brought us to many places and has helped us make all sorts of friends from different parts of the world. So you take the good with the bad.
My husband has only been deployed once in the six years he has been in but will be going on his second tour in the near future. He also did a two year unaccompanied tour.
For me it was hard with him being gone but i worked and my kids are 10 and 11 so we kept busy. My kids did better during his deployment since they were used to daddy being gone so much. My husband is an MP so he is always gone,it s not your normal MOS 9-5 job, kwim.
I do get angry with those who dont support our troops , because supporting the troops and supporting the war is two whol different things. I dont necessarily like him going off to war but what can i do but support him, because he is my husband. Those who think that supporting the troops and this war is the same obviously dont have a loved one in the military.

Answer 3

I'm a Navy brat, I was in the Navy and I'm a Marine wife. I love it. I've never known a civilian life and don't want to. The Navy gets treated better because they get more money from the government (even though the Marine Corps is a part of the Navy). I've never lived on base housing and never plan on it. We get enough BAH to cover our mortgage and electric so that's fine. My husband has only been deployed once so far but he always has to leave for about a month or two for more training. It's really heard with a child and that's why I got out of Navy. My son was 3 months when my hubby left for Iraq and I learned alot about myself and my baby in that time. I'm much stronger (emotionally and mentally) than I ever thought. I definitely have a new respect for single parents. I try to tune out those who don't agree with the war but I don't meet many. I live in a town with 4 Marine base, another an hour away, an Air Force an Army base two hours away; everyone is pretty supportive.

Answer 4

I am an Air Force wife. We are currently on Okinawa. There are all branches here, and you can really tell the difference. Army has it rough, but you should see the Marine housing. I know quite a few people who live on the Marine base, both marines and other branches, and none are too happy with it.
I also lived in AK and was on Elmendorf, you could see a difference as soon as you went through the gate. I don't mean to offend anyone either, I think everyone should have nice housing.
A bigger issue may be the difference between officer housing and enlisted housing. I don't think that because they are an officer (and make a considerably higher amount of money) that they deserve a better quality of life, in all areas, BAH, BAS, Cola etc.
I like being a military spouse, which is a surprise considering I broke up with him when he signed up! I like the benefits, and I like to see the world. I am quite proud of him as well. He has a real sense of pride with his job, and that is nice.
My husband luckily hasn't been away from home very much, when he is away I have a hard time coping, it is stressful, but my kids are young, 18 mos and 2 1/2. Other people who don't live like us can't understand that, they have parents nearby, or friends they have had for years, Most people haven't moved someplace new, where they know noone and have been forced to be essentially a single parent without any support. So I guess it is hard, but you get through huh?
I do get angry about the lack of support. I don't always understand why we are there, but I know that I am happy that Saddam is out of the world's picture, and I believe the people are better off in the long run. I know from soldiers the true story of what is going on there, and how they feel about it makes you believe.
I hate to see people talk about the military men as if they are all ignorant poor people. I am sure that there are those men in the military, but they are also everywhere else in the world, how do you define an entire force by some of its members? I hate it when people say that they know so and so who is in but is against everything and is stuck in his contract...... I wish they would get out, people act as if enlistments were for 15 years and they are tied to the duty. Either people are full of you know what or they are getting the wrong info. I think alot of people speak for our military when they have nothing to back it.
I do feel sorry for people who are against the war because they have lost someone, but a lot of them have been taking their grief to a level of disrespect ( picketing funerals) I don't think anyone should be against the troops,. I don't know how people think life would be without the military. I can't imagine the terror that would define our world if we weren't protected by the world's greatest military. I hate it that I have to see people ban together against the people that I know and love who are not just doing their jobs, but fighting for something that they believe in, The United States.

Answer 5

I would have to support your claim by bringing up the fact that when I lived at Ft Richardson Alaska the AF folks could live in army housing and where paid for having to live in substandard housing. Once we had a big wind storm blow through and it ripped the roof off of a house that was full with 8 families in it, crushed cars and what not. I had a friend that lived on the AF base that was separated only by a gate and his place was very nice. 2 floors plus a basement, new carpet, shared driveway, and a garage, guess what this wasn't officer housing or senior enlisted he was an E-6 same as me. Advice, live on the economy ALWAYS never take housing unless you move somewhere HOT and electricity is free on base/post

Answer 6

Army wife here, and you're right. The Air Force does provide better housing and commissary's for their people. That's why I shop at Peterson instead of Carson-lol No offense taken. My spouse is going through his second deployment. His first one lasted 18 months because they extended them for 6 months right as they were getting ready to fly out. Hopefully this one will only last a year. I cope by staying busy and I have a military spouse support message board that I run. That is also a good place for support. I am a liberal, and I don't like our president, but our guys signed on the dotted line and it's not fair that they have to go through all of this, but I'm proud of everyone that does the honorable thing and continues to serve regardless of how they might personally feel. E-mail me if you'd like to check out the board. We always welcome newcomers of any branch! Take care!

Answer 7

I am an Army spouse, but I have never lived on base. I have heard that the Air Force has nicer housing. My father is retired Air Force and still lives near Shaw AFB in SC. They have closed the majority of their base housing to rebuild.

Answer 8

My husband is in the national guard and we currently live in air force housing. While the housing looks nice the roof leaks and the house is falling apart and its a new house (were the first to live in it) Hubby just got back from a year in Iraq. Being national guard the kids (1 and 2) were alienated while hubby was gon. now that hubby is back we've been lied to by the government and have to survive off of 300.00 a week while our base housing rent is almost 800.00 a month. Hubby has been fighting to go active duty for 6 months now just so he can provide for his family.

Answer 9

As an Army wife, I have found that most Air Force base are nicer than Mainly Army bases.

Answer 10

Although he isn't in the AF anymore, my husband was in for 8 years. We lived at March AFB in California (before it closed...or should I say "realigned".) We lived "on base" (which was actually a mile from the base). Our housing was terrible! They were so old and dilapidated that when the base closed, they tried to donate the houses to the homeless, but they didn't meet federal and state standards to house the homeless (but we could live in them). Our children had to be tested for lead poisoning every 6 months while we lived their.

My husband did 3 Middle Eastern tours during his 8 years. That means that I spend many birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, Thanksgivings, etc. by myself and two little ones. You will get through this. Make friends with the others in your housing area. Believe me, they, of all people, know what you are going through.

Good luck. Thank you for all that you AND your husband do for all of us.