Why are military spouses so unappreciated?

Answer 1

I don't think we're unappreciated. The military has mixed views on family life, but that's understandable considering the job soldiers are expected to do. In some ways, families are a liability to a soldier. That's how the military views it.

As for the general public, they have NO idea what military life is like. They think we sit around eating bonbons all day and doing nothing. They don't realize what it's like to maintain a household while your soldier is deployed. The stress that brings. Regular daily military life is stressful....one reason of the high divorce rate. I think overall, they respect the military wife. They just don't understand it.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if you're referring to all Military Spouses, or just some that you've come across, because I can say with certainty that I have never been anything but appreciative of the Military and my husband's service to it. I don't complain about Military life because I chose to marry someone that does this for a living, and I support and love him. I actually am grateful for the opportunity to be a Military wife, not just because I'm incredibility proud of my husband, but our family also has had great opportunity's traveling all over the world. We live in Italy now and have been all over Europe, something we may have never gotten the chance to do had we not been a Military Family.
I'm also happy knowing we get a check on the 1st and 15th of every month, regardless if my husband is on leave or not. I'm thrilled we have free medical, that we'll get a check for the rest of our lives when he retires, and the fact that his entire law school education will be paid for. I also appreciate the support that is offered from the Military when my husband is away from home.
Believe me, I am in noway unappreciative of the Armed Forces or my husband. I certainly wouldn't have stayed with him for ten years if I was.

Answer 3

My husband's been in the Marines for 5 years, and has been deployed a few times. What people fail to recognize is that when things aren't going ok at home, morale fails overseas. In a way, that's why it's important to support military families: you indirectly support the troops overseas as a result.

Regardless, I don't feel unappreciated. In fact, his shop is VERY supportive when he goes on deployment. I will admit that deployment life was more difficult than what I had expected, and that it is weird having his command have indirect control of my life, but I really don't care what other people think of me. My church even has programs set up to help military spouses with chores during deployments. That is a HUGE blessing to the local families.

The only problem I'm running into with his active service is state residency. I never realized the problem until someone was telling me it's faster for a foreigner to gain national citizenship with a marriage contract than for me to gain state residency status as a wife to a serviceman. My husband has retained his Washington state residency during his service, and when he gets out, he'll be able to go back to school and pay in-state tuition. Even though I've been married to a Washington state resident for almost 3 years, and even though the only reason we haven't lived in that state during all this time is because of his service, I won't gain residency until after 1 year of moving back. That's going to put us in a slight hardship. I wish legislators would do something about that...

Answer 4

I am sure the spouse in the military appreciates you but as for the government appreciating you I am sorry but it is true, you dont really matter to them! But you do get all the benefits, and I hope you realized how you would be treated before you got married, or before ya'll made the decision for one or the other to go into the military. It can be a hard life but if you really love someone it is worth it.

Answer 5

You can definitely feel unappreciated at times, but it goes with the territory. It is like being a part of a team, but always standing on the sidelines without ever being asked to play. However, my husband appreciates me, my children appreciate me. I am happy with my life. I don't need validation from anyone else to know my worth.

Answer 6

I don't think they are. I believe anyone who has ever served and is capable of logical thought understands the role that military spouses play. It is a vital part of the success of any military unit. Everyone knows this, understands it, appreciates it and respects the situation.

Answer 7

Just because someone doesn't come up to you and say "thank you for sticking by your man/woman" doesn't mean your not appreciated. You hubby/wife appreciates you, so that should be enough-and if not, your being selfish-you know the military isn't one to sympathies. Also-have you ever though that through the benefits it offers -you are appreciated? I mean one should really talk if the hubby/wife who was/is serving was the only one benefiting from the military lifestyle. You have a free place to live; a community within the base-practically a little suburb if you ask me-and you are in reach for free medical health; foods; traveling; transportation-as in traveling the world-I see no reason to biitch. If your hubby/wife was away and you were a stay at home spouse and got denied those fcuking benefits-then I'd squirm, cause you would be SOL-so I say be grateful.

Answer 8

Good question. Wish I had a answer for it! ha. Only another military wife will be able to understand that daily struggle you'll go through. Expect no sympathy from the military itself. After I married my Marine, I was told by "someone" -If the Marine Corp wanted you to have a wife...they wouldv'e issued you one.

Answer 9

The fact of the matter is, they aren't unappreciated. It just seems that way because they don't print enough money to pay them what they're worth.

Answer 10

Jesus was unappreciated ! Stand by your brave husband and be an angel for him. It doesn't matter if anyone else appreciates your sacrifice for him and your country ! But I do !!!!!!!!!!!
One who serves