Im about to be a military wife, what should I expect?

Answer 1

Proud to be an American. KamiKaze said the rest.
Been there done that.

Answer 2

Kamikaze has a good start on this.
There are so many bad things, and they usually happen all at once, but there are also good things.
If you're marrying a man who is established in his career, you only have to get used to the lifestyle and the things that being associated with the military brings you. If you're both starting at the bottom, be prepared for many more tribulations. The life of a junior enlisted is much different from that of an NCO is different from an officer, etc.
I encourage you to be familiar with the programs available to you through the military. Your FRG is actually a great starting place for this information, or you can visit the local ACS or equivalent family center. They offer great classes on orientation to the military life.

While I can't say you should dive heart and soul into the military realm where other wive's are your only friends, and you never leave post, etc., I also can't advise staying completely out of it. No matter how bright, professional or independent you are, that office job where everyone drives SUV's and Volvo's is going to mean exactly NOTHING on your first overseas assignment, where your job opportunities are limited almost strictly to AAFES or DECA, and if you need a doctor's referral, the person you see will have English as a second language. You need to stay yourself for your own sanity and to preserve your relationship with your husband, but you can't disregard the military entirely. It's much easier to do your own thing in the states, but you may not always be stationed stateside.
When I first got married, and we got married almost simultaneously with his completion of AIT 6 1/2 years ago, I wanted nothing to do with it. Then he left for Korea and I was faced with problems I had NO idea how to handle. Not only was I back home and away from a base, I didn't even know where to START trying to find solutions. He was there for a year and we came to Germany. I have learned more in the last few years about how things work, and I truly wish I had known them before. My life would have been so much easier. Some FRG groups are terrible, and honestly good for nothing but gossip. They fail in this instance. Some, like the one I have now, are great. Your FRG is the first place to go for official news regarding your husband's unit, especially when he's deployed and not available to bring the info to you himself. They can get you in contact with the right people/programs to help you solve your problems. I will admit that even though we're only 3 1/2 weeks into deployment #2, the FRG this time around is 100x better than last time. It fluctuates with the leaders.

What should you expect? Long work days, though you might get lucky. Training missions where he'll be away from home for a couple weeks to up to 2 months (usually only 1, sometimes they pull tricks on you). OD green and camo in every room of your house. Fight this with all you have, it gets old after a while. Whatever bonehead said you have to get his uniform pressed and set out every night, screw that. I love my husband dearly and am devoted to him in every way, but there have only been a handful of times in the last 6 1/2 years when I have ironed his uniform and never have I polished his boots (and now with the cheesy ACU's, no one has to iron them OR polish boots-ha!). He's a big boy, he can take care of himself. If you want to get his stuff together, fine, but don't feel like you're expected to be his servant. Expect to adapt to anything that's thrown your way. Expect your life to never be the same. Expect hardships to need worked through. Expect the rewards to be great.

Answer 3

It depends. I am the wife of a Senior Officer. I love him but I am not married to the Army and trust me, it is an expectation. If you are bright, professional, and don't enjoy virtually communal living, it's difficult. My advice would be to live off base, retain your own identity specifically because you will spend vast tracts of time alone, and don't get involved in wives groups which are hotbeds of gossip. Be polite and charming at functions but keep your civilian friends or you will get sucked up into it. I wouldn't describe myself as a 'military wife' as I am not married to the Army but as my husband's wife, that my husband happens to be a Soldier is incidental. There are huge numbers of women who are camp followers effectively. They live amongst their husband's Colleagues, rarely stray far from the Base and have 'liitle' jobs if any at all. You can see the fear in their eyes when their husband returns to civilian life. Personally, I pray for that day. You have chosen a man with a difficult and dangerous job who will be away from you for long periods of time and who may miss many significant events in your life, just love and cherish him but remain who you are.

Answer 4

I'm going to bring together several things other have said:


Being lonely, depressed, scared, poor , sad & heart broken all at the same time.

Keeping up with laundry and gear.

Being part of a wonderful family of other soldiers' families. When it comes to it, you will have the support and encouragement of other soldiers' wives, make sure you make every effort to get involved with on-base family organizations.

Answer 5

1. Discipline in most of the things to start with
2. Proper time for everything like bf, lunch, tea, supper
3. Uniform to be made ready the prev. night and hung. Make sure the belt, the colour-badges, cap, shoes, socks are clean and in proper position. Shoes are always shining and the socks clean.
4. Consult him in everything, you see for some of them every action is strategised and a well planned move
5. Ask him who is his Military idol ? Try to get a portrait. He may like it.
6. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Hardship, disappointment, pain, anguish, fear, sadness, paranoia, anxiety, angst, despair, sorrow, joy, elation, happiness, relief, contentment, delight, fullfillment, exultation, and excitement. You will experience each emotion at least once during your husbands career. It will be a trial at times. But enjoy it, If you have children, they may have trouble getting friends because of the fact that you move often. But if you love each other, it should all go well.

Roberto B, SHUT THE **** UP YOU ******* HIPPY. Go drown yourself in your ******* BONG WATER. God damn liberal dick sucker. Go live in ******* North Korea if you hate America so much.

Answer 7

being lonely, depressed, scared, poor , sad & heart broken all at the same time... I was in the military. thats the honest truth.

Answer 8

EVERYONE KNOWING YOUR BUSINESS AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY'LL EXPECT TO BE TOLD. AND BITCHING WIVES......
Sorry luv, but my experience of it wasn't a pleseant one. I'm now a civilian wife (to the same husband) and I like this scenario much much better.

Answer 9

Learn how to pack up an entire house.

Answer 10

with bush in the white house?
you should expect widowhood

sorry