My husband is considering joining the military, what I should be concerned about?

Question

My husband is considering joining either the Army or the Air Force, he is looking at the careers of Paralegal and Linguist. Can anyone tell me a little about your experience, how much of a chance of separation is there with these sorts of jobs. Does he have potential for work after enlistment? Anyone have problems with pay, insurance etc.

Answer 1

um contrary to truths reply the air force sees alot of combat these days....my husband works in AF logistics and spent 6 months as a gunman on army convoys......a good friend of mine is an AF legal assistant who got sent for 6 weeks of training then went for a full year to iraq as a combat medic.....the army and marines are spread so thin these days that the AF and navy are doing alot more ground work than they typically do......and if you are in a MOS they dont need they dont hesitate to send you for a couple weeks of training and send youto Iraq to dosomething else. You most certainly will spend alot of time apart, but in my experience it has made my marriage stronger. If hes a linguist depending on the language he speaks you may be able to get a really nice overseas location. Im an AF spouse and the only problem Ive had really with the benefits is that not all things can be treated at all bases, if your in the US no big deal they just send you to a civilian doctor...overseas its a huge hassle. Im in Japan and its constantly drive 3 hours to the navy base for this, get a space A flight to Okinawa for that. Overall its been a great experience though.

Answer 2

I can tell you right away, do NOT pay attention to the negative replies. They have no idea what they're talking about. Usually, they don't agree with war or have no idea what military life is like.

I've been an Army wife for 18 years. It's been an awesome life so far. I won't be able to tell you about the Air Force, but I can tell you about our Army experiences. You have to be prepared to spend alot of time apart. If you have a good strong marriage, this isn't an issue. It just makes you that much closer when he is home. It will be hard and often you'll feel alone, but you're not. There's lots of agencies on post to help with anything you may need. There's also always the other wives and support groups. Military healthcare depends on where you get stationed, to be honest. Our daughter has always gotten the best care, but mine usually leaves something to be desired. Overall, considering it's paid for, it's decent treatment. You'll have to pay dental insurance, but you get to pick your own dentist as long as they accept the military insurance. He'll have life insurance as soon as he joins and it's offered for family members as well. It's all reasonably priced. You can do grocery shopping at the commissary, which has better prices by far. You also have PX privelges, which are awesome. Prices are usually lower and there's no taxes. We've never had a pay issue. However, we do know some that have. I think the main reason we haven't is because we've never changed back accounts and get paid once a month. You'll have the option to get paid twice a month as well, on the 1st and 15th. He stands a very good chance of getting a job when he gets out. The more marketable job he chooses in the military will be a factor in deciding that. It also depends how many years he serves and his record while he's in. He'll also have the opportunity to go to college while he's in. There's many people in the Army who earn their degrees. That's a huge benefit when you get out.

The Army can be a rough life, a tough life but it's also a good life. Just be prepared when you join. Make sure it's what you both want. You'll have to find strength in yourself and be independant. Don't listen to anyone that says "the Army ended my marriage". The Army can't end a marriage, only the people in the marriage can do that. It depends on how much you love each other and trust each other. The time apart can definitely be tough to deal with, but it can also make you both stronger individually and together in your marriage. Our daughter is proud of what her Daddy does. She knows what his job is and understands when he has to go away. She loves him very much and they've never had issues when he comes home. Even when he's gone, we both make sure he's still part of her life.

Good luck in your decision. Just be sure it's what you both want and be prepared. Have an open mind.

Answer 3

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not listen to anyone that's posting the horribly negative stuff on here. I am a military brat and now wife. I've dealt with it all my life. Like everyone else said, there are pros and cons. My husband is in the AF, but I have friends in the Army...honestly...I see the ups and downs of them both. I wouldn't recommend Army, not being biased, but AF stays around more often. I have been to my fair share of funerals...more so for cancer than for losing someone in the desert. I've been lucky. I would say he has an excellent chance of getting GREAT jobs when he gets out. It also depends on your rank when you get out. The higher, the better. My dad retired a Capt. (after being enlisted up to E-6) and he now lives in Plano, TX making an insane amount of money doing what the military taught him. My husband is an E-6 with aspirations of being an officer soon and he just crossed into Weather. So far so good...but his possiblities for that are endless when he gets out! The insurance is great...well, medical. The dental sucks....for dependents at least. It's free for him. You get life insurance too when he joins along with any kids you may share. I've had 3 kids in the military and never had any problems with my insurance. (knock on wood lol) I've heard of people who have, but don't know any personally. Only problems we've had with pay is the occasional personell brain fart and they pay us too much. Which you either have to pay back right then or pay over a period of time. I'm lucky and my husband doesn't leave much anymore. He used to be a weapons troop though and he was gone at least 6 months out of the year. But it does make your marriage MUCH stronger!!! Make your own decisions....don't listen to all the negative...it's really not that bad. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask! I won't sugar coat anything for you!
Hope that helped!

~*~If your reading this thank a teacher, if your reading this in English, thank a soldier!!!~*~

Answer 4

In reality there is no single way to decide. My family has people in all the different branches, but it realy depends on what your husband wants to do, and what do you want to be doing while he is in. Ask whether your husband will be going in as an enlisted or as an officer? If you will be working, ask if you qualify for the spouse placement program? If you have children, ask if and when you could qualify for in base education if you choose to live inside the base? depending on how old your children are, then what branch will give you better options as to the most military bases near child frendly places? Again an answer to your question may rely on these other little questions. As an example of my own case, as an officer, and after all the different people I've talked to, the best option seems to be the AF. It has a reputation for being better to their people in terms of benefits and stability (relative). However, I love the place where a grew up, and I would love to bring up my son there, but there are no military bases of the AF, only ARMY. Military insiders have different ways of thinking about the relative "pride" or "heroicness" of a person depending on what branch they are in. I'm not going to dare say the order just in case, but for the most part some non-AF beleive that the AF is not on top, but at the same time they where the ones that told me to enter through AF. Some say that going in through the ARMY is signing a guarantee that he will spend 1 year or more in Iraq vs. the other branches where the % of going back in after the first tour are lower. However, it is sertain that no matter what branch he will have to spend time there, or at any of the other "problematic" areas. I hope this helps but in reality you and your family have a lot more to talk about among yourselves and with other people (not just the recruiters).

Answer 5

for the most part these people dont know sh!t. it is a really good way to get experience and respect when he goes in and gets out. the thing you should be concerned about, is moving, deployments(him being gone A LOT). divorce rates in the military are extremely high, it is a very stressful situation you are in and him being gone probably 50% of his career in the military. i was once married and now divorced. once he gets out, there are endless possibilities. its good for him to look into federal/government jobs (since 25% of their employees to be can be veterans) and there many more regular jobs that will work well with military experience. i was a desiel mechanic in the marines and i work for cummins. i started work for them right when i got out and had no problem gettin a job with them, i almost did security for the FBI and CIA. they are always looking for former military. so dont let anyone run their mouth on here unless they have been through it. pay is great, especially since he is married and im sure you have a lease agreement/ mortgage. he will start making around 3000 month and he will just go up from their. once he joins him and his family will be covered by the insurance the military provides, including life insurance for him and his spouse. good luck if you have any more questions, i will be happy to answer

Answer 6

My husband is in the Army, Infantry. We have never had any problem with pay or insurance. However, if your husband does join dont plan on seeing him very often. Ive been married a year and a half and have seen my husband only about 9 months of that time. Hes currently on his second tour.

Answer 7

lol i cant believe what some people say, oh my god, first don't believe any body who is not or was never military or married to it....i am army been in a while now and my wife, even though she hates when i get deployed, loves every minute of our lives we have together when i return and i am with her, personally i think me getting deployed has helped our marriage out because it keeps our love alive in an ever changing world, but if your husband is gonna join, my best advice is to look at all the branches and all the jobs, and find out what he really wants, the military is not for every body, and if he does join, he would need your support every minute of every day, but if he does join good luck to him, we need every brave soldier we can get

Answer 8

Well seperation is going to happen. Army is 15 months now. Insurance is given the day he is Basic. Health, Dental, Medical and Life. There are pros and cons. Look into it and see if Military life is for you. I love it I just hate being away from my wife and kids.

Answer 9

Your husband joining the army may bring you closer together. Oviously, you love him so your worried about him. And oviously, he loves you and our country even to considerate. I know it's hard, but you'll get through it if it happens. The goverment will take care of you while he is on guard. You'll be just fine. Sendind up prayers just for you.

Answer 10

You should worry about him dying. I was a military wife. Was being the operative word. When he got out ,the civlian world really didn't see his military experience as work experience. Which was his main reason for joining up. Do Not listen to the recruiters. Their job is to lie. They have a quota to fill.