Is my only job now to be supportive and be a good mother and spouse?? I would go to school but now I cant because now we will be moving everytime my husband gets a new duty station.As far as careers go to.I wouldnt be able to keep a job if we're gonna move in a year.Maybe at a fast food place or walmart.I did plan to go to college but decided to work & travel for a while 1st.Then I met my husband and now we have a son.He joined the Army a week after our son was born.So now what.I knew it would've been hard to go to school & take care of my son which I was prepared to do.But now if Im going to be moving every year or 2-3 years how can I.Could I go to school in 1 state then keep transferring everytime we move?? I heard of people losing credits like that.
2007-06-07 21:48:49 · 13 answers · asked by K 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Personally, I believe it is imperative for all military spouses to have an education or a "fall back" career. In this world, with the number of deployments, we do not know what could happen to our spouses. Sorry to be the Debby Downer, but it is a reality.
There are TONS of options for you to continue your education. Any installation will have an education office to help you. As a spouse, there are also lots of scholarships just for you to continue. It might be that college isn't your style and a trade school is more your liking. They might take less time, etc.
We have PCSed 7 times in 8 years and I have a bachelors and a master's degree. It can be done! Some jobs I see at every installation are 1. Teachers (do a search for spouses to teachers on a program to help you achieve that goal). 2 Nurses- even an LPN can get you a job and even if you don't focus on working on post communities are short of nurses. 3. Beauticians: Everybody gets there hair cut! And while you will be constantly rebuilding your cliental you have a transient community who is looking for a new hair dresser. Also- nail techs. 4. Focus on a GS position. Go to usajobs.com and check out all the GS categories (they are transitioning into a new system so look for key words like office automation, etc). If you get a "career" appointment you can take the job with you. 5. Dental hygienist or assistance. Some places the Red Cross offers a free training program!
Here are some things for you to check out:
Not sure of your branch but check out the aid and relief society (i.e. Army Emergency Relief) for their spouse scholarships.
www.military.com- they have a tab called education that has schools and scholarships.
www.militaryonesource.com- This is a huge wealth of information and if you aren't signed up you need to be. You can email them your exact question and get an amazing amount of info.
Also- not sure of your hubby's rank- but check out the installations free child care options. Some places it is up to 10 free hours a month.
Some posts offer free classes from accredited colleges. Check with your education center.
My education is the one thing nobody can ever take away. I truly believe that it is priceless. Good luck! You can do it!
2007-06-08 00:08:38 · answer #1 · answered by wyogiz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
look around at the different schools in your area right now. Talk to a counselor and explain the situation. Make sure that ANY class you take is transferable and that you wont lose credits. Take as many classes that you feel you can handle and just stay focused. You should be able to get a degree in no time. Now with a job... You can get any job that you want, just don't tell them that you're husband is in the military or, if you do, say that you are planning on staying in that area for a long time. As long as you have the right qualifications, you shouldn't have any problems. If worse comes to worse, just go to school and don't worry about a job. It's a lot easier than you think it will be.
Being an Army wife is a tough job, but it's worth it.
2007-06-08 04:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by Marisa ♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have many choices to make, there are opportunities for you to further your education. Start with the education center on your post or base. Decide what degree you want before starting classes. Time and money go very quickly so have a plan. Ask your husband about his MOS and where he can be stationed. He may not be able to give you concrete answers, the military moves units around and that may change things, but it is a good place to start. Once you have an idea where you can be stationed, contact the admission offices of the colleges and universities at those posts and ask them about their policy on credit transfers. Things are better now for military families than they were years ago, and they are getting better because the military requires more schooling for promotion points. A lot of colleges and universities have online degree programs. Don't jump into them until you have taken time to really find out about how they work, what schedules their programs have and if they grant you additional time to complete assignments if you have to change duty stations. You will also want to check with the post and the schools about childcare services while you attend classes. A lot of places offer them to help you get your education. If you don't know who to call, your husband should or can find out for you. Learn all that you can.
2007-06-08 00:12:32 · answer #3 · answered by ZoneRider 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
@Will - Jeezus christo, I am so tired of hearing that the military spouse is the hardest job in the military. No, it's not! It's not even a job in the military! OK, rant aside - if you have a strong relationship and realize that you do not have rank and that his job will just about always come before you, then you'll have a chance at making it. You have to be a strong independent person with your own life - job, school, friends, hobbies. If you are co-dependent on the service member, you'll just end up lonely and then resentful and then divorced. Deployments are only 9 months long now. That's nothing to be apart from, compared to the 15 and 18 month tours we were doing before.
2016-04-01 09:36:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a military spouse for 12 years. I graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree and am now in Graduate school. My husband just got out of the Air Force last fall. I have attended 4 different colleges and didn't lose any credits along the way. Colleges in military towns are very accomodating to the military and their spouses. The Air Force even assisted me with a grant each semester that paid for one class. Not sure what the other branches offer.
As far as a job, I have had excellent well paying jobs all with benefits. I am currently working for the State of Alaska, I started here when my husband was still in the Air Force. Just because you are a military spouse doesn't mean you have to settle for a low paying job, I never have.
You just have to decide that you are going to continue to live your life, don't let your husband's career define and consume who you are.
2007-06-08 06:16:18 · answer #5 · answered by EllD75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I joined the military before I married my husband. I have managed to keep my military career together, and obtain two Associate's Degrees, and am working on my Bachelor's. You too can have a life outside your military spouse duties. If nothing else, find a great online school. This book might also be a great help to you: "Help! I'm a Military Spouse...I Get A Life Too! How to Craft a Life for You As You Move With the Military," by Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer. Good luck to you. :-)
2007-06-08 14:29:19 · answer #6 · answered by Hellur Hallelujer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do whatever you WANT to do. Don't use the military as an excuse. If you want to continue your education---DO IT.
Get online, sign up for some classes. Get a job, have a career.
There are THOUSANDS of wives who have college education and fantastic jobs/careers!! Sure, it can sometimes take a little longer, but people do it every day!
Get onto www.military.com. Go to the Spouse Career section. Find a college that's military-friendly. Get your degree online. Get a career that's portable. It's done every day.
2007-06-08 01:54:49 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are education centers on every military base and they are open to family members also. University of Maryland University College (UMUC) does online and correspondence courses and also Grantham University. Check out your post's Ed Center and they will be able to give you a long list of available schools.
As far as jobs go, you can get a government job and work on post. That would afford you the opportunity to have job availability wherever your Soldier gets stationed. Many times you can transfer as you PCS.
Check out the website below. It will help you out with the job situation.
http://www.militaryconnection.com/
2007-06-07 23:42:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can go to school, why not? When you move bring your official transcripts and a college catalog. You new school will give you credit for the work you've already done. You might lose a few credits, but only on elective-type stuff. That's why it's important to bring a catalog from your school, so the new school can evaluate if the course covers the requirements of the new school.
2007-06-07 22:46:11 · answer #9 · answered by 1M9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many military installations have university courses you can attend that family members can use. Some universities have satellites located on military installations. I know the university of maryland has a few, and I am sure others do also. Online courses are also a good route to take.
2007-06-07 22:34:27 · answer #10 · answered by daleksnake 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋