| > | | | | spouse with a deployed soldier and that my time |
| | | | would be better spent occupied with things like, self |
| Helping Military Spouses Understand their Soldier's | | | | development classes, seminars, workshops, |
| Profession I'm always amazed by the emails I receive | | | | volunteering, working, surrounding myself with |
| and the posts that I read on various message board | | | | empowering spouses, visiting relatives, and writing |
| forums from new military spouses who are trying to | | | | letters to my husband. |
| grasp this whole military spouse lifestyle. Like the other | | | | Chances are if you're married to an active duty soldier, |
| day, I'm reading a message from a new spouse who | | | | know that the mission is first, like it or not, the mission |
| asks, why her soldier is always headed off to | | | | does come first. As a military spouse you must accept |
| participate in training exercises and leaving her and the | | | | the career decision of your active duty soldier and |
| children behind. Understanding the new spouses | | | | then you must find a way to make this lifestyle work |
| frustration, I quickly composed an email expressing my | | | | for you. The military services continue to implement |
| concern and understanding of her situation. I shared | | | | programs, support networks, and resources that help |
| with her a list of support networks and available | | | | you accomplish your personal and professional goals. If |
| resources and closed my message letting her know | | | | what you need to accomplish your goals is not |
| that she was not alone and that a team of dedicated | | | | available, don't be shy, bring it to the attention of your |
| spouses and civilians stand ready to provide her with | | | | family support center, ask for help, get out and |
| emotional support and empowerment. | | | | network with other spouses and/or community |
| I have not always been a Military Spouse, when I met | | | | leaders. |
| my husband, we were both soldiers, we trained all the | | | | The military lifestyle is not always easy, establishing |
| time, together, a part, for days, weeks, or months at a | | | | your own career while supporting your active duty |
| time, it was our job. We understood that even though | | | | soldier is not always easy, separations or deployments |
| we were married soldiers, the mission came first. | | | | for any length of time is not easy, but you chose this |
| When I transitioned from soldier to military spouse I | | | | lifestyle and now you will have to make it work for |
| understood totally the life I'd chosen, I also understood | | | | you. Whining and complaining will get you nowhere, |
| that even though my role had changed, my husband's | | | | being proactive and involved will open doors you never |
| did not and the mission was still first. | | | | dreamed possible. |
| If I was going to live the life of a military spouse, it | | | | Your selfless service, support, dedication, commitment, |
| would take a lot of internal motivation, self | | | | and resilience as an active duty Army spouse, Navy |
| empowerment, and commitment to make this lifestyle | | | | spouse, Marine Corps spouse, Air Force spouse, or |
| work for me. For the majority of my husband's career | | | | Coast Guard spouse is invaluable and should never be |
| he stayed deployed and/or training somewhere. I spent | | | | looked upon as simply mediocre. You are a part of the |
| many days, weeks, months, and years maintaining the | | | | military family and we all have a mission to accomplish, |
| homefront and raising a family, alone. And yes, I missed | | | | let's work together to accomplish that mission. |
| my husband. I learned early on that I was not the only | | | | Until my next post,Hooah! |