Showing posts with label military life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label military life. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Life After the Navy

My Hubby enjoying the freedom retirement brings!
Navy life had its ups and downs but it had a sense of normality for my husband and myself. As we have been transitioning out of active duty Navy life into the world of retirement there are some things that are the same...the process of getting an ID card is about the same, we have access to the base and all its perks, we still get many of the same discounts at places, my husband was recognized on Veteran's Day, and we still live a similar life. However, for my husband it is all new...in 20 years he hasn't had to apply for a job, he hasn't had to write a resume, he hasn't had to figure out what to wear to work, he hasn't had as many options, and now he has lots of things he's having to do for the first time. It has been an interesting process for him. I on the other hand have really had to do a lot of sitting back and watching. I mean I can give him resume advice, I can help him with job searches, etc but I can't really relate to what he's going through. I've worked at my job for 14 years now so I can relate to doing something for a number of years but I can't relate to having to start over. 

The good news is there are a number of resources out there. The other good news is that many companies look at military service very highly. And his military skills, training, and experience transfer over to the civilian world pretty well. I mean some things don't of course but many of his experiences in the military relate to the civilian world. I'm relieved he is no longer in the Navy...I am very proud of the years of service he gave and the amazing things he did for his country but I'm happy to know I won't have to deal with deployments, training exercises, or duty days again. Most of all I'm relieved I don't have to worry about a knock on my door with two men in uniform at my door.

For all of you with spouses who are still serving in active duty THANK YOU!!! You are amazing people for what you do. Your spouse could not do what he or she does without your love and support and the security of knowing you are keeping the home steady and strong while they are gone. I applaud you and I wish you the best in your continued journey!! 

Thursday, January 12, 2012

25 Questions for a Military Spouse

I have seen this on a number of blogs this week but the most recent was The Misadventures of Mrs. Duh it was fun to read the answers so I thought why not?


1. How did you and your spouse meet?

We met online through Yahoo personals. I saw his picture one night in November and thought he was cute so I sent him a nudge. Well in December my membership was up so I decided not to renew it (or so I thought). I actually signed up for an in person dating service and went on a few dates through that with no success. So I was surprised when I got a response to my nudge the end of January. He and I started talking by IM. Then he asked me out on a date. So on February 9th I went out on date with a jerk of a guy because I had already had it set up by the dating service and couldn't cancel. Then I went on a date with J. Our date was at his house (I know not the best decision but I trusted my instinct). I knew I was in trouble from the moment I met him. I knew he was the one. The next day we spent the day together and we decided to be exclusive. The rest is history so to speak.

2. How old were you when you two met?

I was 30 he was 31.

3. How long have you been together?

4 years as of this February

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?


He's a Detroit boy born and raised. I was born at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

5. How did you feel about him joining the military?


He was already in when I met him. Fortunately he was on shore duty.



6. Where did your spouse go to basic training?


To be honest I don't know.


7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?



He deployed to Iraq for 6 months (I was not with him for the first deployment) and is currently in Japan.


8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?


Nope but I still have my fingers crossed.

9. How long have you been a military wife?


2 years and 4 months



10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?


Well after he joined


11. How did your husband propose?


Kind of a funny story. When we first started dating I wanted the ring and the proposal. But the more I thought about it I decided that I didn't really want that because I'd had it with my first marriage and it didn't work out so well. He and I had had conversations about getting married so we both knew where the other stood.

We had started looking at his next duty assignment and one of his options was Japan as a geobachelor. So we knew we wanted to get married before he left. His family is mostly up north but my family (except my brother and his wife) and our friends are mostly down south. (Ironic for a Northern girl) So we were headed to his family reunion and we decided (per my Mom's suggestion) that we would get married at his reunion. So he talked to my Dad and got his permission and one night while we were in bed talking he looks at me and said "so do you want to marry me?" I smiled and said "of course."


12. Where did you get married?

Our first wedding was at his family reunion. We surprised his family with the news.when we got there after his Mom gave him the 3rd degree about when he was going to marry me. So I arranged for a minister to come to the camp ground and marry us. We also had him serve communion to everyone as part of the service. We got there early and went into town to get the license and talk to the minister. It was a beautiful day in a pavilion on a lake shore.

Our second wedding was back at our "home" church. It was a beautiful ceremony that meant a lot to us because every Sunday we sit in the same sanctuary we got married in. As a side note this can be a bad thing when he is deployed.

13. How old were you when you got married?


I was 31, he was 32


14. Did he wear his uniform on your wedding day?

I left that up to him and he decided to wear a tux. He looked amazing!!


15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed?


He is stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. I'm still near Little Creek Amphibious Base, Norfolk


16. Do you live on base?



No I live in our house and he lives in an apartment off base.

17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?



We celebrated our first year in the beginning of September and he left the end of September of the same year.


18. What is your favorite base so far?


Since he and I have only been stationed at one base together. I'm going back to my days as an Air Force brat and saying Elemendorf Air Force Base. I loved Alaska!!

19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?

I joke with him that I only married him for the uniform. I'm kidding but he does look good in his uniforms. (the Navy has a lot of them)

20. Do you think military life is more advanced then civilian life?


No just different. We experience things that civilians don't and they often don't understand. J's family still doesn't fully grasp how it works to have him across the world.


21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military spouse?


Heck yeah!! The health/dental insurance, the commisary, the exchange, and the connection with other spouses is great!


22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?


I have a number of friends with spouses in other branches and some whose spouses have retired and I've connect with a number of them online. I think it helps a lot to have people who get it.


23. What is the hardest part of the military life?


The separation from your spouse. I knew I was signing up for this but it still has tough days.



24. Do you own military wife stuff?


I own one tank that says "sexually deprived for your freedom" it is well loved in this area. And I steal his stuff and wear it too.

25. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military?


100% I am so proud of what he does for me, our family, and our country. I wouldn't have married him if I didn't support him in what he does. I think it also helped that I was a military brat.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Military Life to a Military Wife


Alpha - Anticipation, AIC
Bravo - Bravery, Boldness
Charlie - Challenges, Cherish
Delta - Deployed, Dependent, Duty, Destroyer
Echo - Excitement, Email, Exercise
Foxtrot - Faith, Fear, Focus, Frigate
Golf - Girlfriends, Grins
Hotel - Hope, Holding on
India - Independence, Intimacy
Juliet - Joking, Joy
Kilo - Kick-butt, Kindness,
Lima - Love, Loyalty, Loved ones
Mike - Murphy's Law
November - Navy, Newness,
Oscar - Ownership, Oneness
Papa - Prayer, Peace, Paperwork, Patience, PoA, Peanut Butter Cup
Quebec - Query, Quirky, Quickness
Romeo - Reunion, Rules, Regulations, Rate
Sierra - Ships, Self-care, Standing Alone, Smurf Suit, Sep Pay
Tango - Tears, Thankfulness, Trying
Uniform - Uniform, Understanding, Unique, USS
Victor - Volunteer, Victory
Whiskey - Waiting, Wishing, Welcome Home, Worry
X-Ray - X-Rated,
Yankee - Yelling, Years in
Zulu - Zealous, Zoo-like, Zany