I married my husband late in his Army career. He was an E-6 when we walked down the aisle and I had already built my own career and life.
Soon after we started our family, he deployed to Iraq and during a six year span was deployed or TDY for a combined 5 years. I stayed at my job, in my home, with my friends, in my world. He came and went as he could.
Eventually, we began experiencing the rigors of tri-annual PCS moves and typical life on a base. I was thrust into the actual role for the title I claimed: military spouse. I had been married to a service member, but never really lived the full lifestyle. He moved, I stayed. He deployed, my life continued.
We spent six years on the move. Now, it seems we are slowly sliding into home, the last stage of his military career: retirement.
From my perspective, it feels too quick. I only had six years to experience all the benefits and frustrations of being an Army wife. Our children are just old enough to enjoy the perks of a military childhood.
From my husband’s perspective, it can’t come quick enough. After 23 years, 42 months in the Mideast, over 100 airborne jumps, which resulted in two spinal surgeries, and countless long work days, he’s ready to end this chapter.
Because of his surgeries, and multiple other medical issues due to his deployments, he is being medically retired, a term I am quickly learning comes with its very own set of rules, frustrations and difficulties.
I haven’t found much guidance on base or the internet to face this next hurdle. There are lots of official documents to describe the terms and process we will encounter. But there seems to be no one discussing what those terms actually mean.
So, we’re going to talk about them here. Once a month, please join me in frank and honest discussions about the ins and outs of retirement and what it means not just for your service member, but what it means for you.
Please look for my new column, Retirement Chronicles the second Tuesday of every month.
Life is about to change, drastically. Why face it alone?
