Spread The Word

In the last six months, two of my husband’s friends have taken their own lives.

These men, his brothers in arms, had both lived full careers that each spanned more than 20 years. They were excellent soldiers and both had risen through the ranks to the top of their career fields.

Both were within a few years of retiring.


Family stories, military style

Typical, favorite family stories involve visits with loving grandparents, trips to amusement parks and Christmas dinners.

Favorite military family stories usually are in far-flung locations, away from extended family and often involve some type of military movement, jargon or equipment.

As PCS season swiftly approaches and many of you are prepping for moving day, I want to share with you my family’s favorite story and tale of a PCS gone woefully wrong.

***


Your location: love it or hate it, but see it

We have neighbors who have never been to downtown Waikiki.

When we were stationed in South Korea, I had friends who never left the base.

In North Carolina, many military families had no idea that the Atlantic beaches were only about a two-hour drive east.

As someone who loves to travel, the idea of these military families living through a self-induced house arrest absolutely kills me.

I get it. You are not stationed in a pretty place. It’s too expensive. You don’t like it. You’re not interested. You miss home.


Spouse, mom, volunteer!

For a split second, I feared for our lives.

My husband, toddlers and I were hunkered down in a tent for a weekend campout. My older son was in his own mini-tent. Six Girl Scouts, including my daughter, were split into two small tents, just footsteps from ours.


Budget cuts hit home

Do you feel it yet?

The cuts to the DOD budget after sequestration have begun to trickle down to military families.

Last week the Army and Marines announced a freeze in tuition assistance for military members.

No more money for college. None. Need those credits for your promotion points? Oh well.

This week the Air Force followed suit.

In Hawaii the command has announced that base changes due to the cuts will be posted in next week’s base newspaper. I can hardly wait.


Asleep at the Wheel

Government furloughs are here. And suddenly, everyone is screaming.

So, what have you been doing since the plan was announced, months ago, signaling the coming of this day? 

Nothing.

And that’s what Americans, especially military spouses, seem to be good at.


Ask and You Shall Receive

Bad customer service makes my husband cringe. Not because he is offended by the service, but because he fears the scene I might make.

Let me just clarify, I don’t send food back, I don’t snarl at people who seem to be trying their best and I certainly have never made anyone cry.


We're all in this together: Opening our communities to gay spouses and partners

Gay men and women are now allowed to serve beside my husband. The DOD now considers their partners to be my equal in the world of military spouses.

Sorry if I offend you, but, it sounds good to me.


New voices, a shared story

It doesn’t matter if your husband fought in Vietnam or Iraq. It doesn’t matter if you served 20 years as a military spouse or five. You get it.


Stop, pause and then decide

“I’ve had it with him. I’ve had it with the Army. I asked him for a divorce, he said yes.”

My friend whispered the above statement into the phone for fear her kids would enter the room.

Pages

$6,000 SCHOLARSHIP
For Military Spouses
Apply for the Salute to Spouses scholarship today and begin your education! You’ll be on the way to your dream career.
BLOG CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES

© 2013 SALUTE TO SPOUSES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED