Sorry to post again - wasn't sure which one you'd be looking at.
In response to last one: Marriage? Not yet hehe! But hopefully...he's in Uni, I'll be next year (though he keeps on hinting that once we're both in uni...). He's gonna be shipped off to Sandhurst (English officers training school) with the isolation thing you talked about..
You were married before, right? And not quite at the moment...? I've had this thing bugging me for ages - which married life is better - the office job husband or the army husband? I know it seems like I'm jumping the gun, but he's got his entire life and career planned with me in it; his long-term relationship with me was one of the reasons he got the scholarship. I need to know whether I'd be prepared to be an army wife now (argh) so, if I couldn't cope with it, I'd let him go now so he could meet someone that would cope with it.
I was just wondering pros/cons for an army wife? Sure he'll be away for half a year at the least, but full time the other half...if you have an office husband, he'd be home every night in body, but probably not in spirit, every night. Sure you'd miss your army husband, but it makes a relationship stronger once you do see him right?
Just wondering if you could throw more perspective on the issue...it's not of great importance I know but it's a niggling thing...I know I WOULD stay with him, just is it really much more painful than an *average* couple? We're a long distance couple anyway, always have been (anything between 50 to 300 miles apart) - that's a strength for coping...?
Thanks in advance, and sorry if it wastes your time :) xxx
Responses to this article:
--- Sunday, May 30, 2004 -
Answer by: ArmyPrincess
By the way, when I said that health insurance is free (no co payment) I'm talking about tricare prime, the main choice of insurance for military families. There are other options, like tricare standard, but prime is best considering emergencies. Anyway if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
--- Sunday, May 30, 2004 -
Answer by: Army Princess
I am an army wife. And I'll tell you, there are pros and cons to being an Army wife. Being a military wife is tough and never easy. You have to develop a sense of independence on your own, more so than being a civilian wife. You have to get used to being alone at times while your husband is either on deployments or training, and you being away from your family and friends for sometimes long periods of time.
For your housing you have the choice to either live in base housing or off base, in which you will receive BAH (allowance from the government). Most families opt to live on base, which is completely free, typical government housing but minus the crime. Don't expect anything nice and you'll be content. :) I had a lot of work to do fixing up our garden, but it gave me something to do while my husband was working and gave me a sense of accomplishment. Military balls are wonderful, they can be a lot of fun and you feel like your husband's little princess. :) And while relocating you'll be given the opportunity to see the world. Also in the military you will meet many other anrmy wives and you will develop a real family relationship with them. The women in your company will be like your sisters and will be there to support you, as you them, when the unit deploys. Military health insurance can be a pain in the rear, but it can be great as long as you get in to see a doctor rather than a physician's assistant. It's totally free of cost AND the prescriptions on base are free as well. It's pretty good but you just need to learn on WHO to see and HOW to work it. At first military life is especially very, very hard. You'll feel lost and hopeless, because you don't have any control over your life, the military does! You'll be faced with loneliness at times but you learn how to combat that yourself. Getting a dog or other pet can be your best friend while your husband is away training. You'll also develop hobbies and have the option of taking fun classes on base.
Bascially, what it all boils down to is are YOU ready to be a military wife? Do you love him so much as you are willing to truly make life sacrifices? You will definitely go through for better or for worse, so take the thought of marrying a soldier seriously. It is a real commitment.
The three most stressful things an Army wife deals with is deployments, reclocation, and bureaucrats. Bureaucrats are people who work for the government and they can be very hard to deal with when it comes to pay, benefits, really anything. They can be stubborn and treat you badly but you just have to learn to deal with them. If you ever yell at them they will make your life worse.
You're doing the right thing by considering all of this. Some military couples have the greatest and loving marriages, some do not and struggle with military life. Really think about this, but follow your heart. Love really is everything, and it is your bond of love that gives you strength. Follow your heart.
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