Hey guys! Jen from AKA The Wife is taking over the blog tonight since I have a busy night planned this evening.
Plus, Jen just plain rocks, I've been wanting her to do a guest post FOR-EVAH. We've known each other for awhile now and I just realized she is A LOT more knowledgeable about the military lifestyle than I will ever be. And since it's come to my attention recently that a few readers are marrying into the lifestyle, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about something that plays such a huge role in our lives.
Take it away Jen!
Plus, Jen just plain rocks, I've been wanting her to do a guest post FOR-EVAH. We've known each other for awhile now and I just realized she is A LOT more knowledgeable about the military lifestyle than I will ever be. And since it's come to my attention recently that a few readers are marrying into the lifestyle, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about something that plays such a huge role in our lives.
Take it away Jen!
*****************************
10 Commandants of an Army Wife
When Maria asked me to guest blog over here she said I could write about anything but said she was lacking some military themed posts. I racked my brain for days trying to come up with something that wasn’t overly preachy but still informative. I find that I’m often repeating the same things over and over again when women ask what they should know about being an Army wife. Below are my 10 commandants.
As an aside, I know women can and do serve in the military but since I’m a wife that’s how I wrote this. Feel free to substitute “husband” or “spouse” for wife and whatever branch your spouse may serve in for “Army”.
1. Thou shall not contact the company command with exception for emergencies (sickness, arrest, or death). Don’t be that wife. Everyone gets stuck with shitty assignments or denied leave now and then. Stomping your feet and demanding that the command give your husband a more favorable assignment so you can go to Cousin Ginny’s wedding as a couple isn’t going to get you anything but laughed at.
2. Thou shall not say “we” in terms of deployment or training. “We” didn’t go to basic training so it’s not “our” deployment.
3. Thou shall go forth and embrace the current post. Sure the new post could be in the middle of nowhere but every place has at least one good thing about it. It could be the people, the food, the sights; whatever it is find out what it is and enjoy it. You’re only going to be at this place a few years and don’t want to look back on your time there with regret.
4. Thou shall not wear dog tags, a “Army Wife: Toughest Job in the Army” t-shirt or ACU patterned anything. The general consensus is ACU patterns are better left to the soldiers and on rare occasions the kiddies.
6. Thou shall not believe that one holds rank because one’s husband holds rank. This falls in line with #2.
7. Thou shall appreciate all the benefits the Army bestows on one and one’s family, including but not limited to health care, dental care, tax free shopping and housing. Remember it’s more than some people will ever have.
8. Thou shall not hang homecoming signs that include references to the marital activities that are soon to commence after shutting one’s front door. We’ve all been there and we all know what is about to happen.
9. Thou shall not resent one’s husband for serving. Whether he was already serving prior to your meeting or he joined while you were together, it came as no surprise. If he walked through the door with a signed enlistment contract and you didn’t kick his ass to the curb that’s on you.
10. Thou shall be proud to call thyself an Army wife…very few can say it.
******************************************
And no truer words have been spoken. Thanks Jen!
PS. I may or may not be guilty of number 8, oops!
And this isn't the sign I speak of, by the way ;)
PS. I may or may not be guilty of number 8, oops!
And this isn't the sign I speak of, by the way ;)
These are right on and I could not agree more :)
ReplyDeleteAs an Army "brat", #7 is so true. I miss that military health care BAD now that I have to pay for it!
ReplyDeleteLove it....
ReplyDeleteoh snap! about the signs! lol. I'm not a military wife, but i wanted to say thanks to all who are. I'm sure it's tough having your husband gone.
ReplyDeleteSo true, love this!
ReplyDeleteOMG love this!!!! This is amazing.
ReplyDeleteLOL....I love the list and the sign!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I love the list. I am guilty of #2 though..all the time, I say "we", but then I went to basic training and I have been deployed, lol
ReplyDelete@TheAlbrechtSquad
ReplyDeleteYou're excused haha. Mainly talking about the spouses who act like the job is theirs too ;)
You've got to be kidding. You think that military spouses don't take on 'the job' too? I highly doubt many other professions include being 'voluntold' into organizing your spouse's holiday party, or being a involuntary single parent for a year and a half -- with *no* option for the employee to walk away. Or any number of the other "sacrifices" we make for the military (a real career of your own to be one.) It is my 'job' too, I just don't have to do the uniform/war part. I have to do the 'everything else not covered by the uniform/war' part. Sure there are benefits, but really, there's no separating one's self from the military part of 'military spouse.'
Deletenot only do I love reading your posts about fitness/food etc. I love the fact that you are an army wife. I'm an army girlfriend (hopefully a wife one day!) and my bf is going on tour in March and I'm really not looking forward to it! It's nice knowing that there are people out there in similar positions!!
ReplyDeletevery nice post and helps us non-military wives appreciate the sacrifices of the military families. My mom went through it all and I still admire her for being so strong.
ReplyDeleteI love love this post. I'm officially an Army Fiance; I'll take all the advice I can get!
ReplyDeleteMarine wife checking in to say YES YES YES. (Of course, I say "we" when telling people that he's retired now - "we're out now" and all that. Whoops!)
ReplyDeleteUgh... those Army Wife t-shirts. Even I, the most unfashionable of unfashionables will not go there. Those things are crimes against nature.
ReplyDelete-Leigha, Lovin' life @ Bragg
http://momsfashionblog.blogspot.com/
I agree with all of the above, though I admit to owning a couple of key ACU patterned items purchased by my husband in theater, and gifted upon his return. For me, those are exceptions, and though not worn often, happily kept, proudly worn and always treasured. As for the "royal WE" I completely agree! His rank is his - he earned it, and it was his deployment, (though no less burdensome upon me, I wasn't being shot at with mortars!) However "WE" get stationed and "WE" get orders, because WE move and tackle the adventure together as a family! That is my take, at least!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above, though I admit to owning a couple of key ACU patterned items purchased by my husband in theater, and gifted upon his return. For me, those are exceptions, and though not worn often, happily kept, proudly worn and always treasured. As for the "royal WE" I completely agree! His rank is his - he earned it, and it was his deployment, (though no less burdensome upon me, I wasn't being shot at with mortars!) However "WE" get stationed and "WE" get orders, because WE move and tackle the adventure together as a family! That is my take, at least!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above, though I admit to owning a couple of key ACU patterned items purchased by my husband in theater, and gifted upon his return. For me, those are exceptions, and though not worn often, happily kept, proudly worn and always treasured. As for the "royal WE" I completely agree! His rank is his - he earned it, and it was his deployment, (though no less burdensome upon me, I wasn't being shot at with mortars!) However "WE" get stationed and "WE" get orders, because WE move and tackle the adventure together as a family! That is my take, at least!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above, though I admit to owning a couple of key ACU patterned items purchased by my husband in theater, and gifted upon his return. For me, those are exceptions, and though not worn often, happily kept, proudly worn and always treasured. As for the "royal WE" I completely agree! His rank is his - he earned it, and it was his deployment, (though no less burdensome upon me, I wasn't being shot at with mortars!) However "WE" get stationed and "WE" get orders, because WE move and tackle the adventure together as a family! That is my take, at least!
ReplyDeleteWhen u marry u become one. Marriage is a ministry. I agree with some of it but when he deploys when r back here "serving" as well.
ReplyDelete*We*
ReplyDeletebahahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this ;) I'm having one of those lonely wino mil-wife moments and needed a good laugh =)
some signs make me gag. some are like ahhh i get you girl! but sometimes... mostly when you can see the people hanging the most offensive of signs... i kind of want to cover my eyes and my ears and run away screaming.
that being said, I still relate x1000000 <3