The role of being a military wife doesn't come lightly. It means being supportive, loving, loyal, fierce, and reliable. While you know separation happens, no one can ever prepare you for the hole your spouse leaves in your heart when they're on a mission.
The life of a military spouse is undeniably challenging. Being away from your partner for months or years at a time, assuming the role of a single parent, trying to balance a career while moving so often – all of these realities of military life can take its toll.
The military spouse plays a significant role in the life and morale of the service member: The spouse stays home and keeps the family grounded, safe, and functioning while the service member performs their duty. Many spouses also work full time, pursue their education, and help raise the family.
Life changes frequently for military families. We move a lot and our spouses deploy. Many military spouses I know choose to stay home so they can provide consistency for their families in the midst of chaos. "I'm able to stay home with the kids and cart them to and from school, appointments, etc.
Collaborate with government, private, non-profit, educational, and labor partners to support growing employment opportunities for military spouses. 92% of military spouses are women. 53% participated in the labor market, compared to 76% of the general population.
Being called a “Dependa” implies the military spouse sits at home all day doing nothing while their service member sacrifices everything to keep them comfortable.
The divorce rate for all military personnel is about 3%. Marine Corps and Air Force troops have a slightly higher overall rate, at 3.3%. Officers have a lower rate, at 1.7%, while enlisted troops have a 3.5% rate. Women in the military face an even higher divorce rate, with about 7% of those marriages ending.
The role of being a military wife doesn't come lightly. It means being supportive, loving, loyal, fierce, and reliable. While you know separation happens, no one can ever prepare you for the hole your spouse leaves in your heart when they're on a mission.
You can do freelance work or consulting for companies all over the globe. As independent workers, military spouses can earn extra income, set their own hours, and work from anywhere in a variety of virtual positions. If you're not sure about self-employment, you may still be able to secure a position as an employee.
Although not known as "military marriage pay," service members do receive a pay increase as part of their housing and cost-of-living allowances after they get married.
Frequent moves, absence of the service member, cost of child care vs. wages, and employer bias were the most frequently cited reasons for this problem. This isn't imaginary. Military spouses suffer a demonstrable difference in career attainment from their civilian counterparts.
Access to commissaries and exchanges. Free gyms, libraries and other recreation opportunities. Free tax services. Free, confidential non-medical counseling services.
The difficult adjustment of reconnecting as a couple after having been used to being apart, coupled with other issues such as money, affairs, children, alcohol and physical abuse all increase the chance of divorce for military personnel. Overall, the combined divorce rate for the U.S. military is 3.7%.
The military's solution is to incorporate families in their entirety, and it pays the full relocation costs for each family member -- as long as they are married. This policy causes people to marry earlier than they had planned to, and sometimes to people they would not otherwise have married.
Members of the Air Force and Marine Corps had the highest divorce rate, while members of the Navy had the lowest.
Punishment. The worst-case scenario for a military member committing infidelity is dishonorable discharge. He or she will not be entitled to any pay and allowances, and will also be in confinement for up to a year. However, most of the time, military members are not given this maximum punishment.
Join a spouse group – If you're new to the area, look into on-base military spouse groups. These groups are specifically designed to help milspouses find new friends and build support networks. Sometimes you'll meet for meals or special events.
Save this answer. Show activity on this post. According to this book, they are considered "co-wives."
It's normal to be confused about how the whole military lifestyle really works, especially if you're a new military boyfriend or girlfriend. Military relationships are fun, hard, interesting, challenging, and most of all, rewarding. No matter how foreign this all is, just know you don't have to struggle alone.