Military Wife Questionnaire

I am a Military Wife!

Believe it or not, it took me a long time to be able to say that and really feel that way. In a perfect world I could sit here and tell you that all military wives are friendly and welcoming, but what I have learned from my experience is that it is often a nasty case of who's moved more, been enlisted longer, survived more deployments and so on. It was because of this that I always felt inferior to other military wives and felt as if I knew less-than and was inexperienced.

The truth is, I may never experience the same things that other wives do, but that does not make me less of a military wife. Everyone's experiences are different and very important! I thought I would fill out this little questionnaire and play along with Show Us Your Life: Military Families over at Kelly's Korner.

Enjoy...

1. How did you and your spouse meet?
We had mutual friends in high school and one of my best friends actually dated his best friend.

2. How old were you when you two met? 
I was 14 and he was 16 (and had a car! *gasp).
 
3. How long have you been together?
We started dating on July 25th, 2004 (7.5 years ago). He proposed on March 15th, 2005 (almost 7 years ago). We got married on July 22nd, 2006 (5.5 years ago).

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?
Central Illinois.

5. How did you feel about him joining the military?
This is complicated. I knew he was joining before we were even friends. I actually sat him down and explained that I would NEVER date him because it was my goal in life to NEVER be a military wife. I'm pretty sure I told him that if he ever got out, to call me! haha. That plan obviously fell through. When we got married, the plan was that he was getting out soon. A sailor of the quarter, sailor of the year, #1 EP, and quick advancement changed those plans as well. I've since accepted that we are a military family. 

6. Where did your spouse go to Basic Training?
Great Lakes, Illinois

7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?
We are currently going through our first actual deployment. I want to add that he did sail around the tip of South America when I was pregnant with our youngest and that was a few months long. 

8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony? 
No. I was present for one of his re-enlistment ceremonies, but have yet to attend a promotion ceremony.

9. How long have you been a military wife?
 Since he was in before we got married, 5.5 years. I would also like to take credit for the 1.5 years that I was a Navy GIRLFRIEND!! :)

10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?
After

11. How did your husband propose?
On the white beaches of Destin, Florida while wearing his dress whites. It was after hurricane Katrina and there was an old wooden bench that had washed ashore and someone had turned it over so people could sit on it. We had just walked along the beach and sat down to talk when he asked.

12. Where did you get married? 
We were married in my hometown church where I was baptized and my parent's were married 25 years prior.

13. How old were you two when you got married?
I was 18 and he was 20.

(Sounds ridiculously young now when I think about it.)

14. Did he wear his uniform on his wedding day?
No. Looking back, I wish he would have.
He did wear his working blues to my senior prom.


15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed? 
Technically he is attached to the USS Makin Island who's port is in San Diego, California. I, however, moved with the girls to our hometown during deployment.

16. Do you live on base?
We have never lived on base, but did enjoy our time in off-base military housing.

17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?
Haha...our entire engagement and before we were separated. We had few solid years together (shore duty) before we had to deal with the constant separation that sea duty brings. At this point, we have been together about as long as we have been separated.

18. What is your favorite base so far?
I didn't get to see much of Great Lakes and never lived there. Pensacola was nice, but also never lived there. I have been lucky enough to only live in San Diego, but out of those multiple bases, I prefer NASNI Coronado.

19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?
Umm...YES! Why do you think we have three children.

Hehe...just kidding!

20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life? 
Advanced? I by no means feel superior to civilian wives, but I do feel like our lives are vastly different and that should be acknowledged at times.

21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent?
Yes, I just wish places (military especially) would respect us as spouses a little more. 9 times out of 10 you can't sign up for things, change things, approve things, etc. without your active duty spouse there or a power of attorney.

22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends? 
No! The majority of my military friends were my friends before any of us married our men.

23. What is the hardest part of the military life?
Where do I start?

Being away from family and friends/your spouse. (It's always one or the other.) Meeting other military wives and making friends is not as easy as it seems and things can get very lonely. Nothing is ever in your control!!

24. Do you own military wife stuff?
No. I have a Navy wife thing around my license plate and maybe a mug. Actually, I think the mug says girlfriend. Oh, Johnathon got me a 'Navy Wife' sweater two years ago.

25. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military? As hard as it is, yes!

I want to thank everyone for the amazing support as we continue through this deployment. You'll never know how much it means to me.