How to Be a Military Wife

Maybe it was his courage and patriotism, maybe it was that strong self-confidence he radiated or maybe it was how he looked in uniform. Whichever factor or combination of factors appealed to you most, you have decided to throw in your lot with a military man. Now you have to figure out how to be a military wife.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Realize that when you marry a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, you have also married your husband's military career. Decide to make the best of it.
2. Lose your first blush of enthusiasm among the red tape you have to go through to register on base, get your "dependent" ID card and car sticker and set up housekeeping on base.
3. Start packing. Your husband has probably already gotten orders to ship out somewhere. Handle most of the move yourself, including the miles of red tape, while your husband is on exercises or night shift.
4. Feel the first attack of morning sickness in the airplane that is taking you to your new base. Wish you were on a commercial airliner and not taking a lesser-equipped military hop.
5. Register on your new base and set up housekeeping again. Get to know your military neighbors. They will be your best friends until one of you moves again. If you are lucky, you will remain friends even afterward.
6. Get a part-time or full-time job to supplement the military pay and keep yourself busy. Raise your child single-handedly while learning what you can about your new area. Revel in the moments you have your husband to yourself.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 throughout your husband's military career. Cheer when he retires, even while realizing you will kind of miss that life.

Tips & Warnings

• Take pride in your husband's service to your country—and your own service, too. He couldn't do it without you.
• Don't plan to be in one location very long. In fact, don't make any long-term plans. The military owns your future.