How to Meet New Friends as a Military Spouse

Networking as a military spouse is important to your emotional well-being. Friendships can provide comfort during deployments as well as fun times on a typical weekend afternoon. Since your spouse's career may require you to relocate often, it can seem difficult to make new friends. Learn the art of making friends as a military spouse to help avoid feeling loneliness or resentment towards your spouse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Join military clubs and organizations. There are many to choose from including ones specifically created for military spouses. Find potential friends while making care packages for deployed soldiers or coordinating military fundraisers. Lifelong friendships can be made from your interactions in military organizations.
2. Attend military sponsored events. Is it time for the annual picnic? Prepare to participate in these events, even if your spouse is on deployment. For example, the company picnic could be a perfect opportunity to connect with your neighbor.
3. Connect with your spouse's military unit. Consider your spouse's unit to be your family. Although unit members may deploy to faraway lands, there will always be family members left behind for you to befriend. Provide support for other spouses as they make the transitions you are making.
4. Immerse yourself in activities on the military installation. Check out unit and installation bulletin boards to discover notices of concerts, parties and other special events. Invite your new neighbors to accompany you to the next barbecue or book signing.
5. Search for friends outside the military installation. While it can be fun to interact with military members and their families, don't forget there is still life outside the installation gates. Although your spouse is in the military, you aren't. Never feel like you have to embrace everything about the military including all of it's members.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in contact with friends you meet while your spouse is in the military. You may even be reunited with them at a different military installation.
• Contact your military installation's public affairs office for more information on available clubs and organizations.