Not sure how I feel about this.

I can use any and all advice you can give me. Is it difficult being an army wife? What are the benefits/downfalls? Do you move a lot? How often is he away? I have a lot of questions because I really don't know much about it. We may go talk to a recruiter today.

TIA

IMO the benefits outweigh the sacrifices of being a military wife. So far we're averaging a move every 2 years but I think we're not the norm most other military wives I've talked to that have been doing this longer average around 5 years in one place and the military is trying to make it to where guys with families don't move as often. Depending on his job when he's not deployed it's like a regular 9 to 5 job he'll have most weekends and holidays off and there's been talk of extending time between deployments from 18 months to 3 years but don't quote me to that part it's just rumors. The downside is that you are kind of stuck as perpetual renters until he gets out but the health benefits and gauranteed paycheck balance that out. He could get sent to Korea which most families aren't able to accompany over there but again that depends on the job he picks. The hardest part is really the deployments having to say goodbye for a year or more is definitely hard but having kids will definitely keep you busy and the time will fly by. If you're ok with being away from your friends and family and can forge bonds with other military wives you'll be ok. The military really recognizes the importance of family to their soldiers so there are plenty of groups and things like that you can particpate in that give you a real sense of community.

Let's face it in this economy what other job are you given housing or a housing allowance, free health care, a gauranteed paycheck, schooling for your kids, a guaranteed paycheck, and the security of knowing you will have a job as long as he stays in? Not very many. Plus if he stays in for 20 years he can retire and collect the retirement and health benefits for you and him for the rest of your lives and the retirement pay is effective upon retiring so no waiting until retirement age. If he does get out he has the GI Bill he can use that pays housing allowance as well as for school

Hiii! Ok well my husband is in the Marine Corps, but pretty much what hurley said :) You cannot beat the health care benefits and the guaranteed paycheck. MY job is always in constant jeopardy, but that will be the case no matter what. We move about every three or four years, depending on jobs and availability. There's a built in network with the military life and other wives/SOs and deployments are not too terrible. My husband has been deployed twice and granted, the Marine Corps deployments are shorter than the Army, they're about 8 months, but the time passes so quickly and you can email, skype, write, etc. It hasn't been too bad for me. It does suck when you have to leave your family and such, but in the military they can take a good chunk of leave time and go back and visit, etc.

And pretty much everything Hurley said :)

Let us know what happens after you talk to a recruiter or what you decide! :) Good luck!

if you have any specific questions after talking to the recruiter pm me dh was a recruiter up until last week

Thanks so much girls. We weren't able to make it to see the recruiter today, so we will most likely reschedule.

My biggest issue is the moving every few years. Mainly because we have a son. I don't want to be moving him around all the time. This means, new schools, teachers, doctors, friends. It's a lot for a kid. when I was young we moved all the time! I went to at least 4 different elementary schools and it was hard to adjust every time. :/ I would like some kind of routine for our son.

I'm also really close to my family. My 2 sisters and my mom particularly. They have been my best friends these past few years and it would be really hard to not see them all the time and all my nieces and nephews :(

But DH wants to "do something with his life" and I do want him to be happy.....so we will see what happens.

Thanks again girls! :)

I'm in your shoes sans the child.

FI is looking to join some branch of the military (right now looking at AF).

As far as moving the kids - though it is tough on them as far as having to leave friends, etc - I think it makes them more well rounded and tougher as far as coping with situations. It may actually mature them a bit more as well.

My FI is an army brat and moved all over the globe growing up - He still stays in contact (thank god for FB!) with his friends that he made in high school & the friends he had on the bases where they lived. With technology these days, it makes it a lot easier for the kids to stay in touch.

I'm actually a little excited at the prospect of moving all the time -especially overseas.

The moving will suck but honestly I grew up around a lot of military kids my entire life and I am now at a military college and am getting married to one in the future and the military kids are some of the best a well rounded kids you will ever meet... yes it will be hard on the kids at first but it will eventually become a routine and as the children will understand  that everything you do is all out of support for their dad that is sacrificing a whole lot more... I have learned the ways of a military family very fast with Nick and his family because his BIL is currently deployed and has 2 small children at home. But honestly a supportive family will be the most important thing with a deployment...