10 Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me About Military Life

Everyone has their day. Some days are good and some are not so good. I have so far been coping fairly well with this deployment (or at least I think I have been). This past week however it has been a little tougher. I am sure it is just a culmination of different things going on, like Ellie being sick with a cold, the Army pulling Geoff away yet another week in Dec., having nightmares about the deployment and so on. It will pass and I will be fine again soon, however I am going to take this opportunity to vent just a little. So if you are looking for a positive, give you that warm feeling blog you may want to move on. 

10 things I wish someone would have told me about life as an Army Wife. 

1. Things change daily. One minute he is home and you think all is well and the next he is gone. 

2. The Army knows how to make it just barely worth sticking around. 

3. As a Army wife deployments are much easier when you live on post. 

4. You didn't just marry your husband, you married the Army too.

5. Deployments are 12 months long plus 6 months of schools away from home to get ready for the 12 months in country. 

6. The Army likes to appear to care about the Soldier's family.

7. Being in the National Guard instead of Active duty doesn't really mean you get to stay near your friends, family and job. (Well at least as an Officer's Wife)

8. Sure Drill is only once a month but it sure does always seem to be on the same weekend as every other important event in your life.

9. Not being on deployment doesn't mean their at home. 

10. Everyone you meet that finds out what your husband does gives you that I feel sorry for you look then you feel like you have to make excuses, tell them how great it is, and tell them how you really do fine when he is away. 

Okay so I may not really be as bad as all that. The Army has provided us with the life we have today, however it is a huge sacrifice I didn't fully become aware of until recently.  Geoff has been gone a lot through our whole relationship, but never like he will be next year.

2002- 6 months of Basic Training and 2 weeks of AT 

2003- 3 weeks at Airborne School and 2 weeks of AT, 

2004- 4 weeks at Camp and 2 weeks at AT 

2005- 4 week long Activation to Mississippi

2006- 5 months of OBC 

2007- 2 or 3 1 week courses that I can't exactly remember where

2008- 3 weeks Air Assault School, 1 Week Ft. McClellan, 3 Weeks Ft. Irwin, 1 Week in Yuma, 1 week in Ft. Stewart, 1 week in Ft. Leavenworth, 1 week at Ft. Polk and there are still two schools to go before he deploys on Jan. 5th. 

These are only the ones that stand out in my mind I am sure I missed at least one. As always there is more to come like Ranger School, Advance Course, etc....

Anyway enough of my ranting. Please don't say I told you so, or you knew when you married him or whatever you maybe thinking. I am fully aware of that, but you can't help who you love. I would chase him around the world or sit (maybe not so patiently) at home until he returns, and trying to be the best Army wife I can be. (no pun intended).