Is it a good idea to marry and start a family while one or both spouses are active in the military?
400611
It is becoming quite acceptable in the UK Armed Forces for both let alone one member to be on active service and I've heard of children being born and still both members are retained in the Forces. Is your question to do with UK or US?
1118484
I think it all depends.  If you've been in a relationship with someone for a long time and you know they'll be back, then it's ideal.  Military wives do it all the time when their husbands go and fight.  However, if you haven't known the person for very long, and have never even met.  IE:  Online love.  Then screw that.  There's no point in having a long distance relationship with someone you don't know REALLY well.  Long distance relationships often fail because you two can't even be together that much, causing a series of emotions that aren't healthy.  If you're in a long term relationship, make sure it's right for both of you and you're not just doing it because you can't let someone go.
317864
I would say depends on how long you know each other. I would not use marriage just to show that you are together. You might consider just living together for a while/years and if the mood strikes you and both really WANT to get married then do so. It should be your choice, not the choice of people around you. Good luck!
843769
Why not become a real estate agent yourself?  Its listed as a good choice for military spouses.  \nSites like         http://www.military.com/spouse       give good advice on careers for spouses and have search engines to look for jobs.  Getting any type of degree will make it easier to get a job at you new base.  Also getting a job on base or a goverment job is a good idea.  You won't take a pay decrease if you are forced to move.
1031006
my husband is in the Air Force for that and he really likes the Air Force because we stay put, we don't have to leave all the time we stay on a base we don't go off on a boat all the time (which my daughter and I could not go anyway) and the Air Force is better for families anyway. There is also more kinds of planes to work on as well there are the fighters and the heavies(cargo) then there are the Intel planes so there I think are allot more options, but I am not sure about the Navy.
910709
It's a matter of balancing things.  One would hope that the children were semi-planned for.  \n  In this day and age, as it has been for over forty years now, it tooks two incomes to achieve the 'American Dream'.  That in and of it's self is a shame.  \n  The responsibilities need to be divided as evenly as possible.  Based on each persons current strength and future learning curve.  Another key factor that MUST be acknowledged is for the couple to share private time. This needs to occur at LEAST once week.  There may be no choosing between 'housewife or MD', that decision was made quite awhile ago, now wasn't it?!\n  There is no easy answer, it needs to be logically discussed.  Not that it be 'cast in stone', for we must remain flexible, things change.  If they didn't, you would not be asking this question!\n  Write a list of each others stength an weakness, prepare one for you and one on your spouse. Compare the lists and build from there.  REMEMBER to be flexible, and no need to argue, be civil.\n  It's not going to be easy, BUT anything worth having never is. \nLife is not designed to be easy, it's here to teach us lesson to build a strong union and prepare for what the future will bring.  A little prayer to the Deity never hurts either.
787999
Joining the national guard is a great decision.  I joined the army (active duty) about three years ago and am very happy with my choice.   I am a much better person both personally and professionally for it.  Some of the most challenges times of personal moral change have been in the army.\n\nNow for the national guard vs. the reserve or active duty their are many pros and cons.  While he will get to stay at home for a good part of the time and live an otherwise normal life, the guard and reserve actually have a higher chance of deploying than active duty soldiers.  Now, I really do not think deploying is a bad thing.  It will make your fiance a better soldier, leader and will give him a chance to save up some money.  \n\nAnother downside of the guard is that promotion is slower.  Becuase of how the guard is structured and because of its size they need less people to get promoted every month than the regular army does.  If he joined the Army Reserve or went active duty, he would get promoted faster.\n\nAnother downside of the national guard is the quality of equipment and training.  Though this is changing because they are doing so many deployments, the budgets for equipment and training are sometimes smaller than they would be for the reserve or for active duty soldiers.  If you want to go the citizen/soldier route, I would reccomend going into the reserve rather than the guard because they will generally have a little more money for training and equipment.  Yet this does not mean that the national guard is a low quality organization at all.  It is a group of high quality nco's and officers.\n\nGood luck to him whatever his choice.
719062
To an extent, yes, when you marry somebody, you also marry their family....holidays, birthdays, get togethers of any kind bring the entire family together...for better, or worse! The only GOOD thing is after the occasion, you can go home and leave them.
526743
It is an interesting experience. My husband and I have been together for only 3 years and we are on our second deployment. He is currently serving in Iraq. Be proud because your husband is doing something truly great. Feel free to contact me if you want to talk.
494231
I heard once that the toughest job in the military is military spouse.  I agree.  They aren't on the payroll, but the military spouses go through a great deal while their loved ones are in combat.
1181254
Moving is a part of military life.  Some people get lucky, and "homestead" at one base or another for an extended period of time, but that's not the norm.  On average, you can plan on moving about every 4 years, give or take.  There are programs that support the family, and can help with relocation including helping your spouse get a new job at your new location, but it's no guarantee she will walk right into a new job.  \n\nYes, married airmen can live in on base housing, but there is often a waiting list.  I never lived on base, I always preferred to live off base "on the economy".  Especially overseas (I lived in Germany for 4 years) I enjoyed the experience of living in a german town.  If you are unable to live on base, and are married, you will be paid an additional housing allowance to cover expenses of rent, utilities, etc.  Unmarried junior enlisted live in dormitories, otherwise known as barracks.
435683
My husband is currently deployed for the 2nd time.  It's hard, I am not going to lie.  But I grew up Marine Corps and then I married right back into it.  As long as you have the strength and the love for your husband/boyfriend/fiance you will make it.  I PROMISE!  I would truly say being a Military Members spouse during deployment or any other time is the toughest job in the corps.  We girls call ourselves "Semper Gumby" Always Flexible!  Cause, in reality, we have to be flexible, hardly seeing our loved ones, holding down the fort, and I am taking care of our beautiful 18 month old little boy but everyday I see that little boy of ours smile I remember my husband is doing his job and fighting for our freedom!  I pray for EVERY Man and Woman over there fighting and am very very proud of all of them, even the wives and families at home, missing their loved ones like crazy!  I have spent our only 2 anniversary's alone but when he is home it's all worth it!  I am proud to be a Marine Wife and I am proud to have my husband serve in the armed forces with anyone's husband, father, mother, sister, brother etc.  You will make it!!!!  Be strong!!!!  SEMPER GUMBY!
528543
Yes you can.  Just make sure you get a high score on the ASVAB so you can have a broader choice of what kind of job you will be doing.  Since you are married there shouldn't be any problem about custody of your kids.  The service just wants to make sure there is something official stating who will be caring for your kids during the time you are away for training or deployments, this usually applies more to single parents or dual military parents.  You don't say what your husband does.  Is he willing to give up his job to relocate with you?  As soon as you finish with Basic and Advanced training you will be sent to a duty station, with your family.  Your being in the Air Force will cover health and other benefits for your husband and kids, and it's possible that your husband can find a job in the area you go too, even if you get sent overseas, he can get a civilin job on base, although he might not be happy with the choices.  And even if you get an office job or one that they tell you doesn't deploy often, be prepared for the possibility that you will deploy and could be sent away from your family for a year at a time.  Good Luck
455705
Ain't no tellin'.\n\nYou have sold your soul when you fly slicks.\n\nLotsa deployment.  Lotsa travel (mostly bad places).\n\nBe sensative and understanding towards your wife.  She gets to go along for the ride with no real status.  It's difficult for spouses and the survival rate for marriages isn't good.\n\nGood luck.
511804
If you two are legally married, then if your husband is deployed to any other base, you will both be going together. The military does not force the spouse to leave the other spouse. Only if you are married however. If he is deployed to war...that is a different story. Depending on his job in the military as well. \n\nIf you need anything, feel free to IM.
976688
I was also a young Marine Corp wife (still married, but now he has moved on to law enforcement).  As I know money is tight in the military and you are so far away from your friends and family it is hard to find something to do and find any time together.  The best thing you can do is to get to know your neightbors.  One of them might have or know someone that has a daughter/son that babysits.  We were lucky enough to find that!!  If that's not an option right now......try some little day trips as a family which is always good for the military man to spend time with his family as a whole.  There is always something to do without spending a lot of money.  Pack a lunch and go check out everything there is to do around the base and then spawn out to the towns around.  And car time is always a good time to talk and reconnect!!  Good luck.....it's not easy.....but it can be done!!
384818
If you don't have a strong relationship to begin with, than military life makes it that much harder.  each spouse must be strong, independant and flexible.