There are quite a few critics out there that give the military spouse lifestyle a bad wrap, but the truth is, you’ll do more, see more, and experience more things in your 20 years of military service than most people see, do, or experience in a lifetime. 

The key to success as a military spouse first and foremost is having an open mind.  Don’t spend all your precious time whining and complaining about things you can’t change, instead, choose the areas of your military life where you have the power to impact change and make it happen. One of your greatest challenges will be building a career of your own. But don’t fret, the Department of Defense and all the branches of the military are on-board with solutions for overcoming the portable career challenges of military spouses. 

What you can do to overcome the career portability challenge is to become proactive. Research ways to either make your existing career military-spouse friendly (through telecommuting, job-sharing, or flexible work schedules), or devise a plan to create your own military spouse-friendly career through virtual business ownership, self employment, freelancing or independent contracting.

Below are some key areas to help you make the best of your military spouse lifestyle:

Career Portability

Today’s military spouses have options when it comes to career portability.  Technologies like high-speed Internet, e-mail, websites, instant messenger, online meeting places, laptops, affordable desktop systems, and Web cams make it possible for a military spouse to be stationed overseas while working for a company based in the United States for example. The portable career challenges of yesterday are quickly fading, always be proactive in your career endeavors, always remain optimistic, and always keep an open mind.

Relocation

This is one of those areas as a military spouse that you cannot change, it’s a part of the military lifestyle. Embrace it and seize the opportunities. Prepare as best as you can, use the Internet to conduct research on your new duty assignment, begin networking (establishing contacts) six months out. The better prepared you are prior to a relocation, the smoother your relocations will become.

Military families are assigned to some pretty fabulous duty stations whether stateside or overseas and sometimes to places civilians only dream about.  The important thing here is to get out and learn about your new duty station, travel outside the military base (if permitted) and especially if stationed overseas, discover new and different ways of living, new cultures, foods, arts, entertainment, fashion, décor.  Visit your base Morale, Welfare and Recreation office (Army - http://www.armymwr.com/, Navy - http://www.mwr.navy.mil/, Marine Corps - https://www.bam.usmc.mil/mccs.htm, Air Force - http://usafservices.com/, for guidance and information.

Deployment

You can plan and prepare for days or months and still not be ready for the deployment of your active duty soldier.  Separations of any length are difficult but once again this is one of those areas that you cannot change, it’s a part of the military lifestyle. If you find that you or your children are having a difficult time dealing with a deployment, get some help and support.  A good place to start is at the local base level (contact your base family support center), you can also find 24/7 support online at www.militaryonesource.com or 24/7 support by telephone: 1-800-342-9647.  Find ways to stay busy: volunteer, exercise, work part-time, take college courses, attend professional development seminars or workshops, join a book club, start a book club, write letters and emails to your soldier, offer support to other spouses and don’t forget to take some personal time (visit the hair or nail salon).

Retirement

Reaching the 20-year mark in the military is quite an accomplishment. Now it’s time to hang up the boots and prepare for your final transition into civilian life. For a lot of military families, this final transition represents the end of a lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to (especially financially). However with  proper planning, preparation and teamwork, you’ll leave the military lifestyle, stress-free, optimistic, and ready to move on to the next chapter of your life.

Time flies quickly so make your life as a military spouse the most memorable ever.  My husband and I are retired now, two years and loving it!

Until the next time.