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Divided By Duty

In a military relationship, service always comes first; what is it like to share your spouse, partner or significant other with the armed forces?

Lost at Sea
It was during one shipboard phone call to Kenny, as we briefly tried to keep whatever we had going, that he dropped a bombshell. Just as my twenty-minute time card was about to expire and we were saying our goodbyes he said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I re-enlisted yesterday.”
Randi Cruz
Published 3 years ago in Serve
Being in a Military Relationship
First thing is first is that boyfriend/girlfriend or girlfriend/girlfriend or boyfriend/boyfriend relationships can be easy at times and really hard at other times. It goes the same when you are a civilian, and you are dating someone in the military. The the word civilian is what people in the military call people that aren't in the military. There are many rules and/or things to know that come with dating someone in the military (just like dating someone not in the military.)
Michaela La Brie
Published 4 years ago in Serve
The 10 Best Subscription Boxes for Military Wives
There is no question that the military forces of the United States are the strongest in the world. It is a badge most Americans wear with honor, and that fact is especially true among those who are affiliated with service members. Considering the exception of military members themselves, some of the most proud are military spouses. They live a life that is opposite the same coin that their service member spouse have committed to, dealing with the stresses of everyday tasks without their support system close to home. As a friend, or even the soldier abroad, being there for them isn’t easy either; but it is important to find ways to do it anyway. That’s why a number of companies have created subscriptions boxes for military wives, husbands, or significant others at home, to help you support the loved one fighting the good fight at home.
Bill Shaffir
Published 4 years ago in Serve
10 Ways to Help Military Wives Out
The military family community is a close-knit one in most areas; however, if there aren't a lot of military families where you're living, the life of a military wife is going to be an even more difficult endeavor to go through. The separation, the frequent moving, the worrying—it's not easy to wait at home for a loved one that is in a dangerous situation.
Bill Shaffir
Published 4 years ago in Serve
10 Gifts for Newlywed Military Wives
If you're like me, you're getting to an age where you realize that all of your friends are getting married; and trust me when I say I would have never guessed that most of them are marrying guys in the military. To be honest, it's not for me. What I do know though, is that with every deployment I see my friends' husbands embark on, I realize how difficult it is on them as newlyweds. Being there for someone is one of the best things you can do as a friend, but sometimes you want to do something more for your best girl. So, what better way to do that than with a few thoughtful gifts for newlywed military wives?
Kayla Manganelli
Published 4 years ago in Serve
10 Best Gifts for Military Wives
When it comes to marrying the love of your life, there is a certain layer of magic that comes with knowing you'll have a partner by your side through thick and thin. However, the promise of standing side by side when you are a military couple will have its own challenges. The months of separation while a husband is out on duty can bring on lonely days. While being a military wife comes with its own share of magic, it always helps to feel the support of your loved ones. Whether their husband is in the next room or is a world away serving our country, these are some of the best gifts for military wives. Give them that extra reminder that their love is always with their military spouse. Little reminders of support truly go a long way.
Michelle Estevez
Published 5 years ago in Serve
Top Story - September 2018
How to Survive a Military Relationship
It’s hard. A long-distance military relationship is hard. There is no other way to put it. One of the things you have to ask yourself, though, is, Is it all worth it? In my case, heck yeah it was/is! He is my everything. He is my world. There are still times when I wake up and I am like, “Oh my goodness, I cannot take this anymore!” Do I give up? Does that mean I wanna quit the relationship or him? No!
Jessika Rice
Published 5 years ago in Serve
Sniper
Days are long, nights are cold. At times I find myself numb from the chill, all but my fingers and toes which ache and burn, try as I may to warm my frozen blood. I can’t shake, no matter how hard the wind blows. I can’t shiver, no matter how far the temperature drops. I must stay still. If I move, people will die.
Hannah Shull
Published 5 years ago in Serve
Military Spouse
Well, March 10, 2017, is where it began. Met the love of my life and I didn’t know it yet. Went to a friends party and found out it was for him, he was home on leave, a soldier; soon to be my soldier. He was there for a month, in that time span, we learned so much about each other and realized we finally met “our person.” We have this festival in Arizona: “Country Thunder.” The last night there, it was pure magic, the beginning of us. Since then, we’ve been together. Being in nothing but toxic relationships, I went in with an open mind and realized what long distance is like. I didn’t know what to expect or feel...but mixed emotions.
Brittney
Published 5 years ago in Serve
Soft Orders
Soon we will discover how drastically or minimally our lives will change, depending on where they decide to send you. To be honest, it's not like our every wish and need will be met at our convenience. But there is a small hope within me that somehow, even if I could pack a toothbrush and make a weekend trip to be with you, then it would be a literal dream. Yet in the midst of the chaos that we have surfed through since we had a talk about your decision, there is no denying that we have gained strength through the wait and hope through the silence. Months without contact besides the words scrawled quickly on a piece of flip notebook paper undeniably catalyzes the appreciation I have for your affection, even when you are forced to fit within some shell of existence they make for you while you are there. Ironically, I believe this kind of emotional turmoil I have experienced along the way has beautifully wrecked all of my expectations of what our lives would look like and has been replaced with an entire world map of possibilities.
Fayth Stewart
Published 5 years ago in Serve
What to Expect While Your Boyfriend Is at Army Basic Training
So your boyfriend has joined the Army. By putting name to paper, he has committed the next four, six, eight, or maybe even ten years of his life to serving his country. Maybe he has already left, or maybe you're desperately trying to spend every last minute with him before he does. Watching my boyfriend swear in before being immediately whisked away to catch a flight to Fort Jackson terrified me. I had no idea what to expect in the next two and a half months. Suddenly, the man I had seen almost every single day for the last two years was gone, and I had to learn a new normal.
Emily Rhein
Published 5 years ago in Serve
Top Story - April 2018
How To Stay Connected with Your Military Wife While Deployed
Being in a military marriage is far more stressful than a typical marriage. Along with the stressors of everyday life, whether you are in the army on a domestic base or deployed in the air force in Germany, military spouses have to cope with the very real possibility of deployment. When your partner is deployed, a whole new category of problems typically arise in military relationships.
[ENCLOSED]
Published 5 years ago in Serve