Military Wife's Survey

The Courtship
Where did you and your military man meet?:
In high school, Fall of 2004.

How did you feel about him being in/joining the military?:
I'm the one who finally gave him motivation to go active duty instead of reservist and to do it sooner rather than later.

Did you have to wait for him while he went to Boot Camp?:
Yes. It was tough, but it prepared me for this deployment even better than I thought it would.

Did you attend his Boot Camp graduation?:
Of course! And MCT, actually.


The Marriage
Were you married before or after he joined?:
After, technically. During leave between Boot Camp and MCT. But we knew we were ready before that.

Where did he propose?:
On the front steps of our old high school; the very spot where we met and he supposedly fell in love at first sight. Although it took him two years to be allowed to prove since I made him chase me. : P

Did he wear his uniform on your wedding day?:
His Dress Blues, of course.

Was he home the full first year of your marriage?:
Haha. No. MCT for a month, Communications school for six months-ish, two months in North Carolina without me prepping for deployment, and now he's deployed until next year sometime.

How long were you married when you had to go through your separation?:
A couple of days when he left for MCT.


The Life of a Military Wife
What branch is he in?:
United States Marine Corps.

What's his rank?:
Lance Corporal. (E3)

What does he do in the military?:
Field Wireman, technically, but we all know that every Marine is a Rifleman (Infantry) first.

How many bases have you guys been stationed at?:
Just Lejeune in North Carolina, but I haven't moved there yet given the circumstances.

What's been your favorite base?:
I don't have any comparisons yet.

Ever lived in base housing?:
No.

What's the best thing about being a military wife?:
Although separations are tough, every time you're reunited it's like a mini-honeymoon. And you're so busy soaking up every moment you have together before he's gone again, that it rarely gets to the point where you take each other for granted and get on each other's nerves horribly.

What's the worst?:
The actual separations, especially when communication isn't what you would like it to be.

How many deployments have you survived?:
Surviving my first right now.

Do you send care packages?:
Yes. At least once a week.

Do you go to the Commissary on payday?:
No Commissary here at the parents'.

Have you ever worked at the PX?:
No.

Do you own any military wife stuff?:
Of course.

Do you know your husband's branch hymn?:
Duh.

Have you ever been to his promotion ceremony?:
No. He started out E2 at the end of Boot Camp because of his JROTC experience, and his promotion to E3 was at Communications school.

Is he a lifer?:
Maybe. We haven't decided yet. The separations could be the deal breaker.

What's some advice for a new wife going through their first deployment?:
Stay faithful, and give him any and all communication you can regardless of what you get in return. Be waiting when he gets off that bus because that is the moment keeping him going while he is away, and he lives from mail call to mail call in the in between.

Aren't you glad you married your hero?:
I would never change a thing. I'm very proud and very in love.