Lots of girls just love to see a man in uniform! Something about his posture or his smart dress sends our hearts a flutter. If you’ve been lucky enough to meet a young man with a military career, you may be contemplating dating him. There are lots of things to consider beyond whether you like him or not. Dating a serving military man is nothing like dating a regular Joe in the office.
Those who serve in the military are frequently sent overseas. They may not be in conflict zones, but their absence can be hugely disruptive for you left at home. You have to make sure all the chores and maintenance around the house are still done, even though he is not there to help you. It can be incredibly lonely as well. You may find your guy will be away for many months at a time. Being in a relationship means staying faithful during these extended absences.
The time may come when your relationship has blossomed to a full commitment. Your partner may get down on one knee and pop the question. Getting married when you’re in the military is never easy, because of booking leave for the wedding and honeymoon. You may be restricted to certain dates. You could also be restricted by where you take your honeymoon. Some countries are off limits for serving personnel.
The source of this image is Flickr
Once you are married, you could be entitled to serving family accommodation. There are many choices on any military base and some off-base accommodation too. If you check out places like Ultris Courthouse Square, you can get an idea of the choices available to you, and what to expect when you move in. Rents tend to be cheaper than in the private sector. You will also have the community support of other serving families around you.
If you choose to start a family, you may find you are spending much of your pregnancy alone due to your husband’s career commitments. While every effort will be made for him to be present at the birth of your first, this isn’t always possible. If you are married to a military man, you may need your own family around you more than ever. This can be tricky if you are stationed hundreds or thousands of miles away from them.
Having children when your spouse is serving can be hard. You may frequently feel like a single mom when he’s away. You may have to move from base to base with his job too, meaning the kids frequently change schools. It isn’t easy to pick up a job in each town either, so you may have to work from home or become a full-time stay-at-home mom.
Your support in his career will be very gratefully received. Your job as his wife may be just as tough as his. There is a lot to bear in mind when you date or marry a military man. It will certainly change your life forever, but you can’t help who you fall in love with.
