Let's talk military

[ilovelamp]

What is/was your favorite part of being associated with the military?

I think for me it was the people. I met so many great friends when I was in and there was so much support from everyone. Even on my bad days when I missed home there was someone around that knew what I was going through. It was like a big family.

[housegeek]

The steady paycheck and health benefits, easily.

[iluvmytxrgr]

When I was in, it was my fellow soldiers and the bond we shared. With H, it is the family and support system we have around us through his unit. This is one of the tightest groups you will find in all the military. We really are a family.

[Deleted]

Community. Hands down. I also like the opportunities to travel.

[G22]

Getting to see and do so many things I'd never get to do if we lived in the same place for most of our lives. We wouldn't be able to afford to travel all over as much to see everything we have done so far, most of which was because of where we were living and not making a big trip to do them.

[honeybadger]

I have to agree with the community and travel/opportunity to live places you most likely never would have done if you had no career or spouse in the military.

I've met so many incredible people. Not that we don't have wonderful people in our home state but, we've met so many different kinds of people in 3 short years, I am seriously blessed to know them. And I haven't always enjoyed living where we are now but, I've had some great experiences. Learned SO MUCH. Made incredible memories and experienced a whole new area. I love that we get to look forward to this all over again in another new location that we are even more excited about!

[nsl]

The health benefits are definitely at the top of the list. I'll also agree that getting to meet people and live places I never would have otherwise is a major perk.

[twoslicehilly]

The financial stability is awesome. The people are pretty great.

[JakJak]

The strong community, great travel opportunities, and definitely the health benefits.

[amaristella]

Community, my boat family feels like my family away from home. Health benefits, other benefits, etc.

[Jam]

I've met some nice people but majority have no identity outside of their relationship, are immature or insanely narrow-minded so I can't exactly say the people I've met is a bonus.

The opportunity to further my education, traveling, living somewhere I probably would've never even visited, financial stability and being put in challenging situations are what I would consider the plus side of this whole experience

[margotmacomber]

Health care and extended issued family, for sure.

[verycontrary247]

Health care, job stability, oh- and 10% off dinner on Mondays at Texas Roadhouse!

[brandienee]

May 27, 2012 21:31:28 GMT -5 Jam said:

I've met some nice people but majority have no identity outside of their relationship, are immature or insanely narrow-minded so I can't exactly say the people I've met is a bonus.

The opportunity to further my education, traveling, living somewhere I probably would've never even visited, financial stability and being put in challenging situations are what I would consider the plus side of this whole experience

Took the words right out of my head. All of this.

[GracieLouFreebush]

May 27, 2012 19:25:57 GMT -5 housegeek said:

The steady paycheck and health benefits, easily.

Yep.

ETA: Changed my mind. #1 for me is that my H has found something he really enjoys for a career. School was never really his thing so I'm very proud that he's done well and enjoys it.

[NomadicMama]

May 27, 2012 19:24:42 GMT -5 ilovelamp said:

What is/was your favorite part of being associated with the military?

There are, for my family, many more positives than negatives that come from being a part of the military community.

My favorite part are the fabulous opportunities that have been made available to us. Because of the military, I've been able to spend 15 months living near my family in TN. We are now living in Germany. None of this would have been likely if my DH had a civilian job.

I also appreciate the health care that is provided. TRICARE and MTFs may drive many of us insane, but the coverage is really very good. Because of the IVF program at Walter Reed, we were able to conceive our son, and at a cost that was much more manageable for us. I will forever be thankful for that opportunity.

I also appreciate that my DH has a career that is his passion. Our son is growing up with a role model for doing what feeds your soul. I know, I sound all hooah, there are days that DH is tired of the bureaucracy of it all, but at the end of it all, DH is an EOD tech. I love it.

[krista]

I love the frequent moves. We've been in Texas, the South, Hawaii, now the East Coast and next year, the West Coast. I love moving.
I also love the financial stability. With 4 deployments between the two of us early in our marriage, we quickly became set for the rest of our lives (barring any major catastrophe, of course)

[basilosaurus]

Healthcare.

I'm torn on the moving aspects. Yes, it was awesome to get to live in Japan, but it was also really tough on me to be so isolated and unemployed.

Community is positive and negative. Our first location I met awesome people who will be friends for life. The positive is that people are willing to accept new people b/c we're all new so often. However, since then, I've not really found anyone I click with. Yes, there's support of some variety, but I much prefer being in Hawaii where all my friends have nothing to do with the military. I get more support by having friends I can be authentic with; I don't need it to come from a military background.

[ilovelamp]

I forgot about the "sweet paycheck." How silly of me.

[ilovecandy]

Dude it is totally because of the "sweet paycheck." In all actuality the pay is ok and having a steady income is nice. I love the health benefits. You also meet people from all over which is cool. I love that H is finally content in a job for once and not completely hating it.

So in summary it is everything.

[amaristella]

May 27, 2012 23:22:58 GMT -5 verycontrary247 said:

Health care, job stability, oh- and 10% off dinner on Mondays at Texas Roadhouse!

Word.

We got an extra 10% off our washer/dryer set this weekend at Sears because our Sears is part of some military discount pilot program.

And then also 10% off breakfast this morning at a local place.

[misshark122]

I like moving every few years. DH and I have been here a year and are already like, where are we going next? I think we were nomads in a past life.

If I had to say my absolute favorite experience with the military so far, it would definitely be getting to attend the defense language institute as a spouse. I now speak Chinese (seriously how would that have ever happened otherwise?!) and spent a year living & traveling all over China.

I also like the good friends I've made.... a lot of times, we can move away from each other, but somehow end up back in the same place again, and it's like nothing has changed between us.

Other than that, and in a practical respect, healthcare, job stability, etc. of course like other girls mentioned.

[ilovelamp]

I definitely enjoyed eating for free yesterday at Harry Buffalo's.

[bigmamma]

Chain of Command
Lack of begging people to do their job.

I'm not going to kiss my subordinates ass to make them get the work done.