Military Spouses, Parents and Families
 

A few weeks ago, someone suggested that I start a thread for military spouses and family members (Thank you SoCaGirl!) so that we can connect to one another and share our common experiences of GLO membership and being related to the military. I know of at least one other military spouse who frequents GreekChat but I am sure there are more. I don't know if anyone is interested, but I am going to give it a go. Maybe this can be a place where we can share our stories or at least come to know who else may be in the same boat , no pun intended. Maybe we can even answer each other's questions.

My story. Today is my sixth wedding anniversary to my Navy Chief (E-7)husband. He has been in the service for 14 years. He left several weeks ago for a deployment and should return in December. I have already sent four care packages, and about 10 cards to him.

So what is your military connection?

Married to a West Point grad. 2% Club Member. Stationed at the Pentagon forever-and-a-half.

Married to the Army, er, my captain, o captain ;) for 8 years, stationed in Germany right now. Just got done with a 14 month deployment. Hope it's a long time before deployment #3... to those who have spouses away right now, stay strong!

And Happy Anniversary, LPIDelta!

I live with a couple of Marines and I'm sort of considered honorary family. I jokingly call myself "the house wife" as I look after everything while they're gone. There was a third Marine but he PCS'd in February. The other two have already been out and back again from Iraq and one of them is going to have to do another round in Feb. 08.

I'm also "mother hen" to some 200 midshipmen, cadets, and officer candidates. While I'm proud of them when they ship out, I always think of them and their safety.

.....Kelly :)

Hubby is separating from the Air Force after 7 years. He may possibly be doing the Reserves, but only Air Force or Air National Guard. We shall see.

Thanks--I spent the day at work and the night on a plane to go to a sorority meeting!! WOO HOO! But, I am sure my husband and I will do something fun when he gets home.

navane--I did not know this about you, thanks for sharing.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far.

Married to a USNA graduate; Class of '87. He is a Commander in the reserves and is currently in some country I'm not *supposed* to know the location until October.

My best friend in college and forever is an Army MP and she's doing her thang over in Iraq until next February. I keep her well stocked with goodies and magazines :)

Off the top of my head I can think of 16 of my husband and my friends who are deployed at the moment. I try to be a great letter writer and keep them all in my prayers.

Wow, all these military spouses. I can't imagine how it feels to have your spouse deployed. I know my heart breaks whenever I find out a friend or relative is going. I'm an Air Force brat. My mom has been in forever and my nearly brand new step-father is also in the Air Force, though he is looking to retire soon and find a nice calm civilian job. It's really tough for me to watch the news because it feels like everytime they mention Iraq it is bad news and too many times it has been about someone I know. I feel lucky that my mom is an officer and has only been deployed to the Middle East twice since the conflict started. And luckily she was stationed in Qatar both times. Everytime I fly home to visit I see men and women in BDUs at the airport and I almost always stop and say a little prayer (I can tell by now which are leaving and which are coming home, such a different expression on their faces). I've also gotten great a letter writing and sending tiny care packages with pictures and such over to everyone.

I'd like to know if military life helps or hinders your participation in your GLO, or vice versa. I know if any of y'all are in my boat with all the moves, then it has definitely got to be a juggling act!

scbelle--I have a story that kind of relates to your question. I was at the Chi Omega Panhellenic Luncheon during their convention a few years back and my hostess also happened to be a Navy wife from a few hours away. As we talked through lunch, she said something that really stuck with me. She said, "Chi O is something that I take with me. No matter where we have moved, there have been Chi O sisters to welcome me." *ah, tear*

I often think about how true that has been in my life. During my transition the last time we moved, I thank God I had my DPhiE volunteer work to keep me sane when I struggled to find the right job. To have something familiar and fulfilling to work on made me feel better.

Fortunately, my positions with the sorority have been portable--not regionally based. Since we have alumnae chapters only in major areas, alumnae involvement in DPhiE tends not to center around alumnae associations but on volunteering internationally.

Now I am not sure how that would change if we moved overseas--but I am sure the sorority would come up with something that I could do!

See, I think that's so great! Of course there are the military groups that one can get involved with (ACS, Red Cross volunteers, PWOC or the Catholic equivalent), but I think it would be awesome to have sisters anywhere I go. I just moved to Heidelberg, and there are not any GLOs around that I know of. I am thinking of helping to reactivate the Beta Sigma Phi chapter that was here, but that will be a long time in coming. I've got to find more interest! :) But I'd love to know what other GLOs (NPC or otherwise) do internationally... I have to say that I am quite impressed with SK, as they have a very active European alumnae group! Do other groups do this?

Our European Alum chapter could totally school every other Alum chapter on how to do things. They clean up on awards at convention. I'm sure when they go back through customs they get interesting questions about the wide array of silver trays, candlesticks, etc.

I'm a Navy brat! My dad did 30 years and my mom did 3 back in the day.

For a military family we didn't move around too much but it was enough to impress civilians. ;) I find it bizarre that someone can live in one place all their lives. Why would anyone want to do that! :)

a good friend i met the first night at radford (later we were brothers) is a green beret officer in central asia.

A really close brother is leaving in the next week or two for Iraq.

ETA:

I know it's not the "same" as being an immediate family member of active service personel, but still...I hope they come home.

Like the ChiO Navy wife, I love connecting with my GLO's alumnae associations whenever and wherever we move. It's one of the first calls I make when the telephone is connected at our new home. :)