FAQs

Do you have any advice for being involved with a military man?

The most common advice that's given to this question has three key points:

Communicate/Ask your DB/DF/DH questions...send care packages and love letters, call each other when you can. And when you talk, ask him every question that plagues your mind or worries you, because knowing the answers, we've found, tends to make half the problem just go away. Let him be the one to set your mind at ease (because lord knows no one else is equally as capable as he is). And finally, this part's the tricky part, try as much as you can to put yourself in his shoes. His life could very well be more miserable than yours, because he's away from home, away from you, and everyone/everything else he loves and cares for. The misconception tends to be that we gals have it the worst because our men are gone a lot, but the military fellas, in many cases, tend to have it worse than we do, because we, at least, still get the comforts of being home, surrounded with all of home's comforts and a support group of friends and family.
Educate yourself with the military and your SO's branch. Books are a great and vast resource and of course, searching the internet for information specific to your SO's branch and career field, has endless possiblities and ask the expert, the military men themselves! Pose questions to your military SO or to other military family members. We advise this not just because it helps to curb the worry, but because, in general, they like it when we make an effort to understand their livelihood. Not just listen, but understand. In a sense, it makes them feel like their jobs serving their country are validated when we take an added interest and pride in understanding. And we're all better partners to our military SO's when we make an effort to understand their lives, because with the information we gain, we can best anticipate their needs for support.
Don't be afraid to find a way to maintain your social life. Join a club or two at your school or in your community. Spend as much time as you can with your girlfriends and family members. The worst thing any woman can do while in a long distance military relationship is to allow the relationship to hinder herself from growing socially by waiting by the phone every day. Get involved with other things and augment your life as much as you can without him. And be honest with him in regards to where you're at emotionally -- always!