Beginner's Guide to Military Relationships
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So, you've just begun a military relationship or your significant other (husband or boyfriend) has enlisted. Now you've got all sorts of new lingo to learn and might have to deal with basic training, base housing, how you communicate with your S.O. and what you can and can't mail when they are away. What's a girl to do?
Well, first know you are not alone! You are not the first woman to deal with deployments, a long-distance love or the often frustrating bureaucracy of the military ("Hurry up and wait" is a phrase that often describes the military routine perfectly!), and you won't be the last to go on this journey. In fact, your experiences can help others!
The next thing to realize about your relationship is something referred to most often as OPSEC. It stands for Operational Security and is very important for protecting our soldiers at home and abroad. Many helpful articles online address OPSEC and why it is important, but the best rule of thumb to follow is this: If you think some piece of information you know might violate security, keep it to yourself. (My former blog, On the Front Line - An Army Girlfriend's Tale, discusses OPSEC extensively, with examples of how it can be violated). It is also important to follow PERSEC, also addressed in the article we found from Army.com.
Another important part of your relationship is your connections with others. This can be done in online forums, Facebook groups, or even FRG groups on base (if you are living on or near a military base with your spouse). Talk to others about their experience as military girlfriend or spouse. Relate to one another and be a shoulder to cry on, virtual or otherwise, when times are tough. Find a good friend to vent to when you have nowhere else to turn. While you might never meet or meet only briefly due to relocations or PCSing, keeping those connections strong is what we have found to be the best way to handle hard times.
You've begun down the path of this new lifestyle, and it won't always be easy (trust us, it's going to be a rollercoaster sometimes!). But through doing these key things in the beginning, you can make the foundation of your relationship that much stronger!
Well, first know you are not alone! You are not the first woman to deal with deployments, a long-distance love or the often frustrating bureaucracy of the military ("Hurry up and wait" is a phrase that often describes the military routine perfectly!), and you won't be the last to go on this journey. In fact, your experiences can help others!
The next thing to realize about your relationship is something referred to most often as OPSEC. It stands for Operational Security and is very important for protecting our soldiers at home and abroad. Many helpful articles online address OPSEC and why it is important, but the best rule of thumb to follow is this: If you think some piece of information you know might violate security, keep it to yourself. (My former blog, On the Front Line - An Army Girlfriend's Tale, discusses OPSEC extensively, with examples of how it can be violated). It is also important to follow PERSEC, also addressed in the article we found from Army.com.
Another important part of your relationship is your connections with others. This can be done in online forums, Facebook groups, or even FRG groups on base (if you are living on or near a military base with your spouse). Talk to others about their experience as military girlfriend or spouse. Relate to one another and be a shoulder to cry on, virtual or otherwise, when times are tough. Find a good friend to vent to when you have nowhere else to turn. While you might never meet or meet only briefly due to relocations or PCSing, keeping those connections strong is what we have found to be the best way to handle hard times.
You've begun down the path of this new lifestyle, and it won't always be easy (trust us, it's going to be a rollercoaster sometimes!). But through doing these key things in the beginning, you can make the foundation of your relationship that much stronger!
Now that you have read through our beginner's guide, search around the site for more military resources to help you each day in the course of your military relationship! As always, suggestions are welcome at our Contact page.
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Image URL: http://www.cpdulles.com/img/h_military.jpg
