For all soldiers with families...?

Lyndsey W

I am not a soldier, but married to an airman. There are many options, no matter what career path your wife takes. I think the best way to look at things, is to take what you KNOW will happen, then work all of the details around it. For example, there are career fields that require very little movement- depending on what you go into. There are certain aircraft that are only flown out of certain bases. The people who work on/with/regarding that aircraft are only stationed there. I know people on our base who have been in 24 years, and have never been stationed anywhere else. Keep in mind, this is a very specific field, and is a rarity. If you go with a more mainstream job, you may move as often as every other year. In that case, maybe your wife could take a job at the base that you are stationed. Civilian doctors work on bases too. Our base pediatrician is a civilian. Also, ER's and hospitals are always looking for doctors. It's definitely not an occupation that's short in demand. She just needs to make sure that her contracts have a clause that releases her should you get orders. Most doctors work for someone else for an extended period of time before they open their own practice. Also, while you're deployed, she could have some AMAZING volunteer opportunities, like doctors without borders. I don't think your moving is a bad thing. As long as you both go into it with an open mind, and a willingness to adapt (which is a prerequisite for ANY military spouse), then you will be find. There is no reason that you two couldn't have a healthy relationship. Good Luck!

Julie

Your future wife will not be able to have her own practice unless you two plan on never living together. You won't be in one place long enough for her to recuit patients and build a business. You'll move about every 3 years. One of those years you'll most likely be deployed. Then you'll have 6 months at the CCC until you go to a new duty station. You'll move....a lot. As for you questions on having a healthy relationship...that's up to you and your future wife. If you can work out long distance relationships and you have a relationship built on trust, I say it's completely doable. Good luck.

Taurean W

If your wife has her own practice, I can't see that arrangement as sustainable. Looked at differently, if she is willing to regularly relocate with you, it can work. Doctors are always marketable. The military also has civilian doctors. If she is specialized, it may be harder. Something you may want to discuss is the fact that the goals the two of you have will always have to yield somewhat to life events such as joining the military, having a child, buying a house, moving, living in a different country. My wife and I started on one path together and looking back, we haven't really done a lot of what we talked about when we started. Not to say that our lives aren't fulfilling but you don't know that you want "x" until you have been exposed to it or the idea of it. She had plans on being a network engineer or something along those lines and now she is the second in charge for a human resources office on base with no plans of playing with computers. All sorts of things like that have changed for both of us. Which does she want more, you or the career? If it's the career then you are lost even if you decide not to join the military because you are not a career.

Marineswife2009

Im married to a marine so Im not an expert when it comes to the army but I do know relocating/moving has a lot to do with whether or not you're active duty or reserve. Reservist don't usually do a lot of moving. However If you want to be active duty and don't want to move around then the military is not for you period. Its guaranteed you will move around if you are active duty military. It is possible to have healthy relationships but there will be times you may not be able to be together. She will also have to consider if she wants a permanent practice of her own or maybe she could work on base. This is something you will have discuss heavily.Hope this helps a little.

Ray

Slap her back into the kitchen and tell her to just work at a hospital.

I'm just kidding, the other answers are really good.

Two points.

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