Thread: Trying to prepare a family for enlistment

You will be able to setup your move after you complete BT/ AIT and get to your permanent duty station. If you dont burn all of your leave (vacation time) after AIT you will probably be able to be there for your packing and drive your family to your duty station.

The key is; Finish AIT and dont take any leave, report in to your new duty station and setup your move. Take your leave in conjunction with your move. You will be paid for driving your wife to your duty assignment. While at your station dont go out and party, start by getting your name on the housing list. The housing office will give you a date that you may be able to get housing or tell you that housing is not available. In that case find you a place off post and get it ready for the move.

Perhaps some other sites can help answer spouse support type questions.

http://militaryspot.com/military-support.htm
http://www.militaryspousesupport.net/
http://www.milspouse.com/

Hope this helps a little, just like M.T. said your question was/ are too vaque. Everyone will have different questions and there are probably 1000's of questions and not enough time to cover them here.

I almost forgot; Some here may beat me up for this;

Try to get your wife active in the FSG (Family Support Group). There are a lot of people that bash FSG's because the FSG cannot change deployments. Other say that it is a way for spouses to meet people to cheat with. No matter what the FSG is great especially for a young and new soldier such as you. They will try to help your wife through the difficult times. It is also a good way to score points with your Unit Commander (CDR) and First Sergeant (1SG).

If you have ever seen one episode of "The Unit" this is somewhat what the FSG does. Just remember it is a TV show and not reality, if SPC Opns soldiers were that highly sought after there would be a lot of dead spouses. FSG's do not interfere with unit functions and deployments they merely intervene during the hard times while you are away from your loved ones. My wife was the FRG Leader for 2 years and before that volunteered to bake stuff to make money for different unit activities. She also got many awards for the job she done during the stressfull deployment times.

Since I was injurred and after retirement I still sparehead my club and send care packages to soldiers in theater, I know how much the stuff sent means especially to soldiers who are not close with their families.

Supporter, I guess by 'DH' you mean your male 'dear half'? So to help you about service life and how it is, it is easy for me to fall into a trap and write a bunch of nonsense. Therefore, I try to console you about things but also tell you some facts: The Army is full of couples and families. Many female 'DHs' are from foreign countries. They all manage somehow and get along. Basically the Army provides for their married soldiers (legally married, girl friends don't count) with commissaries, PXs, medical help, housing etc., but NOT ALWAYS. Thus, it could be that you get into a situation where you have to provide, find, arrange things for yourself without any help. If that happens, the Army will compensate your DH with additional pay called COLA. It could also happen that you & your DH are separated for long periods of time. That is the unpleasant part of being in the Military. Just know that that is NOT unlikely and soak it into yourself. In addition, it could happen that your DH is killed, not necessarily in combat but in a military accident. How you two handle those possibilities is your business. The Army has no special aid for these matters, except perhaps the chaplain, your family and good advice from your fiends. But then, in civilian life it isn't any different, or is it?

M.T. - I think DH = Domesticated Housewife. At least thats my opinion.

Well if you cant find the answers to your transitioning questions in the links I provided you, then there is no hope.

You come here asking answers to questions you havent asked and you get snotty nosed about the replies. With an attitude like that, good luck in adjusting to your situation.

You and your hubby should visit a chaplain not a forum.