4. We are uneducated, unemployed, and spending our days eating bon bons while frivolously spending our spouse’s big fat paycheck.
Technically, I could have split this one into three separate myths. But they are intertwined. The truth is that military spouses are some of the most dynamic people. Many of us have graduate degrees, some with doctorates, and are unable to work in our fields of interest because of the difficulties of the active duty military lifestyle. We might struggle with under employment, but it is not because of under qualification. If anything, many times we are over qualified and unable to find a position. Lastly, military pay charts are public. If one would find themselves curious about how much “cheddar” we keep, the answer is a simple Google search away. Spoiler alert: It’s not at much as you would think.
5. We get “free” housing and medical care.
You’ve heard the saying “There’s no such thing as a free lunch?” Well, it is true. There is no such thing as a free house or a free doctor’s visit either. We don’t get a “free” house. We rent housing owned by privatized companies. As far as insurance goes, Tricare is similar to company-provided healthcare and is part of the military benefit package (and it only lasts as long as you are active duty).
As I am in the midst of a PCS, and preparing for my spouse to leave on a one-year unaccompanied short tour, I saved the best for last.
6. It must be great to have professional movers take care of everything!
Without going too far down this rabbit hole, let’s just suffice to say that moving-even with professional movers- is by far one of the most stressful aspects of military life. According to the Military Times, it has been found that military families lose an average of about $5,000 every time they PCS. Let’s not even talk about the lost or broken items.
It’s official. Myth busted. We couldn’t have imagined what this lifestyle held for us. Our lives are about as far from “Army Wives” as the East is from the West. We are certainly not having torrid affairs as our spouse’s fight for freedom. We are ambitious, driven, and creative individuals. We are diverse, unique, and fun-loving. Many of us are extremely skilled, passionate about causes and business ventures. We are most certainly not the “dependa” carnival caricature that some may portray us as.
This life can be stressful with many moves, few friends, and obstacles that would make most give up. But we are still here, laughing at some of the nonsensical and silly views people hold. We will keep our heads up and our hearts open. So, keep smiling, friend.
