Military Monday

The Military Monday topic this week  is

1 Are you worried/glad or whatever about the downsizing of our military? 

2 How do think things are going to change?

Since my husband and son are retired the downsizing doesn't effect us. Nor am I sure about it or how I feel about it. 

I do have an exciting announcement I hope it all works out but I have been selected as a Guest  Military Blogger for DomesticDivaNation.com so stay tuned when I post with them I will update the link here! We are still working out kinks!

Adult Bullying

 
So We're All Sensitive Military Wives Huh?<~~ Read this post then come back here for a vent...
There are four videos at the bottom of the blog :)

Then check out the Overly Sensitive Military Wife page to see if I am posted on there haha!

I agree with this post 110%. With everything that is out there right now about bullying. I think this type of activity and the same type of activity on http://youarenotaphotographer.com/ or their sister site http://youarenotagraphicdesigner.com/ is breeding bullying. The people that think this is "cute" could possibly condone their own children bullying others. To them it may not be bullying when their child snatches another toy from a kid at the playground or on a play date. Not teaching your child to share or manners is condoning bullying. So yes these three sites are in my opinion Cyber Stalking and Bullying. I just LOVE that NOT! I think all three of these website/blogs are demeaning. I personally don't have an expensive DSLR camera I have a tiny pitiful point and shoot. So I am not trying to impersonate a photographer. Well I guess because this new photographer only charged me $25 that means she is a phoney photographer that she doesn't have talent. So wait?? If you don't charge a buttload of money then you must not be the next Anne Geddes, Kim Anderson, Ansel Adams? EXCUSE ME! I think there is enough bullies in our world without certain people to be tearing other people down. I think adults who act like this are the ones who raise bullies themselves.

If I do get a DSLR from Santa this year I will not be a professional or even semi professional photographer that's NOT what I am trying to do. Btw that webpage makes fun of Military wives who choose to try and make a living off of photography when let me tell you what its hard enough for Military Wives to keep a career when we are supporting our man. So they can CHILL out. I think by getting a DSLR and offering inexpensive services they may not be a professional but maybe someone DOES like their work and is willing to pay for it. Maybe they can improve and become a talented photographer. Why tear that down because I can't afford to go pay a $200 sitting fee? If there is a military wife (or civilian lady) out there with a DSLR and a fan page, photography blog that wants to aspire to become Anne Geddes why must people tear her dreams down? Its a free country. She may not have taken Photography classes but I've been told by high priced photographers that you don't have to they would rather you not waste your money on expensive classes there is too much free information out there in books and on youtube on how to correctly use your Camera and software even for Point and Shoots. You may have your fancy DSLR camera and want to grow and learn. So your like how a Private is in the US Army he isn't ready to lead, fire a gun, or save a life yet and your not ready to shoot pictures for the White House but could you one day be a General or a Highly Paid Photographer for New York Times YES you can! Whether your doing it on your own or you work at Sears. You GO girl!

Now for the Overly Sensitive Military Wife. I was called that pretty much on that second webpage link up there. I have a ACU hand bag (actually two!) I wear Army Sweatshirts, T-shirts and even a sweat suit. I wear my husbands PT shirt to bed (NOT outside) and I don't wear his uniform. Oh yeah and my car shows my pride too so that makes me overly sensitive. I think the people who contribute to Overly Sensitive Military Wives Facebook page, You are not a Photographer, You are not a graphic designer need to mind their own damn business.

In the past few months I have had my work basically made out to be trash when the people who were trashing my work (I do graphic design) I have been doing it longer than most of them have been out of high school. I deleted my professional page just because I can offer my services, I have a blog, word of mouth can get me business but all be damned if I catch my work on YOU ARE NOT A GRAPHIC DESIGNER to be bullied by immature idiotic adults.

My definition of an Overly Sensitive Military Wife is the one's who whine their husband is in the field, has duty, is on their millionth deployment. Its all PART of their job. An Overly Sensitive Military Wife whines the military comes before them. Yes its a sacrifice and it sucks. My husband did it for 24 years and my son did it for 4 more years. I am sorry your husband (husband of an Overly Sensitive Military Wife) missed your birthday and didn't get to call you when you had a bad day but so and so's husband didn't come home from Iraq or Afghanistan at all. There are over 3,000 of those! I am sorry that you had a Migraine yesterday but so and so had to have her entire pregnancy without her husband and give birth on her own. THAT my dear is an overly sensitive military wife!

May 2009

Military Monday... Military Purses

While my husband was in Iraq he bought me a $25 ACU purse from Ebay and had it sent to me. I carried it with pride. Then I wanted MORE. I wanted a purse with pictures on the outside to display my Military Family so I saved some money from my "paycheck" aka Tax Refund. I did some researching and at the time there were several companies/Military Wives on Myspace that were making ACU purses. ACU means Army Combat Uniform... So as it grew close to time that Rick retire I convinced him to give me one of his precious uniforms so I can have a purse made. I found Hero on my Shoulder Etsy shop and I had emailed her of what I was looking for and she made it.

Now the sun has damaged the windows that the photos go in and the ribbon is starting to fray and I want another one. I want a spare just so I can get this one fixed if I ever find someone to fix it. I debated over getting my Vera Bradley Purse I desperately want and have wanted for 5 years but Rick doesn't think an $80 purse is a good investment when I will probably rather carry my ACU purses. He's kind of right! I have always gotten the questions when carrying my purse... Did you make that? How do I get one? Where can I buy one? Hero on my Shoulder is out of Hawaii. I cannot sew since I don't have a sewing machine and only wish I could make my own purses! 

Now my husband is retired and we don't have spare ACU's laying around only Class A's and BDU's... I am crazy to eventually want a purse made from all three! But I really really do!

I know I can find someone to make my purses... but I also thought about making money while doing it? Who doesn't? As much as I wish I could make the time to sew and learn a pattern to make purses like mine. I have not the time, space, or money to invest in such a thing but I could become a representative for MilitaryHandbag.com. that way when someone gets envy with my purse I can always give them a card. I don't have to do anything but show off my bags! Its almost a $200 investment to buy the bags that I would be selling is the only down fall. I have anxiety about investing in another such a thing (is it an investment when I just want a new purse too and this is a way to get it?) I am already a Close to My Heart (a scrapbooking company) rep and have been since 2007 but I haven't made ANY money from it and only SPEND. I was really disappointed in the amount of effort I tried to put in and nothing was coming back out even when I offered to donate profits to my favorite charities! Another Pro to being a representive. I only know of one person in the area that makes purses and she doesn't sell on Etsy or anything I think she makes them as a hobby... Could I possibly get a niche in the market? Or would it be more difficult with the school house (ie my main connection to the post) moving to Virginia to sell purses?

I am also concerned I won't be totally satisfied with a Military Handbag from Militaryhandbag.com because it doesn't have the picture things on the outside... Oh the worry! LOL

Military Monday

My dirty little secret is I like MTV reality shows. I am sitting here watching 16 & Pregnant and reading the chat that goes with the show. I saw a young Navy wife that said... I don't have family help because of the Navy and its definitely been hard for my husband and I. That struck a cord with me really because I don't think a lot of people get it. I don't want or have to try to explain it to people either. I am not being judgmental but I don't get having kids and not be prepared to take care of them especially PLANNED pregnancies. I don't have a close relationship with my blood or adopted family that I wish I could. I don't have the relationship I want with my family at all. The military doesn't make it easy to have any kind of relationship with a lot of people. No matter how close I am to my family and back home friends they can't rush over to watch my sick baby so I can go to the store or go to the doctor. I am sitting here with a sick toddler debating or not on whether or not I am going to be able to go to the doctor on Friday like I REALLY need to go because I haven't been in awhile. It does irk me that a woman will complain I can't do that because I have three kids. I can't go to wal-mart because my husband is at work. I can't handle ALL THREE kids of mine at the same time ARE YOU CRAZY? I just look at them and think then WHY did you have a baby? Or when they complain they don't have money for diapers... DON'T have kids.. .last I checked no one hands out diapers for free except your mommy and daddy. I've never believed in dropping the kids off at the babysitter or grand parents so you can go have your time ALL the time.  I mean sure you got the nice paycheck, the nice husband, and Mommy and Daddy to help... but tomorrow ALL that can be gone then WHAT? Trust me it happened to me. No family, no husband, no ID, no car, no money... no help... 

Can you imagine being a war widow being states away or even countries away from family and you loose your husband? Do you think the military still takes care of you? Not always! When you have children you gotta think about the what if's because it can happen to you. I just wish these spoiled civilians would understand why us military spouses (even formerly active duty) don't take for granted our husband's day's off because once upon a time they didn't have a day off... They couldn't come home to wipe sniffles, feed the baby at midnight or change a diaper... Think about it next time your talking to one of us!

Military Monday & Pray for Me Monday

My adopted father was in the Air Force, My biological father was in the Navy, My grandfather a STRONG Marine. My sister also an Air Woman.

I come from a proud Military family but never did I face a deployment, death, or the truth and evil of war until I lived in Calhoun, GA. Thanksgiving week (Not sure the day) was my friend's daughter Cari's birthday at the art studio and from the Party I had to leave Calhoun and head to Adairsville for my sisters Annual Thanksgiving feast she always made for her friends. It was a huge spread. As we passed through the streets of Calhoun. They came out in numbers. So many people there with American Flags, Banners, Posters, Yellow ribbons welcoming home Cody. A fallen Marine very young like 18/19 years old. Killed by friendly fire in the back of the head. So much love from my community. I didn't know Cody but my co-workers did. 

Then I became friends with my future husband and as he talked of a pending deployment it struck me down hard. So hard I couldn't shake it. My brother in law had deployed years earlier with the Air Force, Another brother in law in the Navy. That didn't rattle me as much or at least not the same way. This was different. I was starting to care for Rick. I couldn't express to him my fears either. I expressed them to my then boyfriend Donnie. I never shook that fear and eventually Rick and I started talking about meeting, and having plans. It got serious and serious fast. A few months after we married we were getting ready for a first huge event. I was checking my old Alumni's website on Myspace and I read a friend from High School was killed in Iraq. I knew Blake.. we weren't close friends but we were friends. At least we were in High School. I was kind of a ROTC groupie, as my mom wouldn't let me join so I just kinda watched from the side lines. After high school I imagined a few would move on to the military as my sister did and as I TRIED to do. I tried to join the Air Force, Army, Navy... I am not suitable as a Marine I knew that but apparently not suitable for the other branches as much either. Days after Rick and I were married his oldest son went and left for BCT (Boot Camp)... fears of him ending up just like Cody struck me cold. It was hard for me to let him go. It was his choice and I barely knew the kid other than his heart and how big it was. Rick was shaking as if we watched Alex transform from a boy riding a bike to a man wearing a uniform carrying a weapon to defend his country. Then I had to watch my husband walk away from me the same way just a few months later. We survived our first deployment married. I got him home safe. Then a matter of months later Alex would deploy overseas. That deployment was terrifying, and very emotional for us. I had to face a lot of my fears that I kept to myself. I couldn't share out of making Rick have more fears than he needed. Thankfully someone watched over Alex and he is home for good and safe and sound. So many of our children don't come home safe. So many of our fiancées and husbands don't come home safe. Its unfair but I believe in the work the military does.

I honor and show gratitude for all Veterans and all the Fallen. I try to support Military Families and do whatever I can.

I have a friend who is a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. I look at her beautiful work and I can't imagine the emotions that she goes through or any of the emotions the families go through. I give my Soldiers (when I can) an extra hug and I send warm thoughts to my Mackenzie and squeeze Skylar & William a little extra tighter. 

A Soldier,Airman, Marine Seaman, Gave his life so mine didn't have to. Thank you for watching their backs!

I have angels watching over Alex, James, Mackenzie, Skylar and William so I can keep them just another day longer on this earth and I don't have to let them go. I am so grateful for that.

So please pray for me that I remember how important it is to be there still for the Military. Please pray for me if William or Skylar choose to follow in the family foot steps that someone protect them. Please pray for all our work overseas Missions and Military that enough peace will come soon so we can carry on and not let these men and women die in vain. Please pray for the families at Ft Bragg they have been loosing an unreal amount of children. Death is forever a circle of life but no Parent should have to bury their children or say good bye in a cruel way. No Wife should have to loose a husband to war. Please pray for me and for them.

Military Monday

So everyone is wondering about the pay getting shut down if the Government gets shut down

The article is here If government shuts down, so would troop pay

I also saw this posted on facebook feeds this morning

1. All Federal Agencies Will Not Shut Down:

Current laws provide exceptions for some federal agencies and parts of federal agencies and their employees. Any agency or personnel tasked with safeguarding public health and safety will not be shut down. A few examples of these types of agencies include:

• The Center For Disease Control (CDC)

• Most (but not all) of The Transportation Security Agency (TSA)

• The Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare providers, hospitals or facilities

Also any federal agency whose primary function is to protect life and property. A few examples of these agencies’ include:

• The department of the Army

• The United States Navy and Marine Corps

• The United States Air force

• The Dept. of Homeland Security (excluding contractors)

• FBI, CIA

• OH YEA, 1 MORE. CONGRESS WILL STILL GET PAID!

Additionally, if an agency that has a continuing source of funding may not be affected. An example of this is the VA’s VHA (Veterans Health Administration). However VBA (Veterans Benefits Administration) and the Social Security Administration, will be impacted since they do have a continuing source of funding. I will discuss the possible impacts of this in greater detail in a second.

HERE IS A LIST OF FEW AGENCIES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED:

• The Social Security Administration

• The Veterans Benefit Administration

These two are especially worrisome to me. I am not saying that everyone who receives disability payments from these two agencies will not get their checks, however it is a possibility depending on the length of a shutdown. However, it is more likely that you will see a delay in receiving your monthly checks.

• All National Parks will be closed

• New VA and Medicare Claims will not be processed

• Non-Exempt DoD personnel, such as administrative positions and research labs would be furloughed (Note- ALL combat would continue and all troops will be paid)

• The National Institutes of Health would not be able to accept new patients or answer hotline calls regarding diseases

• Domestic agencies like the National Archives, DoE, HUD, EPA, and Census Bureau would be largely shut down

2. Many, But Not All Federal Employees Will Not be Placed on Unpaid Leave or “Furlough”

Again any considered “essential personnel”(aka- excepted and non-excepted employees) at an agencies tasked with the above will not be placed on furlough. A furlough places an employee in a temporary non-duty and non-pay status. In the current situation, if Congress fails to pass another CR (Continuing Resolution, what we have been operating under since March 3rd) or God forbid, an actual budget, some federal agencies will be required to shut down and furlough all or some of their employees.

3. What is Considered Essential Personnel?

Every federal agency is required by law to have an emergency plan in place in case of a federal government shutdown. According to guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), an agency's senior leadership determines who is “excepted” or exempt from the furlough and required to work during a shutdown.

Federal employees working on essential activities related to our national security, homeland security, law enforcement, health care, financial management and the Postal Service will most likely be required to continue working. Remember this is only federal employees and agency, not state funded agencies or employees.

4. If You’re a Federal Employee Working for an Agency That is Not Exempt You Can Expect:

If you're furloughed as a result of a government shutdown, you will not be paid as long as the government is closed. Even some excepted employees may be working for "delayed pay" if their paycheck comes from an appropriation. However FOR ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, health care and life insurance benefits, on the other hand, continue for up to a year so you will continue to be covered. In addition, if you are furloughed your contributions--and those of your agency--to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will stop during a shutdown, and you will not be able to arrange for a loan from your TSP account during a furlough.

If you need to find another job to have a source of income, you will remain as a federal employee (unpaid but still an employee) during a furlough, so you can take another job so long as the job is not subject to any conflict of interest prohibitions.

But here’s the kicker: You may need approval from your agency's Office of General Counsel to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. You can review your agency regulations to determine if they specify what types of employment would not pose a conflict. Make sense???? Might want to get your supervisors home phone number in case you need to ask. (By the way, that was dripping in sarcasm)

5. If You’re a Federal Contractor You Can Expect:

When a shutdown is announced, the Office of Management and Budget will notify the agencies, and each agency must then decide which functions are essential and which functions must be shut down. Contracting Officers should then notify contractors, who are responsible for notifying subcontractors, whether the contract will be funded during the shutdown or whether the contractor should stop or reduce work. A Contracting Officer may issue a stop work order or, more likely, issue broad guidance for contractors to follow. Contracting Officers will not have any authority to enter into new contracts, renew expiring contracts, or exercise options during a shutdown. Existing contracts may be affected if they require the government to obligate new funds during the shutdown.

Again here is the kicker: Without a stop work order, contractors may still be subject to contractual obligations; however, a contractor may not perform work for the government on a voluntary basis. As a result of these issues, it is essential that contractors remain in frequent communication with Contracting Officers, subcontractors, or prime contractors and counsel in order to understand their rights, duties, and obligations.

So basically just stay in close touch with your Contracting Officer!

So that's the beef on that and personally if they are going to stop paying those who are protecting their paychecks then they better have a plan b or get that money back from all the car companies and bank companies they bailed out. Some of us have bills we HAVE to pay.

When the previews started for the new season of Army Wives I thought sadly Jeremy would be killed in action. Now after last nights episode I strongly feel its Chase. Which makes me very sad. I love the actor that plays Chase and the character most of the time.. oooh boy Trevor is on my shit list but I have heard his BS before in my own deployment! UGH. How does Claudia Joy feel about getting reassigned for West Point? I am glad little Molly is okay and the future daughter in law could make up with Denise. I haven't seen Frank barely.. oh wait just those two scenes or something. Joan is still Joan UGH!

Join us at http://armywiveslives.com/category/military-mondays-carnival/

Military Monday (Army Wives Spoiler inside)

So did you watch the season premiere of Army Wives last night on Lifetime? If you missed it I am sure you can catch it on http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/army-wives/

Its funny I started thinking about Sister Wives like from this show after watching two women on Coming Home a new TV show on Lifetime after Army Wives.  

How some of us Military Wives certainly become Sister Wives in one sense. I know I spent more time with my battle buddy(s) the first year of our marriage than I did with him. There were many months where Jessica R and I could have put our BAH together because I practically lived there if it weren't for James. I helped her with her daughter and she drove me to places when I couldn't get there on my own. Betty C. and I got extremely close she would help me with my kids and I was there for her emotionally during what was both our first deployment. Yes Military wives cook together, baby sit for each other, clean each other's house, PCS together... We in all but the sexual part of the life style become Sister Wives. At one point my battle buddy's and I decided that instead of cooking just four ourselves we would do a pot luck once a week. Isn't this kind of how Sister Wives work?

I think the characters of Army Wives is a perfect example. When a Soldier isn't home we step in and help.. I would be there for any of my close Military Wife friends even if their Soldier/Marine/Airman was home.. all they had to do was ask.

Do not scroll past the picture of the Cast of Army Wives

What did we all think of Army Wives? Wow! Man I am reluctant to blog about it because of this invention called DVR.. now people "tape" or record things more now to watch later. My first pfft... is the fact that it comes on opposite Desperate Housewives. I have watched Desperate Housewives since the beginning too. So I guess I am going to have to watch Army Wives, record DH, and Coming home and watch DH after Army Wives and find time another night to watch Coming home! Oh boy! I love Brothers and Sisters but Rick doesn't so I can always watch that when he isn't here during the day. That's how I watch most of my VH1/MTV reality shows and House. Anyways. In the previews someone is going to die and I pray its not who I think it is. My guess is Jeremy. Don't worry no one dies during the Season Premiere they are probably waiting till sweeps.. 

Well I warned you and I just can't contain myself and not write a post on Military Monday about Army Wives  that was YESTERDAY..

Roxy and Trevor... I am glad she didn't get seduced by her old friend. Rick thought it was going to happen. I knew Roxy better. Why? Roxy is me in so many ways lmao. They didn't mention her pregnancy again.. well it didn't come up. I can certainly feel the emotions she is having right now after all Meredith from Greys Anatomy would call her a hormone casserole PLUS normal deployment blah's. 

on a side note... I loved when I used to go to the doctor while my husband was deployed (the doctor at the Army Medical Clinic) and they would be like are you depressed? Same question every visit... and I would be like DUH! LOL

back to Roxy... did they change TJ's actor?

Joan and Roland are going through the same path they took season 2? Joan is in it to win it! I mean she is a career oriented woman but like my own life she needs to learn to balance... She has to be there for Roland as much as she is there for the Army in ONE way or another. 

Claudia Joy and General Holden.. I wonder why she is reluctant to move to West Point? She certainly got the  new Army wife attitude of "I should know better than to make plans in the Army"... I wouldn't see that coming from a seasoned wife? Do you think medically she is going to be alright with no one around to keep a close eye on her? I am surprised they didn't bring up the last time she took a daughter to college. You know maybe a PTSD moment? Do you think she is going to get Empty Nest syndrome? 

Frank and Denise Oh my! Denise is older and its so much harder to take care of a newborn when your older and have that sleep deprivation. Why do you think Frank is so lax on Jeremy getting married so fast? Jeremy's fiancée didn't make a good impression on Denise did she? It wasn't her fault or either of their fault.. bless them!  Btw Newborns usually don't have tears so that wouldn't have been a symptom that Denise missed. What's wrong with Molly anyways? Next week might suck a little! What do you think about Jeremy and his Fiancée?

Whoa WHOA! Whoa Pam! No Atlanta? No Chase? You have the hots for HIM? Wow! Didn't see it coming at least not from your side!

Coming Home. I would attend a home coming for any Soldier but since neither of MY Soldiers got one I just have the wtc attitude about homecomings. I think Rick's 24 years, several deployments... and never got any kind of ceremony. OF COURSE he doesn't want one but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it. No one in the unit even organized anything for his retirement. Yeah golly gee thanks for your 24 years of dedication etc... 

So I have an admittedly sucky attitude about Home Coming Ceremonies. The show was overall pretty good (I fell asleep toward the end) and I think its great Lifetime is bringing so much NEEDED and POSITIVE attention to the Military Life. 

Military Monday

Happy Presidents Day

My daughter is in school today making up snow days from the previous weeks of heavy snow fall that was unexpected!

I am torn about what my Military Monday topic should be. I have a great sense of pride being part of this special community on one hand but I would also like to talk about Why we do Presidents Day... Maybe there will just have to be two blog posts LOL.

How many of you caught Extreme Makeover Home Edition? They built a house for a victim of the Fort Hood shooting? This soldier who got sent home from a deployment on a fast track because he was an Officer Candidate was shot four times during the incident including his head, shoulder, and hip. The incident took place November of 2009 and yes it shocked most of us from what I remember we all stayed in tuned waiting for word, for reasons, and we still don't fully understand HOW or WHY could a Soldier turn on one of his own. Not ONE of his own but 13 men and women were killed that day. 32 were injured not including himself. The shooter is now paralyzed from the neck down by a brave hero that struggled to stop the attack. On Extreme Makeover SSG Zeigler is still struggling with regaining normal life. He has defied all odds and with the support of his now wife they are reaching amazing goals. Extreme Makeover didn't only just build them a house they also gave them a beautiful wedding of her dreams. It was a tear jerking episode. I know people that were at Ft Hood that day. My step son was in another part of the world to our relief at the time. 

Anyways I am babbling...  Us as an Army Family.. not as in my family unit but the entire world wide Army Family we have our trials and we have people look at us like we get the hand out or we feel entitled and they just don't grasp what we do, what our Troops do, What we go through. I am not saying we are entitled but people like SSG Zeigler needs a helping hand. There are MANY more people that were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were shot and need help. But if SSG Zeigler hadn't volunteered to help his country. If he hadn't sacrificed his safety and regular life to go be deployed and fight a horrible war. Just to come home where a lot of us in the Military Community consider home as sacred land. When we here boots on the ground or boots on American Soil.. there is a wife or loved one somewhere that is the happiest person on Earth. Yet this man had survived Iraq or Afghanistan just to come home and be shot down and left to die on his own turf, his own home land. Something that is not expected here. SSG Zeigler deserves the very best for his multiple sacrifices and he is a true American Hero. He didn't save just one person. He was part of a team doing a team effort. Coming home and starting to give a life long career to fighting for our country.  

One of my best friends just recently became part of my Army Family. Her husband went from making a comfortable living in New York to putting it all away to earn less than $2000 a month in the United States Army. He is currently in training becoming one of the Brave and Strong men I have looked up to all my life. Now that my friend is part of my Military Family There are questions that she asks because the Army always leaves them with unknowns. There is an Army Wife Handbook if only it was as easy as an instruction manual and if only they issued them once your husband held up his hand and pledged to protect... I wrote a blog before about Army Wives shouldn't let other Army Wives deploy alone... Someone forgets the POA, someone forgets that piece of info that the husband doesn't tell the wife or girlfriend before he leaves and leaves a mess for the one left behind to clean up. Even though I was only an Active Duty Army Wife for three years I feel like a mostly old pro. No I am not an old pro because I can't honestly say I served the time... but I am informed. If I don't know the answer I know who to ask to try and get the answer... yet in our world there are lots of questions with no answers. So what do you think should be General Issue to a recruits Wife/Girlfriend? They give your Soldier a Uniform, Weapon, Beret, PT's etc... What should they give us? What should every wives battle buddy do/ or know?
That's what Army Community is all about!

More about the episode here http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/episode-detail/zeiglerhansen-family/708170

More about Operation Finally Home here http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/11/cnnheroes.wallrath.vets.houses/