Gosh, I never thought I was going to be entering into military life. I mean, I always said I wanted to marry a Midshipman but I wasn’t really being that series (simply because I don’t believe things happen just because you want them to). And now, would you know, I’m involved with an Army officer 
I think it’s really funny and great how things turn out.
I guess it’s about time that I talk about the Lifetime TV serious Army Wives. I feel it’s inevitabe that a woman dating a military man watches this show, and it isn’t long before they are hooked. When I caught my first episode (which was somewhere in the middle of Season 1) I was rather disgusted; this particular scene showed Roxy, the newest Army Wife, out for a night with some local military wives. She was there to enjoy the lady’s company – while they were there to meet unsupecting men for a night of fun. Yes, these MARRIED women were being unfaithful to their husbands who were off fighting for their freedom in Iraq. I was so disgusted and turned off that I vowed never to watch this show again. I told My Soldier about it too and he said that kind of thing happens all the time — and it has a name: something like Divorced While Overseas. So I stopped watching the show after that.
Then on one boring Sunday night while flipping through the TV channels I came across Army Wives once again; this time, the episode was different. It was a rather emotional ep, one of which made me think of My Soldier overseas. I was instantly heartbroken, tears welling up inside my eyes; from that point on I was unwillingly hooked.
I recently came upon a few blog postings from women who say the show doesn’t depict real military life; while I agree that there is a certain “Desperate-Housewives-ish” feel to the show, for the most part I believe it illustrates real-life and is trying to be as credible and actual as possible. Now I am by no means a true “military wife/fiance/girlfriend” or what-have-you, but I know plenty of women who are and I think the pain, emotions, and struggles of these women are acurate. Plus, My Soldier has also attested to some of the things on the show as being truths (i.e.: military wives often DO go “divorced” for their husbands 15-month deployments).
This past Monday was the opener of Season 2 Army Wives. I watched it as diligently as possible, as I also received a phone call from My Soldier about 10 minutes into the episode. Thankfully my man isn’t deployed right now — but one special Army Wife character’s hubby is: Roxy. She is by far my absolute favorite on the show, as I am certain she is many other viewer’s top pick. I’ve heard countless times that people adore Roxy the most — and I think that is because every real-life Army Wife can relate to her. She’s young, she’s green, but she is oh-so honest and true to herself. She is where every Army Wife – new and old – began from.
I cried with Roxy on Monday night as she began the first weeks of her husband Trevor’s deployment. I’m pretty sure this is his first stint overseas, and their first as a married couple. I won’t go into too much detail as I do not want to spoil the episode for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet…but please, watch it.
Although I haven’t experienced an entire deployment with My Soldier just yet, I know the time will come all too soon when he is called back over. And when that time comes I will wrap myself in a blanket, grab a glass of red wine, and join hands with all the other Army Wives out there.
“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.” ~George Iles
~K
i think being involved with someone and living through the hardship of an army marriage are slightly different things. There are so many issues that come up with the years like in “normal” marriages but in todays military they quadruple quick. Your also away from family and friends, and believe me, you will trust a lot of other spouses in your life and 80 % will turn out to be b**&&*. And this will leave you wounded too. At least being with an office should shield you from the heartbreak that a lot of lower enlisted are going through financial wise.
I agree with you on a few different points: Being with someone in the military and being MARRIED to someone in the military are definitely two different things. I will be the first to put my hand up and say that I am NOT in any way experienced w/military life. Secondly, and while I can’t relate, I also believe that a military marriage quadruples regular marriage challenges. I’ve only seen a snippet of what it’s like having a significant other overseas and I felt more emotions in those 4 months than in my entire “dating life.”
My boyfriend said something similar to your reference of being with an officer rather than an enlisted soldier. A lot of the forum’s and groups on the web I’ve visited are comprised of very young women, early 20’s late teens, who married enlisted guys and are struggling finanically.
Thanks for your comment.
With posts like these, I always try my best not to be offensive — after all, I’m still very “military-green” right now.
It’s all about LOVE, I say
no you were not offensive, dont be afraid. We had a discussion about ” if you would know what comes with it, would you have married him..” and its interesting to see the difference in opinion dependent on the years of marriage. ( sorry if my sentences are too confusing, english is not my first language)
Iam maybe a bit bitter about the finance part, because as FRG Leader i just had to pass lists of soup kitchen und other charities to everyone. And i know a lot of soldiers will go there to get something to eat for their children before the next paycheck comes.
I cried through most of the episode, especially the part with Roxy and Trevor. My marine was deployed last year when the show first came out and it’s actually what helped me through most of the summer (which I spent in his house, alone.) Trevor actually reminds me of my guy a lot, and mine even did the whole video thing for me while he was gone. He left it on my computer and I found it about a month after he’d left.
I’m not an “actually” military wife either (considering we’re not married yet and my guy is back in the reserves) but there still is that chance for deployment right after we get married. Can’t say that I’m looking forward to it, but hope never leaves us. And it’s nice to find others to connect with!