Military Relationships - Tell Us About Yours

My husband and I have been married a really long time but I often think back to how we met and wonder about others' experiences. As I mentioned above, we were both in the military but in different branches. We met at Ft Ben Harrison, IN (Indianapolis, IN). That is where the Defense Information School (DINFOS) was located up until 1995 or so. We had an instant attraction but neither of us was looking for a relationship. We were just friends.

So...we both finished school about nine months later and off we went to our duty stations: he returned to Nebraska and I went to Japan.

Six months later, guess who walked in the newsroom? Yep, my 'friend. We reconnected, fell in love and got married all within the next year. Our oldest son was born in Japan.

I came down on orders soon afterward and was one of the first women to get orders to a ship. How exciting! But...whoa...what about hubs and new baby? Uh - they can't go with me. So...I made a very difficult decision to get out of the Navy.

My husband then came down on orders to Spain. We spent three years in Spain, had another son along the way and voila, it was PCS (permanent change of station) time once again. But...this time he was going to Greenland and I was going (with our two sons) back stateside to wait out the year 'remote...assignment.

The year passed quickly (as I look back on it now) but was very stressful in many ways (none of which I will bore you with - 😂).

We transferred to Alaska for two years - loved it. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. So pristine and QUIET! We were in the interior at Delta Junction which is more than 100 miles south of Fairbanks and 500 miles north of Anchorage. Brrrrr...it was cold and dark. Took some getting used to but we still look back on that assignment as one of our favorites.

Korea was next up. Definitely a huge change from Alaska. Very crowded (Seoul), with mega traffic issues. It was also a period of unrest for the country in general. The college student population were outspoken against a military presence in their country and security was high. Even being very careful, we were subjected to some security risks: students broke thru our fencing in our housing, burned the US flag in front of us, our son's school bus was tear-gassed by students also. All in all, Korea is not remembered fondly by our family.

The one bright spot though was that I was working at the 121 Evac Hospital. This is the hospital made famous by the TV show MASH. It was the referral hospital for all military in Korea. I worked as a clerk there in the Specialty Clinic which was where the specialist MDs worked. I really enjoyed my time there and it really ignited the passion for going to nursing school.

Next up was Las Vegas (Nellis AFB). This is where the Thunderbirds are based. If you have ever seen the precision which they fly, it's phenomenal. The ground show is equally fantastic. By this time, we thought hubby would be retiring soon so I went to school. I was able to complete my pre-reqs and then the LPN year (it was a 1+1 program where you did pre-reqs for a year, then LPN, then RN). Whoops - my plans weren't considered by the USAF (yet again!)

He got a chance to return to Ft Harrison to teach at the same school where we had met 14 years before! So...off we went.

In Indianapolis, I was FINALLY able to finish an ADN and hubby retired in 1995.

We moved to Illinois in 1996 for a new job for my husband. Since then, I've been able to get a BSN, MSN and two post-MSN certificates.

So...getting back to my original question - how many of you met while on active duty? Or met when one of you was in the military?

And by the way, from one vet to all the other vets...thanks!