10 Things To Know About The Military
Seasoned military girlfriends, spouses, and military brats will surely laugh at this post because these things are like second-nature to them…but if you are brand new to the world of military life these are likely things you didn’t know and may want to know as you start on this exciting and wild journey of being a “milso”. I’ll start by saying that before I met my husband, I had never dated anyone in the military and nobody very close to me in my family or my friends was in the military… so this has ALL been new to me.
This may be an obvious one, but there are different ranks in the military. There is a difference between enlisting in the military and joining as an officer. For more info on this check out my blog post about it HERE.
There are so many different jobs in the military!
The military basically has its own language. They speak with a ton of acronyms that you will want to start familiarizing yourself with. Don’t worry- you will never be able to keep up with all of them because they can vary by branch, duty station, and job. Check out my post about basic military acronyms HERE.
Service members are required to go to PT (physical training) every day and pass a PT test 2x a year. There are different requirements based on age and gender.
Service members have strict rules to adhere to while in uniform, so don’t be offended when they don’t hold your hand or show affection while in uniform with you. Here are some of these uniform rules.
No holding hands (sometimes you can lock elbows instead)
PDA is generally frowned upon if not in a homecoming setting
Right hand needs to be free to salute at any time
No texting or talking on the phone while walking
Sharing uniforms is generally frowned upon. The service member earned the uniform, you didn’t..
TriCare is the health care program and government-managed health insurance for service members, retirees, and their families. There are different versions of TriCare but all are at a very minimal cost, if any.
Military ID cards are needed for service members, retirees, disabled veterans, and dependents. Every base has gates that are guarded 24/7 where you will need to show your military ID or a visitor’s pass to enter. You will also show this at the Commissary, Base Exchange store, and places on post.
Songs are played on military installations to signify different things and there are expectations for them. When the song plays, military personnel in uniform will face the flag & salute or the source of the music. If you are driving on post you’ll need to stop until the song is over.
REVEILLE: signals the flag rising
RETREAT: (5pm/1700) marks the end of the duty day where the flag is taken down and the national anthem is played
TAPS: (10pm/2200) marks the start of quiet hours/lights out & is a reflection for fallen service members
Military service members move a lot. Different people are needed at different bases, moving gives the service member opportunities to advance their career and broaden their experiences, and so much more. Moving is the norm in military life whether it’s every few years, every year, or every 5 years; it depends on the job and the unit. If you marry someone in the military, you will need to be ready to move. (Military families move 10x more than civilian families)
There are a few different options for housing! Military members and their families can live “on post” in the housing available on the base they are stationed at, or they can live “off-post” in housing not on the base but closeby. BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is included in the servicemember’s paycheck and is determined based on rank and location. If you live on post, you will not have to worry about paying rent or utilities. If you live off post, you will pay rent like a civilian but use the BAH you are given. If your rent is lower than your BAH allowance, you can keep the rest of the BAH.