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How to Be a Great Friend to a Military Spouse (Even If You Don’t “Get” Military Life)

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Military life can be isolating. Those who have never experienced military life sometimes don’t “get” it… or they think they do, and get it wrong… or they shy away from it because they don’t know what to say or do or don’t want to offend.

And so, sometimes, military spouses are left alone.

friendship, military spouse, milspouse

But this post isn’t for military spouses. This is for you, the friends who are a little nervous or unsure. This is for you, the friends who want to support, but aren’t quite sure how to.  (And if you already know, that is awesome. Rock on. Go be that steadfast friend!)

Here’s the biggest truth about friendship across the military-civilian divide:

Are you ready for it? Military life changes nothing.

Well, nothing truly important.

Military life will change you friend’s zip code. It might change what he/she experiences. It might make some things harder. It will definitely change your friend’s vocabulary.

But it won’t suddenly–abracadabra!–turn your friend into someone different. If your friendship has withstood your teenage years, or sloppy, drunk fights during college, or weird boyfriends (or girlfriends) that you couldn’t stand to be around, or insert any number of obstacles–both silly and tough–then there’s no reason that your friendship can’t withstand military life.

It’s true–the distance and stress can winnow out some of the meh friends from the great friends–but you’re not a meh friend. After all, you’re reading this… so you care about your friend and your friendship.

Let’s kick it up a notch. Here are some ways you can support your friend:

1. Learn

Unless your friend grew up in the military life, they probably are learning all of this military stuff too. If you’re having a conversation and they mention something about going to the commissary and you have no clue what they’re talking about, just ask. (It’s the grocery store on base, by the way.) Most military folks don’t expect you to know all of the ins and outs of the lingo– in fact, sometimes it varies from branch to branch and even region to region– and are happy to explain it. (And if they’re not, they’re jerks.) Understanding what your friend is talking about will help you gain a little bit of insight into their life.

2. Be understanding

The military doesn’t care about your friendship. And it doesn’t care about your friend’s homesickness, plans, or dreams for the future. There are going to be some frustrating, annoying, sad days that your friend will probably experience: Deployments, PCSes (military moves), cancelled plans, not coming home for holidays… Be there. Listen. Text silly GIFs or just sit in silence while they cry over Skype to you. You won’t be able to fix anything and in a lot of situations, there’s probably no great advice to give. Sometimes the best thing to do is validate your friend’s feelings. Let them talk and explain their feelings. And tell them that it sucks. (Because, truth be told, they probably feel like they have to be stoic, suck it up, or not complain at all because the needs of the military come first. And that’s often a very bitter pill to swallow.)

3. Keep in touch

Sometimes distance does not make the heart grow fonder. Sometimes it just makes it more distant. If your friend is far away, make a concerted effort to keep them in the loop. Most likely, they are overwhelmed by how many people they feel like they need to keep in contact with. Help your friend out– spend time emailing them first or giving them a ring. Be intentional about staying in contact, especially during the early months of their move when they might feel especially lonely or depressed.

friendship, military spouse, milspouse

4. Know about the pressure points

There are a few things that are especially grating to many military spouses. (One of my friends–in front of a bunch of other people– once asked me if I worried about my husband getting blown up. I spent the awkward silence blinking back tears.) Even if you mean well, try to avoid these kinds of questions or statements:

  • “Aren’t you afraid she/he is going to die?” (Yes, but it’s awful when someone brings it up out of nowhere.)
  • “At least he/she isn’t in [combat, Iraq, etc.].” (Just because it doesn’t seem dangerous to you doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Accidents still happen, and spouses spend a lot of time worrying anyway.)
  • “I know how you feel. I hate when my spouse is on business travel.” (Away is away is away… and even though spouses know this, it can be frustrating to hear–especially in the middle of a long training or deployment.)
  • “It must be nice to get free [health care, housing, food, etc.].” (Military folks get benefits from their job, the same as civilian folks. Some of those benefits might seem like they’re free, but they aren’t– they’re part of the benefits that are built into the job.)
  • “But really, what does your spouse do?” (Your friend might have a spouse that can’t really explain what they do. And it can get a uncomfortable if your friend doesn’t really know what they do or can’t tell you.)

5. Treat them

Military spouses often find themselves being at the exhausted end of what can feel like a one-way street. Between kids and a spouse who is deployed or often absent, it can feel like you’re always giving to and taking care of others… but often no one seems like they’re taking care of you. A small gesture like a postcard or a handwritten note can mean a world of difference–especially if your friend has just moved and might not be receiving any “fun” mail (boo, bills). If you know your friend’s spouse is deploying and you are able, plan some time to visit your friend. Send care packages, emails, pictures… what you can do is endless.

Have a friend in mind that you want to treat? Troopster Care Packs–a care package company run by a current active duty sailor (who is also a milso!). (Or if you need a little TLC, you can send it to yourself, too.) This isn’t a sponsored post– I just love Troopster, their product (their boxes are jam-packed and awesome), and their mission. Seriously. Check them out. They’re awesome!

A post shared by Jo, My Gosh! (@jomygosh1) on

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