Military life is different for every single military family. Some begin theirs together; others meet along the way. Some start in ROTC, others end in retirement. Some include multiple deployments, others experience multiple PCSes. Regardless of what your military life is like, there are some moments that you just have to capture.
I found this out when John was promoted and we realized after the ceremony… that we didn’t have a single picture. Not one of me pinning his new rank. Not one of him shaking hands with his commander. Not even a cheesy selfie afterward.
Not a single one.
I’m sure there will be other promotions, but that was the first one of our marriage, the first one that we got to both celebrate together.
I mean, I’m not crying buckets of tears over it. But still– it’s something that I wish we had for our scrapbook.
And that got me thinking… what other photos should we be snapping along our military journey?
ROTC commissioning
Boot camp graduation
Waiting in anticipation for homecoming
Homecoming kiss
Goofy just-because photo in uniform
Formal uniform picture
Wedding (if you have a military one)
photo credit: TMR_5270 via photopin (license)
Military ball (goofy faces!)
Promotion ceremony
Do it yourself PCS road trip
Command picnic
Command Christmas party (pre-bar opening)
Command Christmas party (post-bar opening)
Baby with military stuff (you know exactly the kind of photos I’m talking about!)
Kids and uniformed parent doing something absolutely adorable and unconventional (like swinging on swings or playing Pretty, Pretty Princess)
The Times Square Kiss pose that every couple tries at least once (Guilty as charged!)
Reenlistment ceremony
The last-time-in-uniform
Retirement ceremony
4 Responses
Great suggestions! We have a good amount of these.
Hey there! What a fun post to share with our military community at Planting Roots: Strength to Thrive in Military Life. I just shared this link on our FB page at https://www.facebook.com/strength2thrive/. We didn’t get many daily life photos in uniform. Those are the ones I’d make sure we got if we were still active duty!
PCS boxes photo, we have lots with the kids. Also a photo of all our belongings from the first move.