Military Spouses

hope everybody will like it~~~ F18 Fighter https://www.sopuzzle.com/puzzle/puzzleSelectF.asp?recordId=5661 F16 https://www.sopuzzle.com/puzzle/puzzleSelectF.asp?recordId=5406 Spitfire Fighter https://www.sopuzzle.com/puzzle/puzzleSelectF.asp?recordId=5407

Did a search. Any 'spouses' gather information on how to successfully start and complete a PHD program during an assignment? Looks like 4-7 years on some Doctoral programs. Also, any legit ways to do this for a spouse that is not through Phoenix or other online shady degrees?

Does anyone have experience moving on a TDY en route to Little Rock? We are at Vance and my husband will be going TDY to school in Little Rock before we PCS to ABQ, NM and then we will be off to Kadena. I want to be able to go to Little Rock with my husband because even though they say the training is only 4 months, people have told us to expect him to be there at least 6 months. If I do go with him, what will be the pros and cons? What is the best possible way to work it to our advantage? I am not at all familiar with moving with the military, so if anyone can give me information about their experience, it would be SO incredibly helpful. Thanks!

I am new to the military community, recently engaged. I am also a reporter, assigned to look into the issues facing military families, especially spouses, during deployment. It is an attempt to expand media coverage of military families beyond the surface of just deployments and re-deployments and instead, focus on what goes on in-between. With your help, I can gain further insight into some of the civilian issues faced by spouses and families. I'm not looking to find out about missing your husband, fiance, boyfriend, etc. during a deployment. I know those struggles first hand. I also know there are tons of support groups, FRGs, etc within the military community for sp…

Hi! We've just had assignment night and were assigned KC 10's to McGuire!! If you've done this recently, what can we expect as far as dates...we heard they move you pretty fast, but we still haven't gotten orders until next week. Also, we are expecting our first baby in March! What OBG docs would you recommend? Are they on base or off base?? Any other info would be great as well!! Thanks everyone! :)

I am wondering if anyone can share some insight into how squadron spouse groups function (or if there are any) in the rest of the AF outside of the fighter world. My husband was casual with an F-16 squadron, did UPT, got 38s, IFF and was assigned F-16s, so that's my only experience with spouses groups(other than the OSC). He is transitioning to another aircraft, possibly C-17s, and I was just wondering what to expect. Are there monthly gatherings, First Fridays, or things like that? Or is there not really a squadron spouse group and most normally join the base OSC? Thanks in advance for your insight- it'll be a change, but I'm excited for it!

So we have been at McChord for 3 years now and its time to decide what to do next, or its past due depending on who you ask. I know about the usual C-17 contenders for second assignments: Charleston, Travis, Hickam, McGuire, Dover, Elmendorf & Altus as well as primary training bases but I am more interested in the crazy stuff that most people don't know is out there. What are these more rare jobs and how do I find them? I know most of these are probably unattainable based on the odds but thats why its a dream sheet, right? Example: Some friends of ours just got gliders at the academy. Who knew that existed? I didn't. Don't know if my husband would have even bee…

So, my boyfriend is getting commisioned as a pilot at the end of December and i feel like i should get a present for him but i don't really know what is appropriate. I am kinda new at the whole military girlfriend thing and i don't want to look like a fool around his retired airforce father or him. I want to show him how proud i am of him and all his hard work. any suggestions on the perfect gift?

Just wondering if anyone knew if there was a supplemental dental insurance for the TDP/United Concordia. I was stupid to not buy dental insurance through my job, thinking the TDP would be more than enough for my 2 cleanings a year, now I have to wait until October of '09 when annual enrollment comes around and I need several thousand dollars worth of dental stuff done in the mean time. I've already past my $1200 maximum that the TDP will cover annually with 2 cleanings, some minor periodontic work, a root canal, and a crown. It's looking like I'm going to need some periodontic bone grafts and going back into orthodontics so we're looking at something around $5-6k out o…

Hi everyone, I had a question about significant others and them going to med school. Has anyone gone through this? I'm commissioning in about a year, and I really don't know how this is going to work after graduation. Thanks for your help.

I'm looking into buying an engagement ring, and have absolutely no idea what I am doing. My main question is how does the financing work? I've heard about 100 different things about how you buy them or how to finance them. Since there are probably quite a few of you who are probably somewhat recently familiar with this process, could you please shed some light on my situation. I want to go into this process with some knowledge so I know what I am doing once I start to buy, and so the store doesn't jerk me around. Do I make down-payments then get the ring, or get the ring then keep paying (like a car), or charge it to a card or what? Or at least a suggestion about …

Hi! My husband is an ROTC cadet who recently received a pilot selection and will be going to UPT next year. I've heard that UPT is a really difficult year for the pilot trainees and that it is also hard on their families. I've looked all over the internet trying to find out what other wives have said about enduring pilot training and I couldn't find anything. Could someone give me some information on what it will be like and what we can do to prepare for it now? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!

My family and I will be hoping to be at UPT in 2008. For those of you who live in the base housing, what utilities/services do you pay? Trying to make the "Do we live on base?" decision. Also, does your housing vary depending on the size of your family? We only have 2 kids, but want to compare to an off base equally adequate living space. -Crazy

It's the holiday season, I'm finding myself in a familiar situation, still not quite knowing what to say. I'm sure you've all been there: Of course friends and family that we don't see often always ask when/if my husband deploys again. Acquaintances that I run into wonder where I live and what I'm doing these days. Inevitably, it comes up that my husband is going to miss another Christmas. Here comes the response: "Oh, that's so awful. I'm so sorry," or "That must be terrible. I feel so bad for you." That is the same response I'd get if I said that my husband is dying of cancer or that we lost our home in a fire. It never crosses their mind that he is doing EXACT…

Hi Spouses! My husband and I will be selling one of our cars while in UPT training. We aren't sure what to do because it would be nice to have two cars at Columbus and then sell one during our 4 1/2 months at Altus. If we can't sell it at Altus, it would be a big problem because we are going O-CONUS. So here's my question. Does anyone out there have experience trying to sell a car specifically at Columbus or Altus? If so, how long did it take your car to sell? Thanks, KC

I have one year of a BSN in nursing completed. This will be my 2nd Bachelor's degree, so I probably have about 2-2.5 years left of school, although I would like to get a minor in Spanish, so that might bump it up to 3 years. My husband is going to start at Whiting next week and I have an opportunity to take a class or 2 at a state university in the spring semester. I'm just not sure if I should hold off and try to do all 3 years after he is done with pilot's training or if I should take some classes now. If I do take classes now, I probably won't be able to go back to school until Fall of 2008 because of his training and moving around for it. Does anyone have any…

It seems like EVERYONE that goes to UPT is going in with the hopes of flying fighters. I realize that these are pretty neat planes, but also that there are a LOT of other neat planes in the AF. So my question is this - are there people that go into UPT wanting to fly something other than fighters? I'm sure, obviously, there are a few, but I have yet to hear of any. It just seems like everyone is competing to fly fighters and no one's first choice is anything else.

My hubby of 7 yrs. will be leaving me to go to OTS in 2 weeks and we have never been separated for that long. I am happy for him, but at the same time feel sad that I will be without him and alone with our newborn who is now 6 weeks old. The whole situation is bittersweet. We just moved to this new area and so I don't really know anyone and now my only support is leaving. Anyone have any advice? I have read the threads about UPT and I get the impression things can get pretty lonely for spouses there too. So I guess the family gets put on the back burner just by default? That's okay I suppose, but how does one like me cope? By the way I am using his profile to write this.

I'm 20 years old and have 2 years left of college. My soon to be husband is thinking about becoming a pilot. I think that by him being away, i am going to be unhappy and the relationship is going to go sour by not being together like regular married couples. I'm worried that when he is gone all the guys "team up" to go to bars and have a bunch of good looking chicks around because they know they can get away with anything. I think that being away will only distance us, and make me unhappy with the relationship, instead of growing as a couple. i know i will never be able to accept or be happy being "with" someone who is never really "with me." -Out of sight, out of…

Hello All! My boyfriend graduates OTS here in November, and we aren't quite sure where we'll be stationed for UPT (hopefully Vance, or Witchita Falls for ENJPT.) I know everyone says to get married cause AF life is easier that way, but we're just not ready for that. What I want to know is if girlfriends are welcome to the 'officer spouse's club' functions. I love being involved in activites and am nervous to be moving to a new place, so I am very interested in the OSC, but wasn't sure if I would be allowed to partake. If anyone has any insight lemme know!

quick question, what is the difference in pay during flight training if you are single vs. married. I see that the 0-1 pay is around $2,300 per month but do you get paid more if you are married? Thanks

I will be getting engaged to my girlfriend before I head off to UPT. However, she will not be able to move down with me for the first year because of her schooling, but will most likely move after the second phase of pilot training. We have talked about the sacrifices alot (seeing eachother once a month if i fly her down to TX from CO, no more talking on the phone 5 times a day, etc). We will be battling a long distance relationship for that first year and I was hoping to get some good advice for both her and I on keeping things going smoothly. I realize that I will not be able to go see her but maybe twice a year in CO, so i will have to fly her down to TX to see me …

An excellent point was brought up in the previous thread For the newly married, and experiencing the craziness of moves and deployments I think it is absolutely essential to make trip to the base legal ofice to have all the proper legal work straigtened out before the moves and deplyemnts come up (even if you don't have kids). As all the seasoned spouses tell you, Murphy's Law always occurs when spouse is deployed. ie. . . cars breakdown, finacial matters, moves, filing paperwork for moves, signing leases on apts, etc. It is so much much easier to take care of those things when you have updated Power of Attorneys (POA). Most larger bases, have walk in hours …

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go on a Spouse Orientation flight given by my Husbands Squadron. When hubby was AD, I had the opportunity before years ago to go on a flight, but couldn't get the time off of work to do it. Scooter (my hubby) was really encouraging me almost pushing me to go. "It will so cool. . . you'll have a great time . . . You can see what I do". I can honestly say I was going more to please him, than the excitement that was in it for me. I sent the kids to the babysitter and Scooter surprised me by making me a flight lunch, (quite the role reversal). Ths day started early, safety briefings, then we got to see the crew give their brief…

Are any of the spouses here General Schedule types? I would like information about how one gets hired as a GS-"x" and what kind of jobs are out there. Thanks.